Enjoy A Reading Tradition

Mon., Dec. 25, 1995

Lynn Gibson Correspondent

In my family, Christmas is steeped in traditions, some started early in our marriage and others added as our three children were born.

Our kids are now the “tradition police” and if any deviation occurs, it is quickly exposed with the phrase “WE DON’T DO IT THAT WAY!” underscoring how strongly they, too, embrace our yuletide customs.

My favorite tradition is the yearly Christmas book I purchase to grace our coffee table and gratify our hearts. Over 10 years I have accumulated the humorous, the historical and the how-to.

But a handful of these books are treasures. Each year we remove them from dusty boxes, anticipating another season of laughter and warmth coming from the familiar pages read over and over.

Over and over is how many times we have read the words of Clement Clarke Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” (Rand McNally). Tasha Tudor illustrates our hardback edition in lovely watercolors and the kids’ favorite page is the splendrous “visions of sugarplums.” This American classic is known by heart and enjoyed from the heart.

Another classic tale is O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” (Simon and Schuster) which speaks to us all about the true nature of love and the joy of giving, particularly when it involves great sacrifice.

Kevin King’s simple illustrations perfectly evoke the nostalgic charm of turn-of-the-century New York one snowy Christmas Eve. I love this story and hope my children grow into it.

The award-winning story that takes no growing into (and hopefully never growing out of) is “The Polar Express” written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin).

For any child doubting the spirit of Santa Claus, here is a story magical to the last sentence: “Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.” At this point, any trace of worldly cynicism is snuffed out.

The story of Christ’s birth in the manger takes on new significance when told from the perspectives of the innkeeper in “Jesus’ Christmas Party” by Nicholas Allan (Random House) and the shepherds in “They Followed a Bright Star” by Ulises Wensell (Putnam).

The first is a funny and warmly human story about an innkeeper who turns grouchy when his sleep is interrupted first by Mary and Joseph seeking shelter, then by the request for “another, smaller blanket,” then by shepherds, three kings, a bright star and finally a loud chorus of singing.

He gets huffier each time he directs people to the stable “ROUND THE BACK!” until he finally storms the stable and lays eyes on the Christ child. At that point, everything changes and the end is delightful.

The poignant message in Wensell’s book, from the shepherd’s vantage point, is that all of us can prepare for the Christ child in our own way. He illuminates the Christmas story by telling not only of those who followed the bright star, but some others a fisherman, a plowman and a farmer who stay behind to play a part in the miracles to come. My children enjoy this story on one level, and I, with a larger view of things, am touched on another level. Stories like this which touch both parent and child make our Christmas book tradition more precious than, well, gold, frankincense and myrrh. xxxx

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