Customer Reviews
Christmas magic - By: G. M. Banks, 01 Jan 2009 
I have read this book EVERY Christmas since I first bought it - & that must make 5 or 6 readings at this stage. I never tire of the simple, yet magical story. I am well past childhood but it is a book which appeals to child & adult alike. It is a book for anyone to whom Christmas means more than just an exchange of gifts, & too much food. I have always loved Advent Calendars, but sadly none of those I have ever had have been as special as the onein this book - but I keep hoping!
A Wonderful, magical story - By: Paul Arnup, 05 Dec 2007 This book really cannot be recommended highly enough !
I bought it about 5 years ago when my daughter would have been 6 years old & intially, my wife & I would read a chapter each nightin the lead up to Christmas. As each chapter represents a dayin December & is only half-a-dozen pages long, it's the ideal bedtime story for kids (and adults, I guess!).
Now my daughter is old enough to read it for herself & is,in fact, an avid reader. However, it is such a wonderfully written book & the reading of it has become such a pre-Christmas ritualin our house, that we all still take part (my daughter loves to shout "To Bethlehem!, To Bethlehem"! at the appropriate moment!).
Interestingly, she recently reviewed it as part of a school project & said that she finds it impossible to read two chaptersin one sitting. Somehow it just doesn't seem right !
I have no particular interestin religion & would probably count myself as an agnostic but this book somehow conveys the true meaning of Christmasin a way that I have never come across before.
If I could give it 10 stars, I would. Quite simply, if you have young children (or even if you don't), buy it !!
A magical and enchanting Advent story - By: Merel Ames, 22 Sep 2007 My grandmother gave me this book ten years ago as a Christmas present & I have cherished it ever since. It has become a tradition to read this enchanting advent story with its 24 chapters & it never fails to bring that little bit of magic at Christmas time. Having given this book as a present many times the standard comment is; "this is the most wonderful book I have been givenin a long time" & I have to agree it is a magical story about peace, love & tolerance & I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a mystical Christmas story.
interesting - By: headofwords, 10 Jun 2007 
To be honest this wasn't my kind of book. I have read a couple of the author's other works & this was similar, interesting but inoffensive & at times overly nice. It seems to have been written for children, & if I was looking for a book to read with my kidsin the run up to Christmas, this would be a good one, but it inevitably disappointed me a little. I'm not a great fan of religion, & the message of warmth & kindness got a little tiring for me after a while. Plenty of talk about Jesus & love but no mention of the millions slaughteredin Jesus's name over the centuries, of course, which would kind of kill the spirit of it. I was most interestedin the historical aspect of it, the notes about ancient cities & myths such as the Pied Piper of Hamelin & the original Saint Nick.
Overall the format was good, with short, coffee-break sized chapters, though a little too much repetition. I was personally a little disappointed with the ending being so vague, but overall it was an interesting enough read, but I don't think I would read it again.
Perfect for Advent - By: Cooking Up A, 03 Dec 2005 Every year I buy my children Christmas books that we read throughout Advent. Two years ago I bought this book & we had a chapter each dayin the run up to Christmas Day. The girls aged 7 & 9 at the time loved listening together & it provided us with a real cosy time at the end of each day. They looked forward to each chapter & to unravelling the mystery. I have since bought several copies for God daughters & nephews & nieces who have all enjoyed it as an alternative to an Advent Calendar. I am now stuck this year to find a book of similar appeal to keep us going through advent.
