The Star of Christmas

By Maria T. DiVencenzo

Book Overview

It's Christmas Eve. A child is struggling to stay awake near her Christmas tree when a voice she's never heard before rings out in the living room. Startled, she bolts out of her chair. The ornaments... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0981600301
• ISBN13: 9780981600307
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Winterlake Press
• Length: 36 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 9.1" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 5 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Will appeal to children age 4 and up

"The Star of Christmas" is a unique story about a little girl who hears the Christmas tree ornaments discussing who among them is the star of Christmas. After hearing a different case for each charming Christmas ornament, including the Wise King and Silver Dove of Peace, the girl, along with the Crystal Angel, shows them who is really the Star of Christmas. It is the Child in the Manger ornament, hanging on bare broken branches at the bottom of the tree. "The Star of Christmas" is a lovely, fresh discovery of some very old truths that will appeal to children age 4 and up.

A beautifully illustrated children's Christmas book

Everyone wants to be the star of the show, as author Maria T. DiVencenzo shows us in The Star of Christmas. When a young girl falls asleep in front of the Christmas tree she dreams the ornaments come to life. All of them want to be the "star of Christmas." China Doll is beautiful, full of sparkle and shine. That should make her the star. Gift Box is nice to look at and has a surprise inside. He thinks that's enough to make him the star of Christmas. Jolly Old Elf gives Christmas its magic and Silver Bell brings music. All of these, and more, want to be the star of Christmas. As each makes his/her case, the girl agrees they are special, but she is interrupted each time she tries to explain who the "real" star of Christmas is. Finally, Crystal Angel gets everyone's attention and instructs the girl to tell them about the "real star" of Christmas. The girl kneels down in front of the manger ornament. She cradles it lovingly in her hands and whispers, "It's the child." The delicate, life-life illustrations, by Elaine S. Verstraete, are full of detail and add much to the text. What I Like: Everything. The writing is descriptive and poetic and the illustrations are truly delightful. This is a beautiful Christmas book. What I Dislike: Nothing. Overall Rating: Excellent. Age Appeal: The publisher doesn't recommend an age group, but I would say 5-9. Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

A new holiday tradition for my family

When my sisters and I were growing up, we had some wonderful holiday traditions. Individually painting the Christmas cut out cookies, begging to open just one present before Christmas morning and best of all, sitting with my father in the family room while he read Twas the Night Before Christmas to us on Christmas Eve. For the last four decades, that tradition has continued and now includes our children. Reading Twas the Night Before Christmas is the last thing that happens on Christmas Eve before we all go to bed and wait for Santa Claus. The Star of Christmas is the same kind of special book. For people that start playing Christmas music in November and love the process of decorating the house, making the cookies, and creating special memories with their children around the holiday, the Star of Christmas is for people that love Christmas! The writing takes you to a special Christmas place and each ornament illustration is like a work of art. In the same way Santa Mouse and the Polar Express are still so special for the one time of year we get to bring them out, the Star of Christmas will join them as a part of our holiday tradition.