The Magic of a Small Town Christmas

by Megan Alexander, Hiroe Nakata (Illustrator)

Overview

From Inside Edition’s national correspondent and author of The True Gifts of Christmas Megan Alexander comes a sweet picture book celebrating the joys, wonders, and traditions of a small-town Christmas.

In the town of Heartbeat Falls, where skies are crystal clear, the magic of Christmas is celebrated in many different ways: from picking the perfect tree to decorating it with glittering ornaments; from ice skating to eating yummy gingerbread cookies; from hanging handmade stockings to sharing a home-cooked meal. Here, the residents know the beauty of a small town doesn’t come from its size, but from the love shared by its people, shining brightly in their eyes.

This heartwarming picture book is an ode to Christmas in the spirit of author Megan Alexander’s show, Small Town Christmas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665929813
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	09/09/2025
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Megan Alexander is a national news correspondent, host, emcee, speaker, producer, and actress. She can be seen every evening as a correspondent on the top-rated national news television show Inside Edition. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and graduated from Westmont College. Megan splits time between New York City and Nashville, Tennessee. She and her husband have two young sons.

Hiroe Nakata has illustrated numerous picture books including Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate, Shoe Bop!, One More Hug, Duck Skates, and The Magic of a Small Town Christmas. Encouraged in her art by her grandfather who is a painter in Japan, Hiroe graduated from the Parsons School of Design. She currently lives and works in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

2022-08-17
Spend Christmas in Heartbeat Falls.

“Nestled under smoky hills, with skies crystal and clear,” this small town is beautiful year-round, but it especially comes alive around Christmastime. From the pine-tree farm to the bakery full of gingerbread, the unique charm of the season springs up everywhere. Citizens enjoy the festive lights and skating pond as well as the church with candles in its windows that mirror the glowing stars above. Then there are the individual family traditions of baking cookies or making decorations to adorn the trees. The celebration is capped off with a communal meal and a final proclamation that a small town is measured by the “love shared by its people.” The host of the television show Small Town Christmas on UPtv, Alexander has crafted a companion piece to display her appreciation of Christmas in the country. Her verse is a bit lackluster, though the rhymes and enumerations of classic holiday traditions give the book an old-time, homey feel. Nakata’s appealing watercolor and ink illustrations detail colorful and charming scenes. While attractive, however, the book doesn’t bring anything new to the table; it’s yet another love note to a quaint Middle America Christmas. The pictures depict a racially diverse town. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Cute but cliché. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews