What do you think?
Rate this book
The Broken Ornament
When a beloved ornament breaks, will it ruin the holidays or save them?
Jack wants this to be the best Christmas ever, and he knows just how to make it happen…
More! More lights, more presents, more cookies, more treats. More. More. More! So, when Jack breaks a dusty old ornament, he’s not sure why his mom is so upset. They can always get more ornaments, so what’s the big deal? Turns out the ornament was an heirloom, precious for more reasons than one. And Jack has a lot to learn about the true meaning Christmas.
A fairy emerges from the shattered ornament. She has the power to make the most magical Christmasy things happen. Suddenly trees are sprouting, reindeer are flying, and snowmen are snowball fighting. All of it is so perfect, or it would be if she could fix Mom’s ornament. But she can’t.
So it’s up to Jack to make some Christmas magic of his own.
Jack wants this to be the best Christmas ever, and he knows just how to make it happen…
More! More lights, more presents, more cookies, more treats. More. More. More! So, when Jack breaks a dusty old ornament, he’s not sure why his mom is so upset. They can always get more ornaments, so what’s the big deal? Turns out the ornament was an heirloom, precious for more reasons than one. And Jack has a lot to learn about the true meaning Christmas.
A fairy emerges from the shattered ornament. She has the power to make the most magical Christmasy things happen. Suddenly trees are sprouting, reindeer are flying, and snowmen are snowball fighting. All of it is so perfect, or it would be if she could fix Mom’s ornament. But she can’t.
So it’s up to Jack to make some Christmas magic of his own.
48 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2018
7 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Tony DiTerlizzi
130 books2,218 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Broken Ornament and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries. He teamed up with Lucasfilm to retell the original Star Wars trilogy as a picture book and his collaboration with celebrated author Mo Willems created the bestseller The Story of Diva & Flea. The Norman Rockwell museum’s retrospective, “Never Abandon Imagination”, featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi’s career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR the BBC and The Today Show.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
December 9, 2018
I enjoy the sweet moment at the end of this book. At the beginning, the kid Jack wants the best Christmas ever and he thinks that means more stuff and more everything. He tries to make it better but something is always missing. As the title suggests, he breaks a precious ornament that has sentimental value to Jack’s mom. Jack has to figure out a way to save Christmas as his mom is so sad.
The artwork is full of energy and color and plenty of imagination. The kids loved this book and all the things that happen in the story. There’s a whole lot of Christmas stuff in this story. I love all the Nutcrackers. I could easily have an army of Nutcrackers. I have a friend who has 250 and I’m so jealous.
The Nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave this book 3 stars, she didn’t say more than that. It’s a 3 star book is what she offered.
The artwork is full of energy and color and plenty of imagination. The kids loved this book and all the things that happen in the story. There’s a whole lot of Christmas stuff in this story. I love all the Nutcrackers. I could easily have an army of Nutcrackers. I have a friend who has 250 and I’m so jealous.
The Nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave this book 3 stars, she didn’t say more than that. It’s a 3 star book is what she offered.
December 14, 2024
I can no longer remember how I found this book, I think it was because of the author/illustrator. In any case, it's a story about what really matters at Christmas.
Little Jack wants to have the best Christmas ever. He thinks he therefore needs the biggest tree, the most light installations, the most of everything. In his haste to put yet more of everything on the tree, he accidentally breaks a Christmas ornament that had very special meaning to his mother.
An accident. Like so many that happen, especially but not only when you have children. However, even if it is an accident, it means something emotionally valuable to you is gone forever. A hard and important lesson forchildren people to learn so they are more careful (especially with things that don't belong to them).
If and if so, how, Jack can repair this broken ornament and how he learns what the best Christmas ever really requires, is what this book is about.
Personally, I've had a few items destroyed by careless people. No, not children - those usually know how to behave with my things. Not taking care with things that belong to someone else, especially things with a special meaning, is one of the worst forms of disrespect and indifference I can imagine, fueled nowadays by the ever-present thought of "we can always buy a new one". Which you usually can't since we're not talking about store availability or price tag but VALUE (emotional, real).
So yes, I consider this a very important story for readers of all ages .
The images were quite cute and in a very distinct style:
I don't expect this style to be one I could permanently love or in combination with every kind of story, but it worked brilliantly here.
Thus, an important addition to my collection.
Little Jack wants to have the best Christmas ever. He thinks he therefore needs the biggest tree, the most light installations, the most of everything. In his haste to put yet more of everything on the tree, he accidentally breaks a Christmas ornament that had very special meaning to his mother.
An accident. Like so many that happen, especially but not only when you have children. However, even if it is an accident, it means something emotionally valuable to you is gone forever. A hard and important lesson for
If and if so, how, Jack can repair this broken ornament and how he learns what the best Christmas ever really requires, is what this book is about.
Personally, I've had a few items destroyed by careless people. No, not children - those usually know how to behave with my things. Not taking care with things that belong to someone else, especially things with a special meaning, is one of the worst forms of disrespect and indifference I can imagine, fueled nowadays by the ever-present thought of "we can always buy a new one". Which you usually can't since we're not talking about store availability or price tag but VALUE (emotional, real).
So yes, I consider this a very important story for readers of all ages .
The images were quite cute and in a very distinct style:
I don't expect this style to be one I could permanently love or in combination with every kind of story, but it worked brilliantly here.
Thus, an important addition to my collection.
November 30, 2023
Illustrations are a 5, Plot is a 3. I felt for the mom because I have some special ornaments as well that would break my heart too if they were broken. I liked that the little boy was so thoughtful and creative. Overall it’s a good Christmas lesson for kids. Just not the best written kids book I’ve read.
December 1, 2018
I checked this book out from the library for my children and then had to order a copy of our own because I loved it so much. I tear up every time I read it. Very sweet story about a little boy learning empathy.
December 19, 2018
Jack wants to have the best Christmas ever in this new picture-book from author/illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi, defining "best" as having the most presents, the flashiest decorations - in short, the maximum of everything. When he breaks an old ornament however, and his mother retreats in distress, his experience with the little Christmas fairy Tinsel teaches him that the true Christmas spirit has nothing to do with such outer trappings, and everything to do with our love for our family, and our memories of them...
Although DiTerlizzi isn't really covering any new ground with The Broken Ornament, when it comes to the theme of family trumping things, his story is still heartwarming, and does add an entertaining fantasy element, in terms of the fairy Tinsel, and the magical experiences that Jack has. Given his role as co-creator of the Spiderwick Chronicles , it doesn't really surprise that his story here features fairies and other magical creatures. The narrative is engaging enough, but it was the artwork, with its unexpected mixture of sweet and slightly creepy elements, that really stood out to me. I enjoyed the Santa Claus in the final scene, as there is something a little bit sharper about him there, than is usually seen in depictions of him. Recommended to Tonu DiTerlizzi fans, and to anyone looking for stories about the true meaning of Christmas.
Although DiTerlizzi isn't really covering any new ground with The Broken Ornament, when it comes to the theme of family trumping things, his story is still heartwarming, and does add an entertaining fantasy element, in terms of the fairy Tinsel, and the magical experiences that Jack has. Given his role as co-creator of the Spiderwick Chronicles , it doesn't really surprise that his story here features fairies and other magical creatures. The narrative is engaging enough, but it was the artwork, with its unexpected mixture of sweet and slightly creepy elements, that really stood out to me. I enjoyed the Santa Claus in the final scene, as there is something a little bit sharper about him there, than is usually seen in depictions of him. Recommended to Tonu DiTerlizzi fans, and to anyone looking for stories about the true meaning of Christmas.
December 31, 2022
What a lovely story! The illustrations are gorgeous. I love that Tony gives you access to print and color the art from this book on his website. Just stunning!
September 22, 2018
This lovely Christmas tale reminds of the purer meanings of the holiday with a bit of magical flair.
Jack's excitement for Christmas mounts by the second, and he can hardly contain himself while helping his parents decorate for the holidays. When he fails to listen to his mother's warnings and a glass ornament shatters, he realizes his mistake. But can he make things better again?
With the feeling of a more traditional tale yet set in a modern day world, this book hits upon a topic young readers will easily relate to. Listening and obeying parents isn't always easy, and not doing so often ends with unpleasant results. Emotions take hold as well as the feeling of helplessness and draw the reader in. But it doesn't stop there.
Christmas magic abounds with a new twist and a little spunky glitter of fantasy. This unexpected addition has a character of its own, which took a page or two to grow accustom to, but added spice to the story in so many ways. The scenes burst full of imagination while twisting the story and helping Jack understand the situation better. The illustrations take flight with the tale and pull into this fantastical, holiday world. The last message leaves a smile. It's a lovely read for the holiday season.
I received a complimentary copy and found it sweet enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
Jack's excitement for Christmas mounts by the second, and he can hardly contain himself while helping his parents decorate for the holidays. When he fails to listen to his mother's warnings and a glass ornament shatters, he realizes his mistake. But can he make things better again?
With the feeling of a more traditional tale yet set in a modern day world, this book hits upon a topic young readers will easily relate to. Listening and obeying parents isn't always easy, and not doing so often ends with unpleasant results. Emotions take hold as well as the feeling of helplessness and draw the reader in. But it doesn't stop there.
Christmas magic abounds with a new twist and a little spunky glitter of fantasy. This unexpected addition has a character of its own, which took a page or two to grow accustom to, but added spice to the story in so many ways. The scenes burst full of imagination while twisting the story and helping Jack understand the situation better. The illustrations take flight with the tale and pull into this fantastical, holiday world. The last message leaves a smile. It's a lovely read for the holiday season.
I received a complimentary copy and found it sweet enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
October 27, 2018
The illustrations are fantastic, whimsical, and heart-touching. The story, while adequate, doesn't live up to them. Check this out from the library before you decided if you want to buy it. I'd be more likely to buy a print of the artwork than the book.
September 12, 2018
Part magical fairy drizzled tale, part heartwarming story about a little boy learning the true meaning of Christmas, this is a fun tale to add to your Christmas collection. How do you replace something irreplaceable? What do you do when saying sorry isn't really enough? What makes a Christmas truly magical? This book answers questions big and small. I think the part my kids loved the most however are the larger than life scenes that take over Jack's living room and the pages of this book. Illustrated in a style that isn't quite one I adore, the pictures are nonetheless bursting with rich fantasy and imagination. This is a book your kids will want to read again and again.
Read
October 25, 2018A new Christmas classic! Loved it! I could see this as a short film!
July 3, 2018
His illustrations are fabulous. The story is obvious but think it will be enjoyed by many.
December 11, 2018
A timeless Christmas classic, DiTerlizzi's newest release is a visual feast that captures the childlike innocence and wonder of the Christmas season. Beautifully told and illustrated, this a heart felt Christmas story that reminds us of the joy, wonder the Christmas season holds. Most importantly, at the heart of this story is what the Christmas holiday is all about; giving to others. We love this book and highly recommend picking it up this Christmas season.
FULL REVIEW https://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2018/...
FULL REVIEW https://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2018/...
December 7, 2018
We added this book to our advent reading this season (2018). With my boys getting older, 18 and 14, it's a challenge to find a book that will be entertaining for them, not be too young, but also have a message that is meaningful. I think this one did the trick. Beautiful artwork and a clear message about how easy it is to have blinders on and only see what we want to without realizing the consequences, to them have our eyes opened to more than just the face value of items.
Glad to have this as part of our Christmas collection of stories.
Glad to have this as part of our Christmas collection of stories.
December 8, 2025
Illustrations carry this story about a greedy boy who learns that Christmas is not all about “more”.
December 6, 2018
Love this book!! It is a very sweet sentimental story about family and tradition!!
December 5, 2018
Touching story. Illustrations are nice, and if you are really looking at the illustrations, you can also see bits of the author's humor.
October 30, 2019
Tony DiTerlizzi is a master storyteller. He's such a descriptive author his Spiderwick Chronicles is one of the best series I've ever read. This is such a sweet story its awesome.
December 3, 2018
The illustrations are absolutely fantastic, and we liked the story, especially because I have a lot of old ornaments that are precious to me.
December 1, 2018
Very sweet message about Christmas & what it means. Great illustrations.
November 19, 2018
This is a cute little story about a boy who accidentally breaks a beloved ornament. In his quest to make Christmas the BEST EVER he breaks a "ratty old ornament" which for some reason makes his mother cry. Through some Christmas magic the boy finds out that the ornament was given to his mother by her grandma and was very precious to her. The boy starts to understand that Christmas isn't just about MORE MORE MORE but about the simple gifts and the feelings they bring. The boy can't fix the ornament but decides to make for a her a new ornament which shows his mom as a girl with her grandma. Of course, neither the mom nor the dad told the boy the story of the ornament so they're so surprised when he knows how important it was.
The illustrations are lovely and firmly drawn - no wispy pastels for this story. There are a few pages that are just illustration and they are elaborate. The 8-year-old got to the dedication at the end of the book (for his daughter who broke the original ornament) and she learned that authors often write about things that actually happen in their lives. I think that made the story more real for her.
The illustrations are lovely and firmly drawn - no wispy pastels for this story. There are a few pages that are just illustration and they are elaborate. The 8-year-old got to the dedication at the end of the book (for his daughter who broke the original ornament) and she learned that authors often write about things that actually happen in their lives. I think that made the story more real for her.
November 29, 2018
Jack wants the perfect Christmas, but after accidentally breaking his mom’s special ornament, he figures out what that really looks like. It isn’t about the gifts, the perfect decorations, or the perfect setting, but about looking out for the people you love and putting others above yourself.
November 29, 2018
Very sweet story and the most beautiful art. I love DiTerlizzi's illustrations so much. Everything is so alive on the page. <3
November 30, 2018
I absolutely LOVE this book! I checked this out at my local library. However, I now need it in my classroom! Christmas is a magical time. I loved Tinsel!
November 16, 2018
Very cute and shows that sometimes we make mistakes but we need to rectify the situation if we love someone.
November 5, 2018
Jack's exuberance and desire for the biggest, best Christmas ever results in disaster when he breaks his mother's heirloom ornament. He can't repair the ornament, but can he repair the damage he's done and make it a wonderful Christmas for everyone?
October 30, 2018
The Broken Ornament by Tony DiTerlizzi. PICTURE BOOK. Simon &Schuster, 2018. $18. 9781416939764
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Jack watns this to the biggest Christmas ever, which will make it the best. When he breaks one of the ornaments, he doesn’t understand why it makes his mom so sad. It’s only after the help of a little fairy names Tinsel that he figures out what is missing from his Christmas.
So sweet! The first Christmas book of this year that I can can totally love and want to share.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Jack watns this to the biggest Christmas ever, which will make it the best. When he breaks one of the ornaments, he doesn’t understand why it makes his mom so sad. It’s only after the help of a little fairy names Tinsel that he figures out what is missing from his Christmas.
So sweet! The first Christmas book of this year that I can can totally love and want to share.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
October 10, 2018
A sweet Christmas fairy tale - [secular] Christmas isn't just about having the BEST tree with the MOST ornaments and getting ALL the presents. It's also about spending time with family and creating memories for future generations.
And the point gets across with a minimum of preachy lectures and some truly stunning illustrations.
And the point gets across with a minimum of preachy lectures and some truly stunning illustrations.
October 17, 2018
One little boy is very excited for Christmas and wants to make it the best Christmas ever. In his enthusiasm he breaks a beloved ornament and makes his mom very sad. Can anything turn this awful Christmas around?
October 12, 2018
Beautifully illustrated look at how love and memories can better fuel the magic of Christmas, rather than "stuff" for stuff's sake.
December 21, 2021
I read this book to my two boys (age 6 and 4) and they just loved this book. The story is very a sweet. A boy gets wrapped up in having the biggest and best Christmas ever...a huge tree so Santa can put more presents under it, more lights outside so Santa won't miss their house. He finds an old ornament tucked away and gets it out and breaks it, hurting his mother's feelings. Through some Christmas magic he discovers the ornament was a family heirloom and he tries to correct the situation. The pictures are beautiful and my boys really loved this book. We borrowed it from the library but hope to purchase one for our own collection. We highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews