April 2026 Master Class
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J.J. Fischer specializes in fantastic Christian fantasy, and her newest book, Christmas on The Goblin Express, might her most fun read yet. This cozy Christmas romantasy is the perfect book to kick off the holiday season. A Summary of the Story: To escape Christmas,...
Today, I’d like to introduce Sonja Anderson and her new picture book, A Christmas Wish for Little Dala Horse: A St. Lucia Celebration (illustrated by Agnieszka Potocka) just out this fall from Tyndale Kids. This lovely story of love and hope is sure to become a...
I’m excited to share with you two unique Christmas pictures books that have released this month. As we head into the holiday season, be sure to check these out! They would make the perfect gift for the child in your life. Meanwhile, Back at the Manger by Brenda Covert...
Author Olivia Armstrong has a new release from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers entitled The Birds of Christmas . It is beautifully illustrated by artist Mira Miroslavova and is based on a European folktale. This Christmas tale chronicles how the robin got his red...
It’s August, and I have another Christmas book for you! This time it’s because the release date is September 2nd. That’s 2 weeks away! Summary In a tiny barn in Bethlehem, Old Hannah the cow lives alone until the cold wind drives other animals to seek shelter. One by...
I know it’s not the Christmas season, but let’s have a little Christmas in July fun! Summary Bacon’s Very Important Christmas Job, written and illustrated by Tina Neely, is the story about Bacon, a potbelly pig who wants to help his forever family with Christmas...
The crisp winter air tweaks my nose as I admire the glow of my town’s twinkling lights. Everywhere I look, I see Christmas trees, bright-eyed children, and outdoor Nativity scenes. The Christmas season fills me with warmth, like a long-forgotten promise of joy being...
Christmas is NEXT WEEK. It comes every December 25th and yet, it always sneaks up on me. As much as I try to focus on the meaning, I often get caught up in the commercial prep. I look for the perfect gift. I look for the perfect decorations. I look for the perfect...
It always bugged me that depictions of Christ’s birth show the wisemen there alongside the shepherds. It just isn’t very accurate. Matthew 2 says that “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea…Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” (emphasis added). While I...
By now, you’ve probably seen Linus tell Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about, seen Snoopy reunite with his brother Spike, and felt empathy for poor Rerun who is probably still stuck on that bike. For many, it’s tradition to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas...
Tis the Season Tis the season to savor excellent Christmas books! This week you’re in for a treat with a review of MOUSE’S CHIRSTMAS GIFT. To top it off, we have an autographed giveaway copy. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la! Review When Parson gets sick, the...
Sharing Christmas books such as Happy Birthday, Christmas Child with little ones is a wonderful way to provide time to treasure the true story of Christmas.
Those of us who celebrate the birth of Christ at this time of year are being distracted by the goodies of this world. Stuff. Celebration. Santa. Food. And more stuff.
But what about Christmas?
I'm baking. The wonderful aromas of spices, vanilla & chocolates fill my house. My kitchen is a big mess with flour & sugar everywhere. Chocolate chips & sprinkles decorate my island. My little freezer is bulging with the goodies I'm making to share with...
A few years ago I was doing some shopping in our local mall (formerly the largest in the nation, at a time when malls were a new concept.) I, of course, expected to see the typical Santa scene, with lines of tots waiting to sit on the lap of this fatherly figure to...
I’m usually an optimistic person, but lately it’s become more and more difficult for me to muster optimism as I read the newspaper or watch the evening news. Even my Facebook and Twitter feeds are not immune to the avalanche of bad news. Headlines and links are posted...
Show; don’t tell. We hear it all the time. Don’t tell the reader, show the reader. Draw readers into your story. Make it easy for them to feel as if they're in the middle of whatever you’re writing. Prompted by a recent series of blog posts on the Hartline Literary...
For me, this has been one of my best Christmases ever, though you probably wouldn’t have guessed it: My daughter’s family lives in North Carolina, and they spent Christmas with her husband’s family again, where there are plenty of children of all ages for the...