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HomeWhere is Christmas? |
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 My favorite book in the whole world Aug 02, 2009
My name is Bailey Cloud Watcher. I'm 9 years old and I'm helping my Grandma write this review. We read this book together while on vacation recently and we both think it is an awesome book. Every child should experience Where is Christmas because it is so incredible. Paul Samuels is a terrific writer. He made me fall in love with the woodland animals and reminded me of the meaning of Christmas. We LOVE this book and we love Paul Samuels!
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Jolly good! Nov 22, 2008
I really like this new childrens' Christmas book. Not too long and not too short---just right. And right on when it comes to the message. Thanks Paul.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 A complete story-time tool-kit in a small package. Nov 11, 2008
Disclaimer: I am related to the author--that is to say, he's my dad. That being said, I hope you won't disregard this review.
Where Is Christmas has been around in one form or another for quite some time, and I'm really proud of my dad for finally getting around to having it published. It's too good to be kept a family secret!
I know how good Where Is Christmas is because I thoroughly enjoyed having it read to me when I was a boy. Better still, I know the joy of reading it to my own son, since I recently became a dad myself. I found myself wanting to try to create different voices for each of the characters in the book, and there are a lot to choose from. My son is still just a baby, but I imagine it will be easy with older children to have fun conversations about what beavers' voices or rabbits' voices sound like. Samuels does a great job of developing the story through dialogue, which allows the characters themselves to set the scenes, and makes for much more enjoyment when reading aloud. The narrator's voice is the least common, and the book will challenge the story teller (making it less boring for any adult) to keep up with each of the characters, lest your listeners remind you laughingly that "That's not the bear's voice!"
The book has another feature that makes it fun and re-readable. It's rather long, and it's divided into short chapters. This makes it very easy to read a little bit each night leading up to Christmas, extending the enjoyment, and making it less likely to be moved to the bottom of the toy box in that "been-there-done-that" type of dismissal that is so common in children. Where Is Christmas is not too long, though, and if you read it piecemeal by chapter, you could still work in a telling of "'T'was the Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve.
I posted this review because I love my dad, and I want him to know that I'm proud of him. But you, the consumer, would be remiss if you ignored the fact that I'm the only example of intergenerational readership of this book. I enjoyed hearing the story as a child, and I enjoy reading it to my son. I think you'll experience something similar if you make Where Is Christmas a part of your library.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Lovely story about the true meaning of Christmas Nov 06, 2008
This enchanting little tale of woodland creatures in search of Christmas will become a holiday favorite for young and old. What begins as a quest by a curious little squirrel, joined by his friends along the way, leads first to discord then to understanding of the true meaning of the Christian holiday of Christmas. Woody and his animal friends learn that even the humblest of gifts are blessed, but most important, they come to understand that Christmas is more than presents and decorations and a focus on things material.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A review on Godspace http://bit.ly/qztbI Nov 05, 2008
Posted on September 28, 2009 by Dr. Christine Sine Where is Christmas?
I am sitting at our dining room table looking out on a beautiful September morning. It is hard to believe that in a couple of days I will be in Australia - once more heading into spring rather than into autumn. I will miss the glory of the fall leaves around the lake but I must confess I am rather looking forward to the fact that my summer days are being a little extended for this year.
One thing that doesn't change no matter what part of the world we are in is that Christmas is on its way - December 25th is coming whether we living in the north or the south so I thought that reviewing this delightful Christmas story Where is Christmas? by my friend Paul Samuels seemed appropriate.
I love animal stories, as I think does every child or people kid (as Paul calls them) and in this little book Paul has brought together a whole array of wonderful animal characters who are sure to steal your heart. They are on a quest to find where Christmas is because they believe that it is a place where they will get lots of presents.... Hmm now that sounds familiar. In a beautiful and simple way Paul talks about the things that most kids in our society are looking for at Christmas - coloured lights, presents, lots of food. In the end however they discover what Christmas is really all about.
To be honest when I first read Paul's book I was not sure how well it would connect to young kids - maybe because it is so long since I was a young kid myself. However six year old Catie Rosario Kilmer loves it which is probably a much better recommendation than any I can give. The book captures the innocent delight of the search for Christmas as experienced by a child. Telling it through the forest creatures who embark on this quest makes it even more appealing.
The book is also filled with wonderful illustrations and colourful images that appeal to kids of even younger age. The timeless and ageless message means that it will appeal to those that read it as to those that hear the story.
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