An Ornaments' Tale

Chet Spiewak
CWS Studios, Inc. (2006)
ISBN 9780978582708
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (10/06)

Percy and his friends wait eagerly for the arrival of the Christmas tree.  Christmas is their favorite time of year.  They prepared to be hung on the tree by cleaning and shining themselves, and then they climbed back into their box and waited.  They felt their box moving but no one took them out of the box.  Someone had hidden their box in the back part of the attic.  Skitter and the other Halloween ornaments had played a trick on them. 

The Christmas ornaments teach Skitter and his friends the meaning of Christmas by giving him a gift.  “We didn’t mean to be mean.”  Skitter helped his new friends to find a way to the tree. 

This is a beautifully written book.  The story teaches the meaning of Christmas in a manner that children can understand it.  The illustrations are magnificent and make me want an ornament of each.  The story is written simply enough for a four year old to understand and yet an 8 year old will still enjoy.  The print is a nice size for grandparent’s eyes.   The cover is beautifully done and promises good things inside.

This delightful book is sure to become a seasonal favorite.  Your favorite children will rush to the bookshelf each year to retrieve Percy, Fiona, Stanley, Spencer, Topher, and Crystal.  The sugar cookies and hot chocolate will be waiting next to my favorite chair as the grandchildren climb into my lap.  I intend to read this book to each of my grandchildren this year.  I am honored to recommend this book to parents and grandparents of children up to 8 years old.  Well-done Mr. Spiewak!
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