Your favorite Christmas movie may have started as a book

Book factoids and new releases in time for Christmas. Tis the Season to Read…

Did you realize that some of the classic Christmas movies started as books? Here are some movies you might be familiar with and the book authors:

• The Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies (released with the movie)
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
• The Year Without A Santa Claus by Phyllis Mcginley
• The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell
• A Christmas Story – book: In God We Trust; All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd
• Cricket On The Hearth by Charles Dickens
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• The House Without A Christmas Tree by Gail Rock
• Christmas With The Kranks – book: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
• The Christmas Wish by Richard Siddoway
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
• Die Hard – book: Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp
• It’s A Wonderful Life – book/story: The Greatest Gift – Philip Van Doren Stern
• The Bishop’s Wife by Robert Nathan
• The Gift Of The Magi (story) by O. Henry
• Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas – book/story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
• Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
• The Nutcracker – book: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
• Meet Me in St. Louis by Sally Benson

Other books of interest…

Long-Expected Jesus: An Advent Devotional

A Kansas City publishing company, The Foundry Publishing (formerly Nazarene Publishing House), has recently released this devotional book that offers a reading for each day from the first Sunday in Advent until Christmas day. Some authors offer warm personal experience, others teach us a bit of Bible background. Every day features a key scripture reading, with more scriptures for those who want to immerse themselves deeper in God’s Word. The book also includes weekly discussion questions and family time prompts. This can be used for personal devotions, for a family, in a small group, or even in a church service—it’s created to be easily adaptable. It’s available for individual or bulk purchases through bookstores or at 1-800-877-0700.

Birth of the Chosen One

Each of the 54 pages in this 8” x 11” book is a delight to the eyes and ears. Foremost, of course, is the story. This is the story of Christ’s birth told in the voice of the First Nations Version of the Bible, which is being created by author Terry Wildman and a council of Native American and First Nations people, with support from Wycliffe and OneBook.ca. If the story of the nativity has grown old to you, this will give you fresh insight. Each page is also a treat to the eyes, thanks to the wonderful illustrations by Ramone Romero, an artist of indigenous descent. Even if you’re not First Nations or Native American, reading this book to your family each year along with your normal scripture version would be a great tradition to start. This is available through Amazon.com or http://www.firstnationsversion.com/birth-of-the-chosen-one/ You can find samples on their website or on their Facebook page.

–Jeanette Gardner Littleton is a writer and editor in Kansas City and co-directs the Heart of America Christian Writers Network (www.HACWN.org).