A Simple Christmas Wish

Rachel Milligan is caring for her seven-year-old niece, Holly, at her home in Chicago when she receives devastating news: Holly's parents have been killed in a plane crash. Because Rachel is Holly's only known relative, she assumes that she will be her beloved niece's guardian. However, custody is awarded to Lydia, a distant aunt who happens to be Amish. Just a week before Christmas, Rachel takes Holly to the Amish community in the hopes of persuading Aunt Lydia to relinquish custody. Instead, Lydia sets out to teach Holly to live according to the Amish way. As family secrets emerge and old wounds are healed, Rachel realizes that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs. Combining an Amish family saga with the anticipation of Christmas cheer and the promise of a budding romance, this newest Christmas story from beloved author Melody Carlson is sure to please.

"After her seven-year-old niece, Holly, becomes the ward of an Amish aunt, Rachel Milligan sets out to do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs. Rachel never imagined that she and her seven-year-old niece would spend the week before Christmas on a quaint Amish farm in Ohio. But with so many unexpected occurrences of late, perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised. With her young niece Holly in tow, Rachel anxiously makes her way from Chicago to Ohio's Amish country. As love begins to blossom, family secrets emerge, and old wounds are healed. Here the author takes us on an emotional journey into the heart of what family truly means at Christmastime."--

Told in rhyming text, a group of excited children prepares for a special Christmas, spreading cheer as they decorate the tree and play in the snow with their friends while waiting for Santa.

It is Pocket's first Christmas. When he goes out into the snow to play with his brothers and sisters, he discovers a sparkling snow angel. It has been left by some children and their footprints wind away from the snow angel's skirt. Pocket asks the snow angel if she knows the meaning of Christmas but, of course, she does not answer. So Pocket decides that if he follows the footprints, they will surely lead him to discover the meaning of Christmas and he hops off. As Pocket follows the footprints his senses are filled with cheer - seeing his happy brothers and sisters playing on the frozen pond, hearing a little bird's joyful song, smelling the fresh wintry scent in the air, tasting the cold snowflakes on his tongue, feeling soft pine needles under his paws - but it is only when he reaches the children's cottage, and a carrot is placed on the doorstep for him, that he comes to an understanding of the meaning of Christmas. For, in sharing the carrot with a hungry wood mouse, Pocket knows the gift of g

Geisel Honor-winning author/illustrator Salina Yoon's beloved character Penguin celebrates the season in Penguin's Christmas Wish--a charming picture book with audio that's perfect for the holidays. Penguin can't wait to celebrate Christmas with his family and friends. But when things don't go exactly as planned, Penguin learns to find holiday magic in the most unexpected places. Countless readers have already come to love the adorable Penguin, and Salina Yoon continues this series with a timeless story of holiday magic and the importance of family and friends. Don't miss these other books from Salina Yoon! The Penguin series Penguin and Pinecone Penguin on Vacation Penguin in Love Penguin and Pumpkin Penguin's Big Adventure Penguin's Christmas Wish The Bear series Found Stormy Night Bear's Big Day The Duck, Duck, Porcupine series Duck, Duck, Porcupine My Kite is Stuck! And Other Stories That's My Book! And Other Stories Be a Friend

Ever since her step-mom brought her a snow globe of the New York City skyline, Annie has wanted to visit the beautiful, big city. Since it's nearing the time of Annie's rumschpringe—the time when Amish youth experience Englisch life to make a decision whether to live in that world or become baptized into the Amish faith—the family decides a visit is a good idea. They watch the Macy's Christmas parade, admire the decorated store windows, skate at the Rockefeller Center rink and— Annie's favorite—get a glimpse of a writer's life while visiting the New York Times building. But others aren't as thrilled with Annie's lure to the Big Apple. Aaron has long been attracted to Annie and is sure he's in love. As he watches her engage in big city life, he grows concerned that she won't want to return to their quieter life. Will Annie follow Aaron back home? Or stay and pursue her dreams? Competing for her attention, Aaron sets out to show Annie that Christmas isn't about the glitz and glamour, but about family, love, and the birth of Jesus.

From beloved author Katherine Rundell comes a clever, funny, and poignant picture book about a lonely little boy who wishes not to be alone on Christmas. A young boy’s Christmas Eve wish on a shooting star leads to an adventure with an ever-hungry rocking horse, an angel whose wings are molting, a robin who has forgotten how to sing, and a rusting tin drummer boy in Katherine Rundell’s classic Christmas story, with Emily Sutton’s gorgeous paintings.

In the tradition of The Snowman and The Polar Express, this cozy Nordic tale filled with extraordinary photographs will have readers of all ages dreaming of magical places where wintry wishes come true. Long ago, a little girl named Anja wanted to be one of Santa's elves. Since she lives somewhat near the North Pole, she thinks about it quite often. One holiday season, she decides to do something about it. So she tidies up her home, straps on her snowshoes, and heads out into the snowy landscape. Enlisting the help of some woodland friends on her wonder-filled journey, Anja makes her way to Santa to see if he might grant her this special Christmas wish. This Read & Listen edition contains audio narration.