The Christmas Stories & Poems

by George MacDonald, Mark DeBolt (Editor)

Stories tell of a generous bachelor who adopts a street urchin, a farm girl who searches for her wandering brother, and a cold-hearted London family hwo learn to be more sensitive.

Contents:
My uncle Peter
Mary's lullaby
A Scot's Christmas story
King Cole
The gifts of the Child Christ
The angel's song
The Christmas child

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Christian, Childrens, Classics, Short Stories

166 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1981

About the author

George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He became a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carroll. In addition to his fairy tales, MacDonald wrote several works of Christian theology, including several collections of sermons.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has several short stories, a few poems and a sprinkling of illustrations. It’s quite lovely!

George MacDonald has only recently become a favorite, and for that I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t find him sooner. He’s truly a noteworthy writer and I love his moral lessons and messages.

I loved the first two stories and thought they were well done, moving, tender, and everything I was hoping for! So so good!

The third story, though it ends sweetly, is heart-wrenching, and I’m not entirely sure it’s suitable for a younger audience (see CC below). Definitely have tissues handy; I’ve heard that this story even gets the non-criers.

Ages: 8+

Cleanliness: mentions bosom and breast. Mentions fairies. For sensitive children, parents note that a girl is kidnapped in one story and it is somewhat tense/scary and in the third story there is a lengthy, sobering scene with a stillborn baby. A man and woman steal the clothes off of a girl - they decide to leave her in her petticoat and get it later.

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[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely edition. My favorite story, maudlin though it be is The Gifts of the Christ Child.

[Katherine S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Beautiful story telling. A very moving collection of stories and poems with deep and meaningful messages. I highly recommend.
Somehow I had never read MacDonald before this. I will definitely be reading more by him very soon.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have given this book 3 1/2 stars. The stories are a mix of sweet and sad. So much pathos! There are wise parents, innocent children, wayward youths, prideful men and women. All are made to see the error of their ways. One of the main themes is that it is in the giving of ourselves, often in time of sorrow that we find the greatest gifts. A lovely bouquet of Christmas stories and poems by a master storyteller who weaves grace into each tale.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet collection of Christmas stories and poems! I've loved George MacDonald's fairy tales and stories for children these last few months. He writes such simple stories, that have deep and meaningful messages to share. I found each of these Christmas tales and poems powerful and profound in their wisdom, yet attainable for children and adults alike. This is one I will re-read for sure!

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a precious few stories and poems that offer light and beauty to the idea of Christmas. There is sorrow and suffering but goodness and joy always wins out in the end. I recommend this one most fervently.

Here is a wee taste: "He prayed a prayer, and was very near praying for Jasper the dog and the lost lamb, only he could not quite. And there he was wrong. He should have prayed about whatever troubled him. But he was such a good man that I am almost ashamed of saying he was wrong." (Isn't George Macdonald such a delight?)

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories of Uncle Peter/Little Christmas and the one about the prodigal brother/lamb were very enjoyable and well written. I recommend pre-reading before sharing with children as sensibilities have changed over the years.

TRIGGER WARNING: Beware of the final story (The Gifts of the Christ Child) in this collection as it has a stillborn child.

[Lora Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of classic Christmas stories and poems from one of my favorite Scottish poets.

[Tuly Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love George MacDonald. These are old fashioned Christmas stories. Not the best illustrations.

[Rebekah Barkman]

I love reading Christmas treasuries during the holiday season, especially when they contain poetry.
The only unfortunate thing was that the version I read was missing some of the stories.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable collection of stories. Sadly, most are abridged. But lovely illustrations and a nice option for introducing some George MacDonald.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the fairy tales of George Macdonald 20 years ago and read this collection then. It was lovely to revisit these as a Mother and perfect read by the Christmas tree while drinking something warm. The illustrations are so lovely and I wish the artist had gone on to illustrate all of Macdonald’s short stories.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

George MacDonald has a special way about his writing. It surely keeps you on your toes when reading aloud. For he causes you to speak in a most elegant manner, which is quite unheard of in this day in age. A thing I find to be most interesting, for he wrote children's stories. Children read these books in his day, and they understood them! There was comprehension. Just like the average farmer reading, fully understanding is debating the Federalist Papers, and now the average college graduate struggling to understand them, there was a day when our youth exceeded our current, modern lingual expression and comprehension.

But I digress.

Each story and sweet poem within this book is well worth the time that would be spent reading them. Each story is simple in plot, but is delightful to the ears and a challenge worth undertaking for the read-aloud tongue. And of course, there is a lesson to be learned and a moral to be gained in each chapter.

[Glen Grunau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen picked this up as a reject from one of our elementary schools. I don't often have the opportunity to read a book of stories with beautiful illustrations. One story - The Gifts of the Child Christ - was particularly touching and earned my 4 star rating.

This came from the slip cover: In 1893 MacDonald said of his work, "For my part, I do not write for children, but for the childlike, whether of five, or fifty, or seventy five . . . If any strain of my 'broken music' make a child's eyes flash, or his mother's grow for a moment dim, my labour will not have been in vain."

I hope to approach this Christmas with the eyes of a child . . . and am thus looking forward, God willing, to my first "stations of the manager" at Highland Community Church in Abbotsford on Christmas Eve and gathering with my family to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

[Chaplain2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was donated to the library book sale but was unlikely to sell because of damage to the paper wrapper. Lucky me!

These are beautifully charming stories and poems, most of which brought sentimental tears to my eyes and all of which left me smiling.

What a wonderful storyteller was George MacDonald! And coupled with the beautiful illustrations, this is truly a children's classic.

I wish every child could have a copy for Advent or Christmas this year!

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books that I can remember 'reading' before I could actually read. I remembered each of the illustrations vividly!

This is absolutely a wonderful book full of little stories about Christmas. From the first to the last they are charming, thoughtful, and endearing.

I recommend to everyone.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so many good stories in it!!!!!!
I can't really describe this very well because there are lots of stories, but this is a very good book. :)

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable with lovely illustrations. Not always true to Scripture, but pleasant.