Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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heidimomof7
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Posted: Oct 28 2008 at 4:09pm | IP Logged Quote heidimomof7

Our homeschooling group has a monthly literature group, in which the older children come to the class having already read the novel ready to discuss and do an activity. I need a good Christmas novel for middle grade aged children. I taught Dickens's A Christmas Carol last year and have looked at Elizabeth's list, but wanted more suggestions. Thanks, Heidi B.
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LeeAnn
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Posted: Oct 28 2008 at 11:41pm | IP Logged Quote LeeAnn

Hmm, my shelves contain lots of Christmas picture books but few Xmas-themed books for older readers. My only suggestions are: Christmas Stories of George MacDonald, Father Christmas Letters of JRR Tolkien and Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies. I'm sure there are more out there.... I look forward to finding out others' suggestions!

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Elena
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Posted: Oct 29 2008 at 8:07am | IP Logged Quote Elena

O'Henry - gift of the Maggi!

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heidimomof7
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Posted: Oct 31 2008 at 8:01am | IP Logged Quote heidimomof7

Thank you, I requested the books you suggested from the library for consideration. I appreciate your suggestions! Heidi
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SuzanneG
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Posted: Nov 03 2008 at 12:07am | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

There are some suggestions from this thread from last year. Some are picture books, etc.....but there may be something in there worth looking for at your library to see if it's a good fit.

Advent Reading for Strong Reader

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Nov 03 2008 at 12:11am | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

And.....putting in a plug for The Trees Kneel....it was mentioned on that above-referenced thread, but thought I'd point it out. On Amazon, it says Gr. 4-6 reading level.

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heidimomof7
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Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 8:06am | IP Logged Quote heidimomof7

Thanks to both of you also. I just found a Christmas story book that has several of the ones mentioned in last year's Advent story post. I was just thinking of The Other Wise Man before I saw it suggested. God bless, Heidi
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Cay Gibson
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Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 8:56am | IP Logged Quote Cay Gibson

The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett

*****
"A lieutenant walks away from a battle in France during World War I. Tired of the fighting and unable to see, he wants to return home to England. Two French sisters living near the English Channel find him and provide him with food and other supplies. The girls quickly realize that caring for the soldier is more than they can handle and involve their brother and his friend. As the days pass and the boys work on a plan to help the man across the channel, the soldier shows the children a small good-luck charm in the shape of a donkey. During the course of the book, he tells them four tales about the creature, the first one being a version of the Christmas Story. Gradually, readers learn that the soldier is not blind, but that he has closed his eyes to the violence around him. This is a charming book in many ways. In spite of its setting, it's a gentle story that introspective readers will find satisfying." –Jane G. Connor, South Carolina State Library, Columbia

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nissag
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Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 9:42am | IP Logged Quote nissag

It has to be Little Women... I love that book.



We have also enjoyed reading two Dear America books aloud at Christmas.

"When Christmas Comes Again" - WWI
"Christmas After All" - WW2

HTH!

Blessings,

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margot helene
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Posted: Nov 08 2008 at 8:01pm | IP Logged Quote margot helene

I was looking for something else and came upon these two Christmas books: The Way to Christmas by Ruth Sawyer andThe Christmas Porringer by Evaleen Stein at this page. (scroll down to the bottom of the page)

I've never read them, but they look interesting. We have also like Holly and Ivy.

Margot
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Posted: Nov 10 2008 at 11:23am | IP Logged Quote donnalynn

By middle grades do you mean grades 5 and 6 or grades 7 and 8?

I just found "Miracle in the Wilderness, A Christmas Story of Colonial America" by Paul Gallico at my local library. It's out of print by I think it can found easily.

It's a small book about 53 pages long - I would suggest you read through it first but I think there could be some great topics for discussion.

There is one sort of strange reference to the Inquisition which might want to be handled with discussion. But other than that, it is a thoughtful story about the collision of cultures, prayer, faith, and a Christmas miracle!




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Bookswithtea
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Posted: Nov 10 2008 at 4:15pm | IP Logged Quote Bookswithtea

In the other thread, The Top O Christmas Morning was referenced. Can anyone tell me more about this story? There are no reviews to read on Amazon...

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Posted: Nov 11 2008 at 2:31pm | IP Logged Quote saigemom

I believe the book is called Holly Clause. It's a decent length, but a beautiful story.
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heidimomof7
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Posted: Nov 11 2008 at 10:05pm | IP Logged Quote heidimomof7

Thanks to all of you who recently responded. I hadn't checked back in a week or so and was quite pleasantly surprised to see so many great suggestions. In answer to Donnalyn, because of a lack of moms to teach the middle grades, we have lumped all the kids between 4th and 7th together. We usually try a moderate length book or something that can be read in its original form by the older ones and an abridged form for the 4th graders. I will see which of all these suggestions are available in multiple copies in our library, but I will share all suggestions with the other moms in our group. Thanks again, Heidi
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SuzanneG
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Posted: Nov 17 2008 at 10:37pm | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

Many of the selections from Chari's Christmas Literature Evenings are not novels, and not exactly what you're looking for, but wanted to link it, as it's such a great list!!!

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donnalynn
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Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 4:45pm | IP Logged Quote donnalynn

Heidi -

I would put off my suggestion if you have children as young as 4th grade - it just seems like an older middle school/ high school type story. I think it is the struggle to understand how a different culture or religion might bear resemblances to your own that seems a little more appropriate for a mature 6th grader and up...



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SuzanneG
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Posted: Nov 19 2008 at 6:31pm | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

Found a couple other Christmas books at the library today that I've skimmed through and they look good.

I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Gouge
Little Polly Flowerdew lives with her two maiden aunts, and she is absolutely sure that something special is going to happen this Christmas. She leaves her bedroom window open on Christmas Eve, just in case the three wise men decide to come visit. When she wakes up on Christmas morning, more than one miracle seems to have taken place.

The Christmas Barn
This is published by The Pleasant Co. (American Girl) in 2001. A falling tree destroys their log cabin during a snowstorm, but 12-year-old Roxie and her family find a way to make the holidays special.

Song of the Christmas Mouse

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Dec 14 2008 at 10:28pm | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG

Coming back for a couple "reviews"....

SuzanneG wrote:
The Christmas Barn
This is published by The Pleasant Co. (American Girl) in 2001. A falling tree destroys their log cabin during a snowstorm, but 12-year-old Roxie and her family find a way to make the holidays special.


This is a GREAT BOOK!   After the first chapter, I was hooked! Appalachia during the depression. Great for all ages and good for adults too. It's based off the author's mother's life....complete with a couple pictures in the back of the book family/characters.

I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Gouge....only made it through a couple chapters before I had to return it, and it didnt' really grab me.....maybe I'll try again after Christmas.

Song of the Christmas Mouse . A good, simple read aloud, but not a good "book club book" for this age group.


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