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“The story goes back hundreds of years … to the Middle Ages. In the Old Country — where [Jack's] father’s people lived — times were hard.” The villagers couldn’t afford school, so most couldn’t read. One family wanted to help their neighbors understand the true meaning of Christmas. The father, a woodcarver, wanted to make figures to tell the story of Christ’s birth. His wife knew the people were hungry, so she wanted to bake instead. They decided to work together. The father made wooden molds of all the participants in the first Christmas. His wife filled them with sweet dough. Their children then decorated the baked cookies with berries and sugars. On Christmas Eve the family took their baked creations to the village where a crowd gathered. As the daughter held up each one, the father told the whole story of Jesus’ life. “Ever since that night, generations have passed down the art of making Christmas cookies and of telling the story of the true meaning of Christmas.”

Jack thinks about this story throughout the Christmas Eve service. The next morning his mother gives him the biggest cookie, the angel, as a gift on Christmas morning. When they hear a knock on the door, both hope it’s Jack’s father. Instead it’s a hungry traveller. They are disappointed, but still share their breakfast with him. Jack thinks of his father and hopes some stranger showed compassion to him, too. Jack follows the stranger out into the snow. As he gives him his angel cookie, his only Christmas gift, he explains: “There’s a story that goes with it.” Then Jack tells him the wonderful news. “A Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

The last page of the book offers a little more information of the origin of the Christmas cookie, as well as a simple recipe for sugar cookies.

Deborah Chabrian did a fantastic job as illustrator. Her watercolor illustrations are surprising bold and filled with detail. They evoke a warm, traditional sentiment.

WHAT I LIKE: My daughter loves this book. The story includes tradition, truth, service and evangelism, all in a wonderful harmony of themes. The illustrations are very nice. I love that a recipe is included!

WHAT I DISLIKE: It is difficult to tell when the story takes place. I’m guessing it’s during the ’30s, during the Depression, but this is never really stated in the book. A clear timeframe would have been helpful.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Tanya — Christian Children’s Book Review

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It’s a tradition! Every Christmas my mother and I always make Christmas cookies. It is a tradition that I look forward to every year. Maybe it’s just good quality time, creating something delicious with Mom, but is there more to it than that?

“The Gift of the Christmas Cookie” explains the history of the Christmas cookie. In the Middle Ages, one family saw poverty everywhere they looked. The father wanted to use his talents to create something out of wood for the people in poverty. The mother saw the hungry looks on their faces. Together the family creates something that will serve both needs. It’s a lesson which young Jack learned.

Jack is the main character who has to deal with his own disappointment about his father not being able to be home for Christmas. He and his mother share the tradition of making Christmas cookies for the needy. While making the cookies, Jack learns the more important story of why Christmas cookies have become such a terrific tradition. Dandi Daley Mackall, author, and Deborah Chabrian, illustrator use their talents to create a wonderful book for the whole family to share. Reading “The Gift of the Christmas Cookie” together before making your Christmas cookies could become a new tradition this year!