• by Maxinne Rhea Leighton
    Paperback
    Although this children's book isn't about Scandinavian immigration, the circumstances — the long voyage, fear of the unknown, and reluctance to leave everything familiar — that Krysia, a young Polish girl, goes through are perhaps universal. Two things make this book special: the beautiful and captivating artwork by Dennis Nolan ... ... more

    by Maxinne Rhea Leighton
    Paperback
    Although this children's book isn't about Scandinavian immigration, the circumstances — the long voyage, fear of the unknown, and reluctance to leave everything familiar — that Krysia, a young Polish girl, goes through are perhaps universal. Two things make this book special: the beautiful and captivating artwork by Dennis Nolan that evokes the uncertainty, wonder and dreams felt by many young immigrants, and the fact that it is on Christmas Eve that Krysia spots the Statue of Liberty and realizes that this may be one of many great holidays in a New World. This book can easily be placed on the shelf with the holiday stories families come to treasure year after year. Recommended for ages 5 and up by the publishers, and recommended by this Web site's owner that it be read to children by grandparents or great-grandparents who can steal some quality time to tell another generation stories about their ancestors, embellished or not!
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    by Bob Artley
    Hardcover
    These are tales of Christmas past as only artist and "former kid" Bob Artley can paint them. With fond reminiscences and nostalgic watercolor cartoons and his characteristic humor and insight, Bob takes us back to holiday life on the farm. Artley takes the reader to a long-ago Christmas ... ... more

    by Bob Artley
    Hardcover
    These are tales of Christmas past as only artist and "former kid" Bob Artley can paint them. With fond reminiscences and nostalgic watercolor cartoons and his characteristic humor and insight, Bob takes us back to holiday life on the farm. Artley takes the reader to a long-ago Christmas where we join the family at Grandma's house, celebrate the season at the country school pageant, shop for presents in a country general store, and learn the secrets of Dad's workshop. Artley's reminiscences are like a Christmas card filled with goodwill in which he shares his warmest memories making our own Christmas better. This is a great gift for older relatives who like to remember the past, and for younger ones who want to learn about life in the 1930s through the 1950s.
  • Marilyn Ziebarth & Brian Horrigan, editors
    Hardcover
    Christmas in Minnesota evokes memories of holidays past: a communal feast in the 1870s, holiday pageants accompanied by stage-fright, forgiving and reconnecting with relatives, the torture of writing the perfect annual Christmas letter, to a drummer boy in the Civil War who lifts other soldiers' spirits with a ... ... more

    Marilyn Ziebarth & Brian Horrigan, editors
    Hardcover
    Christmas in Minnesota evokes memories of holidays past: a communal feast in the 1870s, holiday pageants accompanied by stage-fright, forgiving and reconnecting with relatives, the torture of writing the perfect annual Christmas letter, to a drummer boy in the Civil War who lifts other soldiers' spirits with a spontaneous holiday celebration. The fifty short stories are accompanied by vintage recipes, old advertisements and cartoons, and black and white photos including holiday decorations of years gone by. Over 45 Minnesota authors, covering 150 years of the state's history, demonstrate the spirit of Yuletide cheer in Minnesota — in good and in tough times. This anthology, subtitled "a celebration in memories, stories, and recipes of seasons past", was co-edited by Marilyn Ziebarth (editor at at Historical Society Press) and Brian Horrigan (award-winning author and developer of exhibits at the Minnesota Historical Society). Their titles and access to information strengthen the accuracy of this treasured book. Christmas in Minnesota would make a wonderful holiday gift for those with a Minnesota connection, or for those who wish they had one.
  • by John McCutcheon
    Hardcover with CD
    "And suddenly in two tongues one song filled the night sky." John McCutcheon, nominated for six Grammy Awards, has been called "America's balladeer" and has been described as a cross between either Pete Seeger and Mr. Rogers, or a mixture of Will Rogers and Bruce Springsteen. In addition to kudos ... ... more

    by John McCutcheon
    Hardcover with CD
    "And suddenly in two tongues one song filled the night sky." John McCutcheon, nominated for six Grammy Awards, has been called "America's balladeer" and has been described as a cross between either Pete Seeger and Mr. Rogers, or a mixture of Will Rogers and Bruce Springsteen. In addition to kudos for his music, McCutcheon has won multiple Parent's Choice and American Library Association awards for his writing, and numerous awards from educational groups for this particular book — geared to all ages. Along with historically appropriate artistic illustrations (illustrated in beautiful, yet fittingly faded-appearing art by Henri Sørensen, Danish illustrator of many books), recipients of this book will receive the best of two McCutcheon's talents: his touching story about a Christmas Eve truce instigated by the soldiers who were in mud-soaked trenches 100 feet apart — a place called No Man's Land on the battlefields of Belgium, and an accompanying CD reading of this thought-provoking story that also features two of McCutcheon's songs. The book also has the sheet music for his song, "Christmas in the Trenches." The narrator ends the story with "...all too soon the dawn reminded us it was time to get back to our own sides. Back to the trenches. Back to the waiting."
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    by Bob Artley
    Hardcover
    Built in 1877, Bob Artley’s family farm in Hampton, Iowa, was without indoor plumbing and was heated by wood or a coal-burning stove. Yet, the air was filled with love and security, especially during the holiday season. It created a magical childhood that Artley wished every child could experience. Sharing his memories through ... ... more

    by Bob Artley
    Hardcover
    Built in 1877, Bob Artley’s family farm in Hampton, Iowa, was without indoor plumbing and was heated by wood or a coal-burning stove. Yet, the air was filled with love and security, especially during the holiday season. It created a magical childhood that Artley wished every child could experience. Sharing his memories through nationally syndicated articles, other writings, sketches, and 10 books was Artley's way of helping that wish come true. From the arrival of mail-order catalogues to perilous tobogganing sessions, Artley depicts a rural Christmas rich with simple activities that often go unnoticed. In loving detail, he describes the homemade gifts he and his siblings created for their parents, reminisces about sharing family popcorn evenings on cold winter nights, details delightful meals that marked the Yuletide season, and remembers selecting and cutting Christmas trees. This book, packed with watercolor painting and Artley's sketches, emphasizes the joys of family and friends over the excess of material wants and needs. A great holiday gift for those with an appreciation of the past, or those wanting to learn about "the good old days."
  • Edited by Dorothy Dodge Robbins & Kenneth Robbins
    Hardcover
    An excellent gift for people of many ages, regardless of their locale, that brings together unique geographic, historical, and cultural perspectives and memories about winter’s holiday celebrations and traditions. Reviewers of this book have called it "a thought-provoking and inspiring antidote to the dark and icy ... ... more

    Edited by Dorothy Dodge Robbins & Kenneth Robbins
    Hardcover
    An excellent gift for people of many ages, regardless of their locale, that brings together unique geographic, historical, and cultural perspectives and memories about winter’s holiday celebrations and traditions. Reviewers of this book have called it "a thought-provoking and inspiring antidote to the dark and icy days of December" and "a welcome reminder of the many connections we make with each other and the landscape" during the holiday season. The editors have included heart-warming stories by 21 Midwestern writers, some living and some not, and many who are or have been award winners for their contributions to Americana literature. Those of us who have read these short stories with topics ranging from lutefisk and julebukking to sleighbells and twinkling lights congratulate the editors for their choices and agree with yet another reviewer who wrote, "the stories in this collection unwrap like so many holiday packages, revealing a varied assortment of gifts" remniscent of December in the Midwest with days and experiences that vary from the magical to those that are depressing, but all which make for a a rich life.
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    by Ben Logan
    Hardcover
    "As one of my longtime favorite holiday books, I have recommended this book to Rural Route customers for several years, and started fretting two years ago when I could no longer obtain it." SN
    Two years ago I realized this endearing narrative, which combines the importance of nature and the environment on ... ... more

    by Ben Logan
    Hardcover
    "As one of my longtime favorite holiday books, I have recommended this book to Rural Route customers for several years, and started fretting two years ago when I could no longer obtain it." SN
    Two years ago I realized this endearing narrative, which combines the importance of nature and the environment on family life, might soon be out-of-print. I bought up as many as I could, and at that time wrote that it saddened me to tell you that what I had feared had happened; this uplifting book about Christmas holidays in the 20's and 30's in Southwestern Wisconsin, and the impact of surroundings, was no longer available. This year I have great news. It is again available with a new cover, but the same wonderful, touching story.
  • by Jan Brett
    Paperback
    Now affordable as a paperback, this book is worth every penny just for the colorful and magical artwork by popular children's author and illustrator, Jan Brett. As Treva and her family prepare for Christmas, their favorite decorations and the Christmas pudding disappear. Eventually Treva finds the culprits—two trolls who ... ... more

    by Jan Brett
    Paperback
    Now affordable as a paperback, this book is worth every penny just for the colorful and magical artwork by popular children's author and illustrator, Jan Brett. As Treva and her family prepare for Christmas, their favorite decorations and the Christmas pudding disappear. Eventually Treva finds the culprits—two trolls who think they can steal Christmas. She shows these irresistible trolls how to truly have Christmas. Little children will learn about sharing and giving, and all readers will be enchanted -- once more -- by the Scandinavian folk details in Brett's bright, crisply defined art. Pay attention to the page borders where the trolls' charming pet hedgehogs are busy with their own Christmas activities. Set in Bergen, Norway.
  • by Jan Brett
    Hardcover
    Rollo, a playful troll, likes to do whatever he wants, and one day when his parents were asking for help, Rollo did, as usual, whatever he wanted. He ignored his chores and grabbed a backpack and ran away to live with the animals. Through her magnificent drawings, Brett takes Rollo on quite an adventure ... ... more

    by Jan Brett
    Hardcover
    Rollo, a playful troll, likes to do whatever he wants, and one day when his parents were asking for help, Rollo did, as usual, whatever he wanted. He ignored his chores and grabbed a backpack and ran away to live with the animals. Through her magnificent drawings, Brett takes Rollo on quite an adventure in the Scandinavian landscape. Seasons change, Rollo smells smoke reminding him of Christmas and his home. Rollo wants to be home for the holidays. What kind of celebration do troll families have? Does Rollo make it home? Read this sweet story year after year by the Christmas tree.
  • by Helen Ingeborg
    Paperback
    This 32-page revised edition contains directions for common Swedish Christmas crafts, recipes for holiday foods, common phrases, and Christmas songs and traditions. Everything in the books seems easy to follow, and the crafts and recipes utilize common tools and ingredients. Ingeborg explains Swedish traditions such ... ... more

    by Helen Ingeborg
    Paperback
    This 32-page revised edition contains directions for common Swedish Christmas crafts, recipes for holiday foods, common phrases, and Christmas songs and traditions. Everything in the books seems easy to follow, and the crafts and recipes utilize common tools and ingredients. Ingeborg explains Swedish traditions such as the juletomte, the straw julbock, julgranskorg (the heart-shaped paper baskets) and stænegosse, the Star Boy. Order this book in time to celebrate St. Lucia's Day, December 13, one of the highlights of the Swedish and Swedish-American Christmas season.
  • by Kathleen Stokker
    Paperback
    In the last 100 years, Christmas was a warm and regenerative family holiday for many Norwegian-Americans. It was celebrated with family feasts of lutefisk, lefse, rømmegrøt, fattigmann and fruktsuppe. Trees in such homes were decorated with straw ornaments, flags, and heart-shaped baskets.To ensure good luck in the coming year, the hidden nisser in ... ... more

    by Kathleen Stokker
    Paperback
    In the last 100 years, Christmas was a warm and regenerative family holiday for many Norwegian-Americans. It was celebrated with family feasts of lutefisk, lefse, rømmegrøt, fattigmann and fruktsuppe. Trees in such homes were decorated with straw ornaments, flags, and heart-shaped baskets.To ensure good luck in the coming year, the hidden nisser in the barn were fed porridge. However, as time passed and families move farther apart, many of these traditions are being lost, but not really forgotten. For those who want to recapture the Norwegian-American Christmases of the past but can't remember some customs or recipes, this book by Kathleen Stokker, professor of Norwegian at Luther College in Decorah, IA, is an important tool to help pass on family traditions. Detailed with historical facts and tracing the commercial emphases in both Norway and America, and with accounts of ancient and modern Christmases, photographs and recipes, Keeping Christmas reminds Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans of their connections to each other, but also explains how the celebrations in both countries differ. Does anyone else remember julebukking?
  • by Inkeri Karvonen and Hannu Taina
    Hardcover
    This Finnish Christmas story is about a sweet elf called Little Tomte who is anticipating the holiday season. Snow begin, he sings carols and plans to make special treats. Things just don’t go right for Little Tomte and he felt very lonely. Ah, he gets a wonderful idea and he ... ... more

    by Inkeri Karvonen and Hannu Taina
    Hardcover
    This Finnish Christmas story is about a sweet elf called Little Tomte who is anticipating the holiday season. Snow begin, he sings carols and plans to make special treats. Things just don’t go right for Little Tomte and he felt very lonely. Ah, he gets a wonderful idea and he has a very wonderful holiday—of his own making.