The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

By Susan Wojciechowski

Book Overview

"The tale is unfolded with such mastery, humor, and emotional force that we are entirely within its power." --The New York Times Book Review

Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the valley, but he is always alone and never smiles. No one knows about the mementos of his lost wife and child that he keeps in an unopened drawer. But one early winter's day, a widow and her young son approach him with a gentle request that leads to a joyful miracle. The moving, lyrical tale, gloriously illustrated by P.J. Lynch, has been widely hailed as a true Christmas classic. This beautiful edition includes a note from the author and an audio narration by James Earl Jones available as a complimentary download.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763678228
• ISBN13: 9780763678227
• Release Date: September 2015
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 11.2" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Beautiful and deep Christmas story of hope restored after darkness

I got this when my girls were 3 and 5, and when I leafed through it after it arrived I was concerned it would be too heavy and sad for them. Jonathan Toomey has lost his wife and baby and been lost in depression for years since. But after we read this together, my girls quickly started picking this book night after night. They don’t focus on the sadness, they focus on the hope that is kindled through kindness. The little boy in the story is a sweet, respectful little boy that is still all child. It is such a well written, authentic story that shows the “magic” of normal people in everyday life. How life transcends the mundane when we truly connect and show love to people around us, even grumpy strangers.

My Favorite Christmas Book

I read this book to my 5th grade students every year. If your child does AR at school, it's an AR book. I just love it.

Beautiful and heartfelt

It was very well written and the illustrations are beautiful. It’s a heartfelt and warming Christmas story for all ages

Wonderful Christmas tale that will be read over and over!

This is a touching story of how a lost nativity set leads to healing and happiness at Christmas! It is a wonderful story, but I bought it for the art work. Both are amazingly beautiful! I highly recommend this book!

Short story

Delightful story to add to my advent collection

Exquisite

From the engaging artwork to the beautiful story, this book draws us in to a time and place where a simple man alone in loss and misery begins to rejoin humanity through a child and his creche. This is a sweet, elegant book physically and emotionally. I will be rereading it every year.

Beautiful Christmas Story

I discovered this book about a year ago and fell in love with it. It captures the true spirit of Christmas in giving. There is warmth and tenderness, and selflessness. The pictures also beautifully capture the essence of the story in a most poignant way.

My son's favorite childhood book!

My son is now 24 years old. Whenever we talk about books from his early childhood, this is the only one he mentions. When I was a traveling teacher, and my son was about 3, I found books on a display in one of my schools where you could browse, fill out an order form, and get the books at a discount price. I looked through this one and my mouth fell open. The illustrations are in a class of their own! Every year for 5 or 6 years, we'd read this book at Christmas, and I know my son looked at it other times because it was kept in his room. The story reminds us of what 'miracles' might actually look like. It contains the essences of life:. Grief, loss, relationships, joy, art, and the truth that sometimes, many of these things happen in the same month or even the same day. That there is life beyond "the worst". You can't do better than this story.

It's Delovely.

THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY is a charming book about the nature of patience and grace. Jonathan Toomey is a very sad and gloomy man. His wife and child died very young and he has never gotten over his grief. Children call him Mr. Gloomy, for they fail to see the beauty beneath. One day a young widow and her son show up, asking Toomey to make a nativity scence for them, replacing one they lost when they recently moved to town. Mr. Toomey agrees. His life is forever changed by the act.The book is beautifully illustrated and has become a modern Christmas classic.

Don't pass by this gem!

I'm a writer/editor that is always on the lookout for great books for my three kids (7, 11, 14). I don't even remember where I found this one, but it's my ALL TIME favorite Christmas story. It's got enough religion to keep the Christians happy, but the real message here is the miracle of the wonderful connections we can make with each other. I haven't met anyone who doesn't love this book. Do your family a favor and BUY IT NOW! It will become a tradition in your house, but be warned: you won't get through it without puddling up, and that, my friends, is a good thing. It really is. Merry Christmas to you all...

A story that has it all!

I picked up this book while browsing in the children's section of my favorite book store. After reading several pages, I had to shut the book and march up to the checkout, wiping my eyes a bit. I waited until I was at home to finish the book, so if I howled out loud, I wouldn't embarress myself. The true meaning of Christmas shines through this book, with a love story on the side, and some gentle humor. My children relate to the young hero in the book, and the illustrations are lovely. I now give this book as a great Christmas gift! You'll enjoy it.

A Christmas Book That is Different From the Others

I started reading this book to my now-seven year-old daughter two years ago. Clueless about the plot, I read on and on; by the end we were both sniffling away the tears. Jonathan Toomey has since become de rigeur holiday reading in our family. I think we like it so much not least because it seamlessly combines the religious message of Christmas with a very down-to-earth story about love, loss, and love - again. Also, the illustrations are pretty extraordinary. My only suggestion: The author and illustrator should immediately publish a dozen books like it!