The Christmas Store

by Ray Sipherd

A mysterious holiday shopping emporium harbors many unanticipated experiences, such as the incredible discovery among the shake-and-snow paperweights, romance across the countertop, a surprise result from a free perfume sample, and more. Reprint.

Genres: Christmas, Short Stories, Fiction, Holiday

214 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

Ray Sipherd was one of Sesame Street's early writers, as well as the author of a number of Sesame Street books. His work on Sesame Street earned three Emmy awards.

Sipherd, a graduate of Yale University, created the award-winning NPR program All Things Considered. In addition, he has penned a number of mystery novels for adult audiences, such as Dance of the Scarecrows, and published a collection of short stories titled The Christmas Store. Currently, Sipherd serves as a senior staff editor for Reader's Digest Condensed Books.

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful short stories for a cosy, charming christmas read.
Lovely ending and i would read this next year again!
Reading this made my heart feel warm and cosy ❤.

[Jacinda Literature Babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

So a little disclaimer here.
I read this book every year...and have been doing so for 10 years. It's silly and fluffy but I just adore it. I give it 5 stars because it's so dear to my bah humbug heart.

12 short stories that take place in a large store...I pretend its Selfridges, and its filled with the spirit that inspire goodwill and a little magical sparkle.

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new vintage Christmas favorite!! 😍💚❤️🎄✨

Omg, I adored this book! There's so much to love about The Christmas Store that I feel any attempt at a real review will sound totally lame, so I'm just going to make a list:

❤️ Absolutely lovely short story collection (all stories are recounted by one store employee)
❤️ Fun, interesting and touching stories
❤️ Chock full of Christmas-y details and winter atmosphere
❤️ Takes place in a department store (yes!)
❤️ Quick, festive and perfect vintage book choice for the holiday season

This is definitely going on my Christmas Re-Read book pile along with Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, all of the Christmas Miss Read books, The Willows at Christmas, Betsy-Tacy Christmas chapters, Cranberry Christmas, The Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol (especially the Cratchit family dinner section), Elizabeth Goudge holiday-themed books, etc.

Many, many thanks to Kathy A. from the Dean Street Press Facebook group for recommending this book!!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful collection!

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday was a 2 book kinda day & on a cold, wet windy day you can guarantee a Christmas tale or two will warm your heart & make you smile 🎄

This was a book in a free bundle I was given at the weekend & definitely one to keep on the bookshelf for an annual reread.

Composed of 12 shortish magical stories all set in a busy department store at Christmas.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really my favorite Christmas book. I've read it many times, pretty much every December for many years. I like a little bit of Christmas magic and this book delivers wonderful stories that make me feel happy.

[Robert A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Christmas but maybe I’m getting too old. All the stories start sounding the same. There is only so many times you can redo Gift of the Magi or A Christmas Carol. The book was good, if you get a free copy take it.

[Phi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection and read it every holiday season. Warm, simple stories that generate memories of days long past.

[Justine Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of magical little stories revolving around a huge department store.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this. Reading this with hot coco puts me right in the Christmas spirit

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ray Sipherd is a gentleman I know and respect. His collection of interwoven stories in THE CHRISTMAS STORE is long on charm, and on originality. It's just a wee bit twee for my taste. Consider it a seasonal diversion.

In an unnamed large city in America, various people meet and find their lives changed, all as part of spending time in a large unnamed department store. This is an old-school emporium, like B. Altman or Lord & Taylor, with staff who've been employed for decades, and are devoted to serving their customers. It's not chic like Bloomingdales, or posh like Saks - this is a store for everyone.

The stories share this sort of all-American cross section. A lonely widow meets a kindly fellow shopper, whose gift-buying is not what it seems to be at first. A long-time employee cannot be demoted, but his duties have been circumscribed to checking for burnt-out light bulbs. A brother and sister find themselves lost in the toy section, only to make a marvelous discovery amidst the collection of snow globes.

Sipherd's stories are deeply earnest, even unabashedly old-fashioned. This makes them charming. Outside the holiday season, their charms may seem thin. I recommend it for an evening after you're spent the day crowded along the aisles of American consumerism.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice Christmas book that is compiled of short stories that take place at a large department story during the holiday season. Some are like Hallmark movies, others are a little strange and some magical. Enjoyable!

[Joanna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

twing pasko ko to binabasa..

[Jessica L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, simple read. Not much to it just short stories about the holiday. The End.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, loved this book!!