Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Blessings of Christmas: 101 Tales of Holiday Joy, Kindness and Gratitude

by Amy Newmark

Get into the holiday spirit with these magical stories of family and friends… giving and sharing… joy and blessings!

You’ll be inspired by these tales of kindness, gratitude and giving. You’ll also pick up some creative ways to make your own holidays even more special, with new plans for family fun, gift ideas and recipes. These 101 real-life personal stories are filled with the cheer of the season. They’ll leave you smiling and eager to share the holidays, from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas and New Year’s. We didn’t forget the kids either. The stories in this collection are “Santa safe,” meaning that they keep the magic alive even for precocious readers. Your purchase will support Toys for Tots as well, creating miracles and blessings for children all over the U.S.

Chicken Soup for the Soul books are 100% made in the USA and each book includes stories from as diverse a group of writers as possible. Chicken Soup for the Soul solicits and publishes stories from the LGBTQ community and from people of all ethnicities, nationalities, and religions.

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

Amy Newmark is the bestselling author, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. Since 2008, she has published 191 new Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, most of them national bestsellers in the U.S. and Canada, more than doubling the number of Chicken Soup for the Soul titles in print today.

Amy is credited with revitalizing the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, which has been a publishing industry phenomenon since the first book came out in 1993. By compiling inspirational and aspirational true stories curated from ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences, Amy has kept the thirty-year-old Chicken Soup for the Soul brand fresh and relevant.

Follow Amy on Twitter @amynewmark. Listen to her free podcast, The Chicken Soup for the Soul Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, the Podcasts app on iPhone, or by using your favorite podcast app on other devices.

Reviews

[Natasha S ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Chicken Soup for the Soul and Christmas Stories. Enough said.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed.

[April Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! This particular book talks alot about different types of faith, different types of family traditions, on how other folks are physically and mentally able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas without their kids or how they are able to celebrate the holidays especially if there's a death in the family, it's just an overall great Christmas-y book with excellent short and sometimes long chapters (101 chapters to be exactly) to get you into the Christmas spirit! There are even some great gift ideas and Secret Santa ideas to start new traditions or to get rid of the older ones! 5 stars! I highly recommend it to ya!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reprise of a review written 11/20/2020 for a different CS4TS book.

Strictly speaking, I am not a fan of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. When I have picked up any old copy and turned to a random story, I find them unnecessarily syrupy and pontificating. Believe me, I loathe pontificating.

I cannot explain why the The Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas books differ. It may be that I already have soft spot in my brain--errr, my heart, I mean--for Christmas. It may be that, like the reformed Ebenezer Scrooge, I genuinely carry Christmas in my heart all through the year. It may be that I am a shameless, committed Christmas addict, one addiction for which I hope no one ever finds a cure. But whatever the reason, I find the CS4TS Christmas books to be pure potato chip reading. By that, I mean when I open a bag of chips, I solemnly promise that I am only going to eat a couple, one at a time. Before long, I will have worked my way to the bottom of the bag, scarfing down double fistfuls until even the inevitable crumbs at the bottom are gone. Similarly, right before I put the light out at night, I vow that I am only going to read a few stories from one of the CS4TS Christmas books and THEN I will go to sleep. But I look up at the clock and it's much too late for me to get a proper night's rest. In either case, I can only shrug and admit my weakness. (Author's note, added 12/29/2021: One of the strengths of these books is that they need not be read in one sitting. The stories are short and digestible, just right for the confirmed Christmas addict.--MK)

Not all of the stories in the books are cheesy cheerful, and not all of them have a happy ending. But they do evoke Christmas memories of holidays long past and not-so-past. They make me feel that those of us who do celebrate Christmas have much in common; it's good to know I am not the only one who feels about Christmas the way I do. I would never presume the wherewithal to lecture someone who does not celebrate Christmas. But to anyone interested in knowing, I would say that these books have lifted my Christmas spirits when they are lagging, and have become a part of my own holiday tradition.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chicken Soup books are meant to be read and savoured. I like to read a holiday themed one every year if there's a new one released. This one, The Blessings of Christmas, provided many thoughtful moments, a lot of laughs, joy, and a lot of plain good storytelling, mostly factual first person stories, some fictional but all embraced the spirit of the season. There are stories about first couple Christmases, first holiday without a loved one, kid tales, menorah stories, and all packed full of love. The takeaway? Celebrate every day, the people you love if they are in your household, in your zoom calls, on your street or in your local shops. Celebrate the joy that comes from giving, not to receive but simply to give, give of yourself and you shall receive, it is that easy, that heartfelt. Celebrate the season however you can, however small, however simple. There are many perfect quotes that begin each story but this one during the age of covid seems ideal: 'I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone.' Taylor Caldwell

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fantastic instalment in the chicken soup for the soul series. This book focuses on the festive season of Christmas. 101 wonderfully festive and heartwarming stories of the truest meaning of Christmas with random acts of kindness and gratitude, holiday joy. This book showcases the most Beautiful side of humanity and community spirit during the holiday season. I loved reading this book and am happy to add it to my personal chicken soup for the soul book collection. I definitely recommend reading this book it’s very enjoyable book to read.

[Carmela Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in time for holiday gift giving, Chicken Soup for the Soul honors its tradition of real stories filled with heart, joy, and lessons in kindness. 2021 has been hard, y'all. Who doesn't need a good read right now? This book will restore your faith in others without being maudlin or sappy and is the perfect gift to help your friends and loved one wind down from this long Pandemic. Even better, royalties benefit Toys for Tots.

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book as a friend was a contributor. I expected to read her story and nothing more. But I couldn't put it down. I loved each piece; so many different views of one holiday; and from so many different cultures. I loved it.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very uplifting to read the quick stories at this time of year. Hopeful to see kindness in others and spread the same.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a standard feel good Christmas book. I enjoyed the stories but I will say toward the end it was hard to keep wanting to read short Christmas stories.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one alot!!!!!

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was filled with 101 heartwarming stories of Holiday Joy, Kindness and Gratitude.

I love the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

This one is a definite read.

[Marilyn MacGown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun reading! A quick read if heartwarming stories.

[Danielle Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt the love, emotion and generosity from the different stories in this book. Some actually warmed my
heart too

[amelia ♥️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a feel good book with some feel good stories. :)

5/5 ⭐️

[A Foxtrotter Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are very heartwarming short stories to read. They make you feel better about humanity, especially today when we hear of so much violence mankind commits against each other. You get a feeling of hope and we need hope and Jesus in today's world.

[Lori Kasprzak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this edition! One of my favorite Chicken Soup books yet encompassing all faiths and holidays and family traditions. Highly recommend! I read about 5 stories a day and it was perfect!