On a quiet farm one snowy Christmas Eve, a young girl settles in by the fire, until a crash in the woods shatters the stillness. Armed with an axe and a brave heart, she steps into the shadows to face whatever strange creature might be lurking in the dark. What follows is a funny, suspenseful, whimsical tale told in lyrical rhyme and vibrant illustrations—a story of about overcoming our fears and finding magic and community when (and where) we least expect it.
On a quiet farm one snowy Christmas Eve, a young girl settles in by the fire, until a crash in the woods shatters the stillness. Armed with an axe and a brave heart, she steps into the shadows to face whatever strange creature might be lurking in the dark. What follows is a funny, suspenseful, whimsical tale told in lyrical rhyme and vibrant illustrations—a story of about overcoming our fears and finding magic and community when (and where) we least expect it.
The holidays are fast approaching, and A Mysterious Christmas Visitor is the perfect book to get readers into the holiday spirit!
It was the night before Christmas, and a darling girl was nestled under a blanket, reading a book by firelight. Her house is filled with the lovely aroma of freshly baked cookies and piping hot stew. All is quiet inside the farmhouse, but outside, something is stirring in the darkness. The sweet young lady swallows her fear and ventures out into the cold winter's night, but not without an axe. Brilliant idea, especially since she has no idea what awaits her in the dark woods.
The young girl, a beacon of bravery, ventured out alone into the snowy forest. When she spotted the 'monstrous Thing' and what she assumed was its glowing purple eye, she didn't flee. Instead, she weighed her options: run, stay and fight, or offer them some of their delicious food? When the 'monstrous Thing' came into view and spoke, the child needed a moment to collect herself and allow her brain to register what was happening. For many readers, the instinct would've been to run back to the safety of the house. But she didn't. And it's a good thing she didn't, because they were about to have a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
The Christmastime character's story of how they ended up in these woods was amusing. Their facial expression when offered the stew was a moment of pure comedy. Read the story to find out why, but don't worry, no animals were harmed in the making of the stew!
A Mysterious Christmas Visitor is a wonderful story told through lyrical rhymes and beautiful illustrations. Some rhyme choices may require explanation to younger audiences, such as the use of "warily," "altitude," "barbarian," and "adieu." Some readers may also be unaware that "venison" refers to deer meat, a key element in understanding why the reindeer's expression is so memorable in one scene.
Besides delivering a lovely Christmas story, the writer included a section on why reindeer are amazing. There, readers will discover interesting facts about these beautiful animals. For example, a reindeer's eye color and hooves change depending on whether it's winter or summer. They are also super-fast runners! Catch these fun facts, plus many more, in the final pages of this delightful children's book.
Get in the holiday spirit and read A Mysterious Christmas Visitor to your little ones today! My recommended reading age is kids 9 years and younger.
Score: 4.5 stars