Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: A Night Like No Other

by Chip Davis

Do you hear what I hear? From the founder of Mannheim Steamroller, the music group that has redefined Christmas with their innovative sound, comes a heartwarming novel about the spirit of the holidays -- complete with an exclusive Mannheim Steamroller CD! When Evan Darling realizes that his children have become so focused on gifts that they've completely lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas, he knows he has to do something to help them see the wonder of it all. As a blizzard rages, Evan sits the family down and tells them the extraordinary tale of a young boy's magical experience during another blizzard long ago. When that boy was ten years old, he, too, thought Christmas traditions were pointless and dumb. The only thing he liked was the music. But when a magical snow globe opened his eyes to the magic of Christmas and the perils of greed, he found himself waging a dramatic battle to save Christmas for all time. It's time for Evan's children to learn the story of that brave young boy and to discover the mystery of his identity, for it is the story that inspires Evan himself to hold Christmas so close to his heart. Enhanced by original music and Christmas favorites performed by Mannheim Steamroller, this magical story provides the gift of a moving, uplifting Christmas experience to families everywhere.

Genres: Christmas

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Manheim Steamroller for ages!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68j6Ce...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Meu_uc...

When I found this book by Chip Davis I thought it would be a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

Evan Darling is a young man who, like many, do not appreciate the traditions passed down from generation to generation. When an elf like man gives him a snow globe, Evan is transported to the land inside the globe.

While the globe is beautiful, the town inside the globe is not. A town run by Christmas cops who dictate spending to excess and jail for those who are classified as humbugs, Evan meets magical Chris Kringle and Noel. Together they try to break the cult like mentality of the community held in hostage.

The beginning of the book was very creative, but alas, like left over wrapping paper and a stack of unwanted fruitcake, by mid point, I was ready to skip to the kitchen for egg nog to help me finish the pages.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this holiday classic,world-renown musician Chip Davis of Omaha, NE, creates a fun and meaningful holiday story for children. His 'story within a story' definitely helps demonstrate the importance of giving more than gifts and the significance of family traditions during Christmas. His characters are those young children can relate to and you won't be surprised to find that Mr. Davis has included the songs of the season to help him deliver this message of the holidays. A special bonus was a Mannheim Streamroller CD that was included with the book!

[Helen Southall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, heartwarming and with an audio disk with the sounds of Christmas by a group who has redefined Christmas music. Beautiful story, beautiful music.

Reread this year and loved it just as much.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine the Mannheim Steamroller stories set to print; more cultural Christmas than the true meaning of Christmas, although there is at least passing reference to a nativity scene (although I may have filled that in from another book).
It's an enjoyable enough story, but I was kind of disappointed, because I do enjoy the Mannheim Steamroller music (and, yes, I know that the lyrics of those are not always true Christmas music).

[Eduard Camaclang · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's November but I was so excited about Christmas so when we went to the nearest booksale and saw this book, I instantly pick it up. It was a awesome adventure that really brings you the Christmas spirit! It was also cool that it comes with a free Disk of Christmas song. It was so amazing! I love it!

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Christmas story!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of cute and creative. It doesn't get the real meaning of Christmas, but it does come close and acknowledge Jesus at least. The story behind some traditional Christmas things was neat.

[Linda Spyhalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Christmas book! There was also a sixteen minute Mannheim Steamroller CD to enjoy while reading this little gem!

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story! Cheesy at some points, but it has a beautiful message we all need to be reminded of once and a while!

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the music - struggled with the book.

[Katie Tatton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of Hallmark Christmas movie, if the protagonist was a ten year old boy missing the Christmas spirit. Predictable but sweet, and I enjoyed the cheesy Christmas puns.

[Diane Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful magical, fun Christmas story which points out how materialism has taken over the holiday. We need more tales like it to awaken the Christmas spirit.

[Matthew Praino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good little short read to get you into the Christmas spirit.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick pick-up from the public library shelves. Seeing all those Christmas-themed books sitting on a special cart only two days before Dec. 25 is extremely seductive to me; they're just begging for someone to pick them up and read them, much like the characters on the Island of Unwanted Toys in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." But all the activities and togetherness of Christmas prevented me from reading this one until just this week. I could relate to the idea of it: a father struggles to get his children more involved in assisting him with the family Christmas traditions they take for granted. He decides to tell them a story (which is maybe something he experienced himself as a 10-year-old boy) about a boy named Evan who is having a bad Christmas season until he gets lots in the woods on his way home one blustery night, slips on snow/ice and hits his head. He believes he's fallen into the world of a snow globe he was carrying in his backpack, and the world happens to celebrate Christmas but in a totally commercial and impersonal way. Reminiscent of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," Evan only wants to get home for Christmas but must first find the person who can help him and solve a problem for the rest of the "Christmas Complex" before he can do so. Of course, he wakes up in his bed, with his tearful family surrounding him, rededicated to the spirit of Christmas and to supporting all the traditions he once derided. And the man telling the story to his family has similar success with his children. It's a little "Wizard," a little "Polar Express," a lot cliche, but still somehow heartwarming. If you "need a little Christmas now," even in January, this quick read might do the trick.

[Roger Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story within a story of Christmas tradition and family togetherness...simple but sweet. A snow globe with a village and castle inside that reveals a loss of and misplaced Christmas spirit among the people there with an outsider caught inside the globe struggling to understand how he got there and how he can get back home to his family for Christmas. My daughter Bridey gave us this book for Christmas in 2003 and I have to admit I just read it now in 2014. What is really interesting here is Bridey's Christmas present this year was a beautiful snow globe, not a village with castle but a pair of bright red cardinals sitting on a snowy branch...I wonder if I could just step inside that globe too...

[Denise Spicer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young Evan is sick of Christmas chores but when he gets lost in a snowstorm and enters a fantasy Christmas Snowglobe he learns why the traditions he thought of as just chores are actually important. A cute tale of how the commercialization and busy-ness of Christmas keep us from knowing its true meaning-- not just the religious aspect but the importance of family.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book, even though it is a very light read.

[Sharrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice. Tells about the importance of giving and the origins of lots of our Christmas traditions.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family traditions, especially at Christmastime, are wonderful. It makes the season more meaningful. After you read this book, you will see what I mean.

[Tracy]

We have read this every Christmastime for a few years. It's a fun story to get you into the spirit of Christmas.

[Jenny Worley · Rating 2 out of 5]

read it in a day, loved it. fancifull and fabulous!

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a little boy who gets stuck inside a snow globe and finds himself in a village that no longer believes in Christmas.