It was seven years ago that my sister sent us the original story that is now a beautiful new holiday book- A Calisbury Christmas. We were living in West Africa in a hot, dry, dusty town bordering the Sahara. It felt nothing like Christmas, but as I read the words of her story, I started to tear up.
Here was the meaning of Christmas.
A little boy leaves his own town full of love and light, so he can bring the light of Christmas to a nearby village shrouded in darkness.
And isn’t this what we were attempting to do—
trying to bring the light of Christ to the dark villages surrounding us.
It took seven years (along with a number of setbacks and disappointments), for my sister to make the dream of her story a reality, but I’m happy to say that it’s finally here this season.
A Calisbury Christmas by Marisa Grace Porter is beautifully illustrated by Adrianna Vanderstelt. With its lovely illustrations and its timeless message, A Calisbury Christmas is destined to become a holiday classic.
The story begins with a young boy making a pot of rosemary potato soup for Christmas. He discovers he’s missing the essential ingredient and so decides he needs to go to the nearby village and find it. Once there, he’s surprised to find the village dark with no knowledge of Christmas or the reason for the celebration.
“Elijah had one goal–to save his family’s Christmas tradition of rosemary potato soup. But when this quest led him to a village that was as dark and cold as his own was bright and merry, he had to choose between keeping Christmas to himself or sharing it with others.
You can find the book on Amazon or on Barnes & Noble.
What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Are you looking for more Christmas book ideas? Check out the following post.
My favorite christmas memory is crafting homemade ornaments. And since I’ve had children, blessing them with Christmas surprises and projects.
It’s fun to surprise people, isn’t it?
Hmmm… well… it seems fitting to add a special tradition of our house that involves reading a good kids’ book. Every Christmas Eve my dad would read us The Polar Express. Even with some rough seasons of life in the past, it’s special to look back on that memory.
I love memories that include good books. You’re blessed to have a dad who read to you.
Thank you for the chance to win this beautiful book!
You’re welcome!
When I was a child I loved reading Christmas books with my parents in the days leading up to Christmas. As a mom I continued that tradition with my kids.I love finding news stories about sharing the love of the season!
That’s a beautiful tradition that I’m trying to start this year with my daughter.
We love books in our house and this is one I would love to read/own. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!
You’re welcome. I think you’d love this book.
This sounds like an amazing book! I would love to add such a beautiful book to our Christmas book collection. Our special books come out Dec 1st…way b4 our decorations. Great books are priceless!
We never had special books reserved for Christmas, but it sounds like a fun tradition a lot of people observe.
A favorite Christmas memory is making Christmas cookies and candies. Always love Christmas services at our church.
Yes, my mom always did a lot of baking, too! And attending a Christmas Eve candlelight service every year is one of my favorite childhood memories.
Growing up, my family did not celebrate Christmas and so I don’t have a favorite Christmas memory but with our family (4 kids 5 & under), we’ve committed to making memories…so far my favorite is the Christmas countdown calendar (25 baskets filled with red & green card stock with the names of Christ).
I think traditions, whether tied to Christmas or not, are important to our children. You might enjoy reading my thoughts on Christmas traditions here: https://wonderfilleddays.com/treasuring-traditions/. I love your idea of doing a countdown calendar using the names of Christ. We’re doing an advent calendar this year and also a Jesse Tree using picture books.
Gathering with all my cousins and family and us kids doing a talent show for the adults.
That sounds like a lot of fun to participate in and watch!
My favorite Christmas memories as a small child are going to church with my family on Christmas Eve, shopping for a needy family (I always got to pick out dolls for the girls) & running to the tree on Christmas morning to see what Santa had brought for me.
The Christmas Eve candlelight service is a favorite memory for me, too.