Scan barcode
A review by reneesmith
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
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.