Home for Christmas: Stories for Young and Old compiled by Miriam LeBlanc, 2002.
Disclosure: Plough Publishing House sent a copy of this book to me for review purposes, but the opinions in the review are my own.
This is a collection of short Christmas stories written by famous authors from around the world. One of the things that I found interesting about the selection of authors in the book is that many of them are better known for writing on very different themes. Among the authors in this book are Madeleine L’Engle, who is known for writing science fiction, such as A Wrinkle in Time; Elizabeth Goudge, who wrote the mid-20th century classic children’s fantasy story The Little White Horse (later made into the film called The Secret of Moonacre); Katherine Paterson, known for her children’s novels, including Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved, and historical novels set in Asia, such as The Master Puppeteer; and Pearl S. Buck, author of The Good Earth.
Although the book is intended for children and families and many of the authors are known for writing for children and young adults, I think that many of the stories wouldn’t particularly appeal to children, especially younger children, because children wouldn’t be likely to understand them or they have darker themes, like bitterness that must be overcome and grief at the death of a child. The stories generally end well, but for young children, something simpler and lighter in subject matter, like the short stories in Merry Christmas from Eddie, would be more appealing. Really, I think this book would be best for adults, although I noted some of the more child-friendly stories.
One thing that I wished the book included is sections of information that explain a little more about the stories behind the stories. I recognized the historical references behind some of the stories, but other readers, particular children, might require a little more explanation to fully appreciate them. I think that’s another good reason why the stories might appeal more to adults.
There are 20 stories contained in the book. Each of the stories in the book has one black-and-white picture in an old-fashioned woodcut style.
I don’t think that there are any copies of this book available to read for free online, but this book is available for purchase through Plough Publishing House.
The stories contained in this book are:
Brother Robber by Helene Christaller
A young monk sends three robbers away without food before Christmas because they are violent criminals, but an older monk convinces him to have compassion and to find them and give them the food they have asked for.
The compassionate brother, Brother Francis, is St. Francis of Assisi, although it is not explicitly explained in the story, and the younger brother, Brother Angelo, is the main character. The story of St. Francis, Brother Angelo, and the robbers is an old one that has been told before in other forms, but this is a good rendition.
Three Young Kings by George Summer Albee
Three boys at a school in Cuba are given the role of playing the Three Kings in their school play as well as delivering presents to the rest of the children in their community, giving them presents that their parents have already bought for them. However, their task proves harder than they thought when they see how upset the poor children are that they pass their houses and leave nothing because their parents couldn’t afford presents. What can they do?
This is a good book for talking about making choices. In the end, the community is satisfied with the boys’ choice, but a good topic for discussion after this story would be what the community will choose to do next year, when new boys become the Three Kings.
Transfiguration by Madeleine L’Engle
A nun in New York City struggles to answer a poor man’s questions about why Christmas should be so “merry” when there are so many poor people and bad things happening in the world. The real answer comes to her after the man tries to rob her.
The Cribmaker’s Trip to Heaven by Reimmichl
Willibald Krautmann spends his life making manger scenes for Christmas, and he is sure that his work will earn him a place in Heaven. Unfortunately, when he dies, he is not received in Heaven as he thought and, confronted with the history of his faults that prevents him from entering, he must seek an advocate to help him plead his case. However, it’s not too late for him to mend his ways, and the reader is left to imagine how much was real and how much was dream.
The Guest by Nikolai S. Lesskov
Timofai was a bitter young man, an orphan defrauded of his inheritance by his uncle. After a violent fight with his uncle, he is sent into exile in Siberia. Even after his life improves and he marries and has a family of his own, he still finds himself bitter about the injustice that was done to him. Is there anything that his friend and brother-in-law can say that will help him? When he finally meets his uncle again, after many years, will they both get the closure they really need?
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck
An older man and his wife decide how to spend Christmas now that their children are grown and living their own lives, separately. As the man reflects on Christmases past, he realizes that love is what makes Christmas special and what you do to show other people how much you love them.
This is one of those stories that I think adults would understand more than children, although it’s a good thought to explain to older children.
The Other Wise Man by Henry van Dyke
The story of a wise man who set out to follow the star at Christmas, like the others, but didn’t arrive at Bethlehem with them because he stopped to help someone. Although he arrives too late to see the Christ Child, he is in the right places to help people because he set out on the journey. At the end of his life, this wise man does actually see Jesus at his crucifixion.
This is a famous 19th century story.
The Miraculous Staircase by Arthur Gordon
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1878, an unusual carpenter promises that he can build a staircase to a church choir loft, even though the original architect didn’t leave space for stairs. Even though other carpenters had failed to find a solution to the problem, the mysterious stranger solves it. But, who was that mysterious carpenter, and how did he do it?
This is actually based on a true story! I’ve been to the church in Santa Fe, the Loretto Chapel, and I’ve seen this staircase myself! The short story ends with a few details about the history of the event.
No Room in the Inn by Katherine Paterson
When an eighteen-year-old boy’s parents leave him alone at the family’s inn, which is closed for Christmas while they visit his sister’s family, he’s a little sad at spending Christmas alone but also looking forward to some freedom to relax. However, a mysterious stranger who needs a place for the night changes his plans.
The Chess Player by Ger Koopman
The Christ Child must help an old man to forgive his estranged daughter on Christmas. Can the Christ Child soften a hardened heart over a game of chess?
The Christmas Lie by Dorothy Thomas
A poor young girl from a large family invents a story that some friends have invited the whole family to join them for Christmas dinner when, in fact, no invitation has been made. It had really been more of an impulsive wish that they had been invited, but when her family believes her and begins preparing for the event, can the girl find the courage to admit the truth? What will happen when everyone realizes that she lied?
This is one of the better child-centered stories in the book.
The Riders of St. Nicholas by Jack Schaefer
A group of cowboys have to decide which of them are going into town to celebrate Christmas and which of them will be staying on the ranch. The ones who get left behind plan a small feast for themselves as consolation for being left out of the fun. However, their plans change when they rescue a neighbor who got drunk and almost froze in a snowstorm.
Grandfather’s Stories by Ernst Wiechert
An old coachman tells stories that his grandfather told him. One Christmas Eve, his grandfather’s grandfather was driving a coach and saw a strange, smiling boy who seemed to be asking for something. Although his employer wanted him to drive on, the coachman gave the boy a ride, and it turns out to be the beginning of a miracle. In another story, a cruel master is changed for the better when he sees that the victim of his cruelty is Christ.
The Vexation of Barney Hatch by B.J. Chute
A panhandler gets recruited as a store Santa and helps a poor boy who only wants a harmonica.
The Empty Cup by Opal Menius
King Herod, knowing of a prophecy that a new king would be born, attempted to kill the new king to preserve his own power. Unable to tell which baby would be the prophesied king, Jesus, he ordered all of the boy babies in the area to be killed.
This story focuses on a man whose only child was killed. His wife seems unable to get over the shock and grief of their son’s death until another little boy teaches her how to get over a loss.
The Well of the Star by Elizabeth Goudge
The Well of the Star is a well where legend has it that the Wise Men stopped on their way to see Jesus. David is a poor shepherd boy who is left behind when the other shepherds go to see the baby Jesus. He is visited by the archangel Michael, who sends him to join the others, meeting the Wise Men on the way.
This is one of the better child-centered stories in the book.
A Certain Small Shepherd by Rebecca Caudill
Jamie’s mother died shortly after his birth, and for much of his young life, Jamie is unable to talk. When he begins going to school, he does well, except that he can’t answer questions out loud in class and not at all if he doesn’t know how to spell the word that he wants. It’s frustrating. However, when his teacher makes him a shepherd in the school Christmas play and his family has some unexpected visitors in a snowstorm, things change.
This is one of the better child-centered stories in the book.
The Carpenter’s Christmas by Peter K. Rosegger
The carpenter’s wife thinks that he isn’t be pious enough on Christmas, but he has an important job to do for someone less fortunate.
What the Kings Brought by Ruth Sawyer
In Spain, the tradition is that the Three Kings bring presents to children on Twelfth Night. A traveler in Spain shortly before Twelfth Night meets a poor young boy who is desperately trying to raise money to buy a new burro to help his father on his farm. The traveler and his friend come up with an idea to help the boy without it seeming like charity.
This is one of the better child-centered stories in the book.
The Christmas Rose by Selma Lagerlof
A Robber Mother trespasses on monastery ground and angers the monks when she tells them that their beautiful herb garden cannot compare to the way the forest looks on Christmas Eve. Abbot Hans decides to pay the Robber family a visit on Christmas, although it ends up being his last.
#4 Mandie and the Forbidden Attic by Lois Gladys Leppard, 1985.
#3 Mandie and the Ghost Bandits by Lois Gladys Leppard, 1984.
#2 Mandie and the Cherokee Legend by Lois Gladys Leppard, 1983.
Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard, 1983.
Valentine Blues by Jeanne Betancourt, 1990.
Abigail by Portia Howe Sperry and Lois Donaldson, 1938.
Starlight in Tourrone by Suzanne Butler, 1965.
At first, most of the adults in the village are skeptical. Since there are no young couples living there anymore and no babies have been born there for several years, no one knows where the mother and child for the Nativity scene will come from. Many of the adults are too busy with their own problems and worries about the future to help. Still, the children continue to work faithfully on their plans, drawing in the adults in spite of themselves.
Just as people in the village start to feel hopeful again, something happens that threatens to ruin everything, but there is still one more miracle yet to come, thanks in part to the one person who never doubted it would happen.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, 1972.
Although the Herdmans don’t get the cake Charlie mentioned and have little interest in Jesus, they begin to be fascinated by the description of the pageant and decide to stick around. The Herdmans love movies, and the idea of being in any kind of play strikes them as fun. Although the Christmas pageant basically goes the same way every year, typically using the same kids for the same parts, once the Herdmans make up their minds that they want the starring roles, they manage to push and bully their way right into the center of everything.
At first, the more conservative adults in the church are horrified at the prospect of what the wild Herdmans might do on Christmas itself, but the minister and the lady overseeing the pageant decide to give the Herdmans a chance. As the title says, it ends up being The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as the Herdmans unexpectedly bring out parts of the Christmas story that the other people who had taken the story for granted hadn’t really thought about much: the simple human reactions of a poor young couple who were strangers in a new town, the fear and expectation that accompany doing something great but unfamiliar and confusing, and the sense of wonder and surprise that are at the heart of the Christmas season.
Jestress's Forgotten Books and Stories 