Book Notes: The Angels on My Tree

Who doesn't love wonderful Christmas books? We keep ours packed away with our Christmas decorations and then I pull out our book collection, wrap up 25 in tissue paper and we open one everyday through Advent. My children love this tradition! So I'm always on the lookout for new and sweet books to add to our collection. Not all books make the cut. In fact, the more we acquire, the pickier we become about what book is going to displace another so our standards are high.

This year we are delighted to have discovered The Angels on My Tree by Lu Ann Scnable Kaldor. This lovely book is about the first Christmas a family has after the father has passed away. There is a mother and a son and instead of dwelling on their loss, they go seek beauty in the world. I think this is a fantastic idea. We discover God through the beauty of the world and they seek it out by visiting a museum.

At the museum they see a big Christmas tree with many angel ornaments. The mother says that the angels are there on the tree "thinking of ways to make the miracle of Christmas visible to all." The child asks if they can do the same and together they agree to do small acts of kindness leading up to Christmas. Each time they do an act of kindness, they put an angel on their tree.

The idea is so simple and sweet and my girls really enjoy the idea. It helps them to think of others at Christmas time instead of wondering about gifts and cookies. The book is big and the illustrations are beautiful. At the end of the book, there are several pages with lines on them for you to write your own kindness acts. I like that it's a book to be used and it really encourages action!

I suggest you buy this book and use it right away! It will add a nice theme to your Christmastime and give you great idea for focusing on others. I also think this book would be a great comfort to those who lost loved ones during the year. I feel like it honors them without being too difficult to read. I may get a little teary eyed but the joy that's found in the book helps me keep the tears at bay and to keep reading.

What small acts of kindness are you doing this year to make the miracle of Christmas visible to all?

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