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A Country Christmas
Francy wants this Christmas to be the most special holiday ever. But with jobs and money scarce, it doesn't look like her family will be able to afford any gifts or decorations. "Even Santa is poor this year," her parent's explain.
Then Francy's mother comes up with an idea to earn some money for Christmas. The whole family pulls together and works 'round the clock. But will the plan work?
Then Francy's mother comes up with an idea to earn some money for Christmas. The whole family pulls together and works 'round the clock. But will the plan work?
95 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 3, 2025
Set in rural Missouri sometime around the Depression, this book focuses on the Ponder family and their seven young children at home. Times are tough. Their father works away during the week logging lumber and their mother works around the clock on paid sewing jobs from home. Francy wants Christmas to be special for her family but knows it will be difficult because of their financial concerns.
My third-grade teacher gave every student in the class a copy of this early chapter book for Christmas, and I kept it. This year I read it aloud with my two young daughters. It has a great message about focusing on those you love and being grateful for what you do have. Francy is a sweet girl who is plagued by her much older half-sister's bratty children. But she never wavers from being steadfast in her devotion to her family and doing the right thing.
I loved the historical setting of this novel. It reminds me a lot of the American Girl books or The Little House on the Prairie series. I found the scene where the family decorates their Christmas tree with strings of popcorn and beautiful handsewn ornaments particularly moving. This book really shows that it is the simple things in life that mean the most.
I did think parts of this narrative were confusing. There are a lot of characters. In addition to the seven siblings at home, Francy's father had a wife that died and much older children, who are married with children of their own. My daughters were sometimes confused trying to keep everyone straight. The narrative also abruptly jumps in time from the end of one chapter to the beginning of another, which was somewhat jarring. But otherwise, a great early historical fiction novel for young readers that I was happy to revisit from my childhood.
My third-grade teacher gave every student in the class a copy of this early chapter book for Christmas, and I kept it. This year I read it aloud with my two young daughters. It has a great message about focusing on those you love and being grateful for what you do have. Francy is a sweet girl who is plagued by her much older half-sister's bratty children. But she never wavers from being steadfast in her devotion to her family and doing the right thing.
I loved the historical setting of this novel. It reminds me a lot of the American Girl books or The Little House on the Prairie series. I found the scene where the family decorates their Christmas tree with strings of popcorn and beautiful handsewn ornaments particularly moving. This book really shows that it is the simple things in life that mean the most.
I did think parts of this narrative were confusing. There are a lot of characters. In addition to the seven siblings at home, Francy's father had a wife that died and much older children, who are married with children of their own. My daughters were sometimes confused trying to keep everyone straight. The narrative also abruptly jumps in time from the end of one chapter to the beginning of another, which was somewhat jarring. But otherwise, a great early historical fiction novel for young readers that I was happy to revisit from my childhood.
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April 11, 2018All of the Ponders - Mama, Papa, and their seven children at home - work hard to take care of one another during the Great Depression.
They know there will be no Christmas this year...until Mama finds an add in the paper: a candy company in Chicago wants to buy black walnuts!
Papa and Mama gather walnuts by the bushel while the children are at school, and in the evenings the entire family works hard to crack the nuts.
Soon they have enough to send to Chicago. With the money they've earned, they will be able to pay off their debt at the store in town AND get Christmas presents for one another!
They eagerly watch the mail, but when the check finally arrives...they have been cheated.
Mama never cried when she had tick fever, when they had to sell their milk cow, or any other time, but she cried now.
Each member of the family does what they can to make Christmas special for the others in spite of their poverty. The result is a Christmas they will never forget.
This sweet little story is a great reminder that the magic of Christmas is not in gifts, but in love.
They know there will be no Christmas this year...until Mama finds an add in the paper: a candy company in Chicago wants to buy black walnuts!
Papa and Mama gather walnuts by the bushel while the children are at school, and in the evenings the entire family works hard to crack the nuts.
Soon they have enough to send to Chicago. With the money they've earned, they will be able to pay off their debt at the store in town AND get Christmas presents for one another!
They eagerly watch the mail, but when the check finally arrives...they have been cheated.
Mama never cried when she had tick fever, when they had to sell their milk cow, or any other time, but she cried now.
Each member of the family does what they can to make Christmas special for the others in spite of their poverty. The result is a Christmas they will never forget.
This sweet little story is a great reminder that the magic of Christmas is not in gifts, but in love.
December 21, 2023
This is essentially a Little House one-shot for Christmas. It's clean, and short, includes the realities of homesteading, infuriating relatives that don't get their comeuppance or redemption arc quickly enough for me, and too much singing written into the dialogue. I know a few mommas that would adore it, but this wasn't the bees knees for me.
December 15, 2022
This book reminds me a lot of any of Patricia Maclachlan's books, which I think is a good thing.
December 23, 2022
This gave me more summertime feels than Christmas feels. 😂🎄
December 12, 2025
3.5 stars. Heart warming children’s story about a poor rural family. Set in the depression era, they learn the real meaning of Christmas when times get tough.
January 12, 2026
This is a very good book 📙. I believe anyone would enjoy it.
March 29, 2010
This is a really great book I think everyone should read it. I read this book before I got rid of it. It was worth the read a sweet fictional story about a girl and her family. I do not know what else to say about this book so bye for now!
June 23, 2016
I used to read this book every year near Christmas time. I got it out of a book order at school and loved it! I like to read about old fashioned times and I was close in age to the girl, Francy, in the story so it was a lot of fun.
December 11, 2025
I read this story every December to my 2nd graders. Each time they think it is boring...by chapter 5 they beg me to read just one more chapter everyday! It is heartwarming and tells such good lessons throughout. There are a lot of opportunities to give short lessons on an array of topics as well.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews