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madhamster's review
5.0
A book that celebrates the true spirit of Christmas. A grieving widower is brought out of his gloom by a young boy and his mother. Yep, sounds like a plot of many a romance novel - but this is an illustrated story for older children.
Mr Toomey (known to the village children as Mr Gloomy) is asked to carve a replacement nativity scene for a recently arrived widow and her children. Over time the two visit him and the young boy offers advice on how the pieces should look.
It is lovely. And I'm so pleased I found this edition.
Mr Toomey (known to the village children as Mr Gloomy) is asked to carve a replacement nativity scene for a recently arrived widow and her children. Over time the two visit him and the young boy offers advice on how the pieces should look.
It is lovely. And I'm so pleased I found this edition.
caseysilk's review against another edition
5.0
Another beautiful picture book that I missed along the way. Thanks to a friend for bringing me up to speed.
reneesmith's review against another edition
5.0
“Christmas is pish-posh,” grumbles Jonathan Toomey. An expression which also sums up his view of life. He’s the best woodcarver in the valley, but all the villagers notice is that he keeps to himself. And he never smiles.
One day in early winter, the Widow McDowell comes to town. Unaware of his reputation, she calls on Jonathan with a request. Would he carve her a new crèche in time for Christmas? The catch: she wants her young son Thomas to observe the process. This simple consignment leads to a miracle as we watch Thomas undermine the gruff man’s defenses. Soon Jonathan’s Scrooge-like personality is totally transformed by an innocent seven-year-old boy.
I love a story of redemption and second chances, and Susan Wojciechowski’s book is one of my all-time favorites. It’s especially powerful because of P. J. Lynch’s lush illustrations, which bring the tale to vivid life. According to Booklist, this story is aimed at children aged 4 to 9. However, I know that when I read this to my fellow teachers during a morning devotion, we all ended up with tears in our eyes.
One day in early winter, the Widow McDowell comes to town. Unaware of his reputation, she calls on Jonathan with a request. Would he carve her a new crèche in time for Christmas? The catch: she wants her young son Thomas to observe the process. This simple consignment leads to a miracle as we watch Thomas undermine the gruff man’s defenses. Soon Jonathan’s Scrooge-like personality is totally transformed by an innocent seven-year-old boy.
I love a story of redemption and second chances, and Susan Wojciechowski’s book is one of my all-time favorites. It’s especially powerful because of P. J. Lynch’s lush illustrations, which bring the tale to vivid life. According to Booklist, this story is aimed at children aged 4 to 9. However, I know that when I read this to my fellow teachers during a morning devotion, we all ended up with tears in our eyes.
aylea's review against another edition
5.0
This review originally published at The Children's Book and Media Review
Johnathan Toomey is called Mr. Gloomy by the village children because he never smiles and sits alone carving wood most of the time. His life changes when the widow McDowell and her son, Thomas, come to him asking that he would carve a set of Christmas figures for her. As Thomas and the widow describe the pieces and watch him work, they are initially put off by Mr. Toomey’s gruffness. However, as Thomas provides Mr. Toomey with suggestions on how the figures should look, the widow and her son start to become friends with the woodcarver. Slowly Mr. Toomey begins to heal from the thing that made him so gloomy for so long through their friendship and thinking about the miracle of Christmas.
The 20th anniversary of this Christmas classic is a beautiful story of how love and Christmas can touch hearts. Thomas’s descriptions of the individual figures and characters in the nativity make the Christmas story feel more real to both Mr. Toomey and the readers. The anniversary edition has a new cover, but the story and the classic beautiful illustrations are the same as what previous readers of the book will remember. This book is a classic picture book that should not be missed during the Christmas season.
Johnathan Toomey is called Mr. Gloomy by the village children because he never smiles and sits alone carving wood most of the time. His life changes when the widow McDowell and her son, Thomas, come to him asking that he would carve a set of Christmas figures for her. As Thomas and the widow describe the pieces and watch him work, they are initially put off by Mr. Toomey’s gruffness. However, as Thomas provides Mr. Toomey with suggestions on how the figures should look, the widow and her son start to become friends with the woodcarver. Slowly Mr. Toomey begins to heal from the thing that made him so gloomy for so long through their friendship and thinking about the miracle of Christmas.
The 20th anniversary of this Christmas classic is a beautiful story of how love and Christmas can touch hearts. Thomas’s descriptions of the individual figures and characters in the nativity make the Christmas story feel more real to both Mr. Toomey and the readers. The anniversary edition has a new cover, but the story and the classic beautiful illustrations are the same as what previous readers of the book will remember. This book is a classic picture book that should not be missed during the Christmas season.
llu343's review against another edition
4.0
This is a wonderful story to read aloud and share with anyone who wants to listen. The story has beautiful message and uses repetition to do so. The story ended was short and sweet, but filled with a powerful message. I haven't read picture books in a long time and I'm glad this was the one that brought me back to them. The illustrations in this book are beautiful.
scottbungalowreads's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
imaclogger23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
philosopher_kj's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief
simplymary's review against another edition
4.0
We started a tradition of letting the kids pick one wrapped Christmas book per night in December and reading it to them. Matthew bought a bunch of new books and it's been fun to read them together. This one takes the cake, hands down. Both the story and the illustrations are top-notch. The author's objective was to write a story that captures the power of the hope of Christmas illuminating despondency, and the illustrator spent a lot of time researching the period to get all the details right. I found myself savoring every page, spending time poring over the touching illustrations, smiling at the child's words, wondering how it would end. I'm happy to own it so I can revisit this work of art each December.
rachelmcg2004's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, and Death of parent