The Gift of the Christmas Cookie

Yesterday we had our first of three Thanksgiving dinners. Jesse's parents have their meal on the opening weekend of deer season because all three boys are home with their families. So thirteen of us squeezed around the table for a variety of yummy food and stuffed ourselves silly. Mia got to spend time with her older cousins, Hana and Nora, whom she doesn't see very often. I love seeing how big the girls have gotten over the past year and how much they've changed. I'm sure others see the same kind of changes in Mia. It's officially the start of the holiday season for us, and so it's fitting that Mia & Mommy's Book Blog features a Christmas book today.

The Gift of the Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall & Deborah Chabrian is subtitled Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus' Birth, which is what the book is really all about. First Mia's thoughts: The book starts with Jack's mommy baking Christmas cookies for the church. My favorite part of the story was when Jack shared his cookie and the story about Jesus with the stranger. I really like cookies! Now my review: Jack and his mom have missing his father for nearly a year since he left to get work in the city. Every cent has to be saved, so when Jack smells the scent of cookies when coming home, he at first can't believe his nose. His mom bursts his hope when she explains that the cookies will be for the needy at church, but she tempers his disappointment by explaining that Christmas cookies were originally intended to share the story of the birth of Jesus with others. It's a lesson Jack takes to heart come Christmas morning. Chabrian's artwork is outstanding, soft, very nostalgic, but with great beauty. Each page is honestly a work of art. Mia was, I think, I bit young for the deeper aspects of the story, but she really loved Jack's generosity at the end, and as she ages, this is a story that will become more meaningful for her in time.

Molly and I are going to see Twilight tonight. We're both torn, because as much as we'd like to enjoy the movie, we're purists and want it to stick as closely to the novel as possible. I'll let you know the verdict tomorrow.