There are certain books that evoke emotion in us. Usually, it’s because of nostalgia. We associate certain things with various times in our lives. When I happened to stumble upon Christmas Eve Blizzard, by Andrea Vlahakis, I felt a surge of nostalgia, for my own childhood, my own discoveries, and my own relationships with nature and with my grandparents.
The delightful book, published by Sylvan Dell Publishing, tells the tail of a young boy named Nicholas, his grandpa, and a Cardinal. One day, in the middle of a snowstorm, Nicholas sees a Cardinal fall off of an apple tree branch outside his window. He quickly pulls on his warm clothing and rescues the fallen bird. When he brings him back inside, Nicholas tells his grandpa what he has found. Together they build the bird a cage. “When you do good, good will come back to you,” the grandpa tells Nicholas.
In the morning, as Christmas arrives, Nicholas’s grandpa tells him they must let the bird go, since he has now regained his strength. Together they release the bird, not knowing if they will see him again.
Time passes and the bird does not return. Nicholas grows and continues to look out his window for the bird. He does not see him, but strangely, every Christmas Eve, onlookers stand open-mouthed and marvel at the little apple tree, which suddenly fills with bright red Cardinals.
Christmas Eve Blizzard is a beautifully written book. The messages in the book are appropriate for all ages. The illustrations, by Emanuel Schongut, delicately portray the harsh conditions of the storm and tell the tale in pictures as effectively as it is told in words.
Additionally, this book contains various phrases in Spanish. Nicholas refers to his grandpa as “abuelo,” and they each intermingle a few Spanish words within the text. The words and phrases are identified within the book and are also included in a glossary in the back of the book.
The thing that makes Sylvan Dell books so unique is that they each contain a Creative Minds section in the back of the book. For educators, this information provides a wealth of classroom activity ideas. For moms and dads, this information is a great way to expand your child’s knowledge and to learn various crafts you can do at home to teach your child about birds.
Christmas Eve Blizzard was a 2005 finalist for the ASPCAR Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award. It makes a heartwarming addition to any library collection and is a perfect read-aloud book during the holidays or any time of year.
ISBN: 0-9764943-3-7
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