Little Red Buckets: A Story of Family and Giving

by Lynda M. Nelson

Ten-year-old Jenny helps her mother prepare buckets of fresh food, bread, and milk for her elderly neighbors, who, in turn, give Jenny a beautiful crystal angel, a simple gift that, on Christmas Eve, returns her love in a most unexpected way. Reissue.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Book Club

128 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Sydney]

I should write a Christmas story; it doesn’t seem that hard.

[Chris]

Wonderful Christmas story of care and selfless giving.

[Kylee Maedje]

Read this as a read-aloud with my children. It was a beautiful story that I plan to hold onto to read again and again around Christmas time.

[Hila]

What a sweet, heart-warming, feel-good Christmas read! I don't often read books (for myself) based on the season, but this year I decided it'd be nice to put aside the celebrity memoir I'm reading for my reading challenge for a couple days and feel some warm fuzzies. I sat here with goose-bumps and tingles as I read the last couple chapters. A perfect way to end a sweet Christmas, being reminded that miracles still happen.

[Joni]

I wasn't prepared for this book! I was thinking it would be a quick cute simple read, but I ended up reaching for the tissues at the end. I imagined my own Grandmother narrating the story, as she led a similar life. Growing up on a farm, making bread and butter, etc. I loved the real old fashioned family traditions that brought my own memories to life: caroling, providing service to others, smells like cinnamon and a fire burning in the fireplace, story telling, and laughter. Not trying to sound too cliche - but it truly was a heart warming, feel good story!

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired)]

Little Sarah loves baking bread with her Grandma Jenny, and as the bread rises, Grandma Jenny tells Sarah stories from her childhood.

Her story of the little red buckets is a heart-warming one of love and service. As she watches her mother give selflessly to others, Jenny learns about Christ-like love. When she visits with old Mrs.Nie , she learns of guardian angels who look out for each of us. And one, snowy, Christmas Eve, Jenny learns that our guardian angels are those special people we already know and love.

This is a beautiful little story that I re-read every Christmas.

[Kimster]

I loved this book. The message is endearing. Get your tissues. I especially love this book because the character's Mr and Mrs Nye bear my maiden name. I felt like it was a family story in some way. I gave this book to a friend with a little gold and crystal angel ornament inside a red bucket for Christmas. I also gave her my copy of the story thinking I would replace mine after Christmas and then I never did but it is a book you would read more than once.

[Nickie]

This is a wonderful Christmas story. If you can find it and share it with your children or just yourself do it. It's an evenings reading.

I cried and cried a beautiful gift is given to Jenny's family on a stormy winter Christmas Eve night. But how did Mrs. Nie walk the half mile to their home.

This is a classic story of love, death, perseverance,and guardian angels.

Merry Christmas

[Jenn]

I love this book. A good friend gave me this book with a little red bucket full of treats. Since then, this book and bucket have become priceless treasures. The book I own is out of print, so I'm glad to see it's been re-printed.

[Trudy L]

This is a sweet story, passed from grandmother to granddaughter about the joys and sorrows of growing up in a different era. Though I am not a firm believer in guardian angels, I loved the sharing of family history between generations. A quick, inspirational read.

[Teresa]

A heart warming story about Christ-like love, service and relationships. A gem worth owning and although written as a Christmas story, we will read this over and over again. A timeless classic that moves you to tears more than once.

[Katie]

This always reminds me of Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is one passed down from my mother-dear.

[Sanz]

My Mom and I like to read this together each year at Christmas. It's a fun tradition and good memories.

[Kristy]

Wonderful book about giving.

[Celia Jenson]

I love this book and I try to read it every year around Christmas time.

[Jodi Z]

A touching Christmas story. Illustrates the power and importance of inter-generational relationships that are often missing in our current society.

[Hillary]

Just a sweet little Christmas story.

[Linda Brough]

Endearing short story full of the sweet and tender experiences of a grandmother that she shares with her granddaughter. The book was simple, not competing for a literary award, but heart-felt.

[Dawn]

Loved it!!!! I read this with my little Jet man, such a sweet Christmas story.

[Kathy Estrada]

Short,quick read....a beautiful story to read especially at Christmas time.

[Victoria]

Grandma shares a Christmas with her granddaughter. She tell of how her family helped a very poor family on the hill and how that couple gave all they had to help when their son died.

[Angie Cornelison]

This is a beautiful story of love, kindness,hope, and guardian angels. This book warmed my heart!A wonderful read anytime!

[Raejean]

This was a sweet story, but I didn't enjoy the storytelling style. I would have enjoyed it more if the it was just the story, instead of a story of a grandma telling the story to her granddaughter.

[Jenny]

I would’ve read this book much faster but we did it as a family read aloud. It is the perfect story for Christmas: service, neighbors, love, looking out for each other, and being each others angels.