Christmas Makes Me Think

by Tony Medina, Chandra Cox (Illustrator)

Overview

An African American boy considers the meaning of giving and sharing and comes to understand the true spirit of Christmas.

In this delightfully original Christmas story, our young narrator is thrilled. His favorite holiday is coming, and he looks forward to the presents, a great big tree, and baking a chocolate cake with his grandmother. But soon he starts to wonder: What happens to all the trees that get cut down and don't make it to the next Christmas? And what about all the people "who don't have a place to live or food to eat or presents in a stocking/or under a tree?" His thoughts shift — maybe he should give his extra presents to kids who don't have any, and give homeless people hats, gloves, and scarves. He realizes that Christmas is really about community, people coming together and helping each other. "Christmas makes me think/about others/and not just me!" His thoughtfulness leads to a magical celebration of the real spirit of Christmas.

Tony Medina has written a poetic and moving Christmas story that is sure to be a hit with all families during Christmas. Chandra Cox has colorfully illustrated the story with bright and unique mixed-media collage art, giving it a very contemporary feel. The author includes a page of resources for children and families who want to get more involved in their community, especially around the holidays.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781600603457
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	11/01/2001
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD750L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Tony Medina is the author of six beloved books for young readers, as well as multiple volumes of poetry for adults. A Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and a professor of creative writing at Howard University, Dr. Medina is a two-time winner of the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. He lives in the Washington, DC area.

Chandra Cox is a fine artist whose paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States. She received her M.F.A. from The Ohio State University, and is an associate professor of art and design at North Carolina State University. Cox lives in Durham, North Carolina. This is her first picture book.

Editorial Reviews

The holiday wouldn't be complete without a little dose of morality to offset the avariciousness of the season. This well-intentioned story's young narrator considers aspects of Christmas such as baking a cake with Grandma and "presents piled to the moon." Then he thinks "all these trees that never make it to the next Christmas" and considers "how much better it would be . . . [to] visit a turkey or a pig . . . instead of eating one. . . ." By sharing with the homeless and poor, he says, youngsters could become "new Santas." Flat collage illustrations combine cut paper, paint and colored pencil. A list of "resources for kids who want to get more involved" in community projects is included. — School Library Journal

"The spunky young narrator is appealing, and newcomer Cox's bright palette contrasts with the usual holiday palette." — Publishers Weekly

"A different look at the Christmas holiday is presented in this picture book. A young African American boy reflects on the joys of the Christmas holidays-no school, special foods, decorated trees, and lots of presents-when he begins to think about trees cut down, animals slaughtered for Christmas dinner, and the hungry and homeless. He then thinks of ways to improve Christmas-feeding animals, sharing toys with the less fortunate, and giving warm clothing and food to the homeless. [T]he message. . . is. . . an important one. The colorful illustrations are excellent. They carry well and do a good job conveying the story. An author's note provides readers with ideas for helping others. There is also a short bibliography listing five titles for further reading. This is a worthwhile Christmas title for most collections." — Bayviews (Association of Children's Librarians)

From the Publisher

Preaching community involvement, Medina's (DeShawn Days) well-meaning but heavy-handed story traces a boy's changing consciousness of the holidays: "Christmas makes me think/ of how much better it would be to/ .../ visit a turkey or a pig and instead/ of eating one feed it!" The spunky young narrator is appealing, and newcomer Cox's blindingly bright palette contrasts with the usual holiday palette. Ages 5-up. (Nov.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 2-The holiday wouldn't be complete without a little dose of morality to offset the avariciousness of the season. This well-intentioned story's young narrator considers aspects of Christmas such as baking a cake with Grandma and "presents piled to the moon." Then he thinks of "all those trees that never make it to the next Christmas" and considers "how much better it would be-[to] visit a turkey or a pig-instead of eating one-." By sharing with the homeless and poor, he says, youngsters could become "new Santas." Flat collage illustrations combine cut paper, paint, and colored pencil. A list of "resources for kids who want to get more involved" in community projects is included. More lesson than story, the book may be appreciated more by parents and religious leaders than by kids themselves.-S. P. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Medina (DeShawn Days, p. 868, etc.) offers a misguided Christmas story that is an obvious message to young readers: stop being so materialistic and share the wealth, and go vegetarian while you're at it. A young African-American boy is thinking ahead to the joys of Christmas: extra cartoons during vacation, extra sweets, a huge Christmas tree, and "presents piled to the moon." In a head-spinning, unmotivated change of heart, he suddenly feels sorry for the pigs and turkeys headed for Christmas dinner tables and for all the chopped-down trees. ("How could we pray and sing and wish for nice good things when trees are chopped down for us to hang bulbs and lights on them?") The narrator convinces his friends to share their presents with others less fortunate and to distribute clothing and soup (made with vegetarian broth, we hope) to the homeless, under the banner of "Welcome to the New Santa Festival." A plump pig with a red ribbon around its neck and a jolly turkey join all the children of the neighborhood as they dance around a decorated (and presumably still living) Christmas tree, with the final spread showing the narrator himself flying over the new world order in Santa's sled, minus Santa and the elves. In her publishing debut, Cox provides bright, mixed-media collage illustrations in attractive double-page spreads, but cheery art never saves a dreary story. (author's note, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews