The holiday season continues as we see red and green decorations being put up in every store and home. The weather is getting colder and it’s about time to spend after-dinner time snuggling near the fireplace – or, just turn on the heater and have warm cookies and a glass of cold milk. Afterwards, you may want to take out the Christmas blings from the previous year and work on ushering in the festive spirit inside your home. For me – the sleep-deprived graduate student of a mother – that Christmas vibe was felt on the first of December when I saw a red stocking in a box. It was a book actually; a book that tells the story behind the gift-filled red stocking.
Written by Crystal Bowman and illustrated by Claudine Gévry, My Christmas Stocking is a walk down memory lane from hundreds and hundreds of years ago to remember the man who started the tradition of giving…in secret.
In this book, Bowman introduces children to Saint Nicholas, the first and original Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas has a generous heart who gave and shared what he had to the poor and needy. He wasn’t flamboyant and showy, he did it in secret. Bowman presented a happy St. Nicholas who found joy in giving and in sharing. Although it did not directly state it, this story tells children that the modern Santa Claus that everyone loves evolved from this selfless, generous, kindhearted man named Nicholas.
Written using rhymes and simple sentences, My Christmas Stocking provides a simple explanation of why we hang stockings at home and then find them with goodies the morning after.
This is a short and sweet book that tells the story of the origin of our gift-filled red stockings albeit, not including a lot of details. The details presented in this book are simple and straightforward for young children to understand, enough to establish an early knowledge of this tradition which can be a springboard for future questions and discussions. (I found this from National Geographic and might help you in refreshing your memory about St. Nicholas and the origin of Santa Claus.)
We have a son named Nicholas and this book will tell him about that one man whom he is blessed to be a sharing a name with.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the Booklook Bloggers program in exchange for honest reviews. I was not required to write a positive review. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
