1. The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change   Christmas
    Jill Hardie
    Ideals Children's Books / 2012 / Hardcover
    Our Price$14.99 Retail Price$19.99 Save 25% ($5.00)
    5.0 out of 5 stars for The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas. View reviews of this product. 14 Reviews
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    Stock No: WW956479
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  1. Michele Morin
    Warren, Maine
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Make It Sparkle!
    December 3, 2015
    Michele Morin
    Warren, Maine
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5


    A nursing home can be a pretty grim place on a holiday, but a one-year-old with smiley eyes who is practicing his walking in the hallways is certainly a game changer. The hard journey of my mothers transition to a care facility has never been harder than this first big holiday without her in our home, but when eight Morins landed in the cafeteria on Thanksgiving Day, the room changed for just a minute. Smiles were given and received. Next time Im bringing cookies for everyone!

    As parents (and grandparents) we struggle to capture the energy and love that gleam forth from our celebration of Jesus birthday and channel it towards those in need, while at the same time resisting the commercialism and acquisitiveness that feeds on more and me.

    In The Sparkle Box, Jill Hardie is helping us along with a page shared from her own family Christmas traditions seen through the eyes of young Sam. In the midst of the excitement of gifts, parties, and decorations, Sam has spotted something new: a sparkly box that sits in a prominent position on the mantel. Is it for him? Whats inside?

    The suspense builds page after page, for even with all the drama and fun of the season, Sams thoughts keep being pulled back and back again to The Sparkle Box:

    Daddy, did you and Mom fill up the Sparkle Box yet?

    Well, we added something to it tonight, but its still not ready to be opened.

    Illustrator Christine Kornacki portrays Sams world of Christmas festivities with realistic and detailed paintings that, at times, could pass for photographs. She has placed Sam in a multicultural context with friends in several shades of brown, and has incorporated vivid contrasts, homey scenes, frosted windowpanes, and an adorable stuffed puppy in red pajamas.

    The challenge that resonates from the heart of The Sparkle Box comes from the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:14:

    You are the light of the world . . .

    The narrative also brought to mind Pauls words in Philippians 2:13 in which he challenges believers to shine like lights in a dark world. Jesus said that whatever we do for those who are overlooked or ignored is really a gift to Him. It brings joy to His heart. When we bring an awareness of those in need into our own familys remembrance of Jesus birthday whether its a visit to a nursing home, a blanket for a homeless person, or a contribution toward the education of children in foreign lands we change our celebration by making it sparkle with the love of God.

    The Sparkle Box comes complete with a sparkly box, and the authors website provides further support and encouragement to get families started on the tradition of giving a gift to Jesus on His birthday.

    P.S. After drafting this review, I had the opportunity to share The Sparkle Box with the children of my Sunday School. (The adults were there, too, but we didnt mind.) After our story time, I showed them our sparkle box and the red and green slips of paper for writing their gifts to Jesus. We are looking forward to opening the box on the last Sunday of Advent and celebrating all the gifts our church family has presented to Jesus in honor of His birth!

    This book was provided by Worthy Publishing in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 : Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

  2. Carrie @ Crafty Moms Share
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A Must Read Every Year Christmas Book
    November 18, 2015
    Carrie @ Crafty Moms Share
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This book is one of my favorite Christmas books!! It brings the meaning of Christmas and being a Christian to modern times for children. It really reminds us what Jesus wants us to do and how to add it to our own lives as well as our children's. It is really a book that should be read near the start of Advent to get the full project out of it.
  3. Tre
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Amazing Advent project
    December 7, 2014
    Tre
    I LOVE this book. It is scripturally based and the premise is that the things we do for the least of these- we do for Him. We do things for advent anyways- so It's a way to remember all of the little things/acts of kindness that we did in His name. LOVE IT!!
  4. MP
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Children's Christmas Program Director
    November 10, 2015
    MP
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    The book is great. I am adapting it to use as a Christmas book Christmas program. It has a tremendous message for not only children but for adults as well.
  5. wendy
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    awesome book
    November 26, 2014
    wendy
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I purchased this book to read to my preschoolers. We set up little christmas stockings with their names on them and through out the month of December we focus on how we give gifts to Jesus through obedience, kindness etc. the children get a cardstock gift to put in their stocking each time we catch them giving gifts to Jesus. at our Christmas celebration each child empties their stocking next to the baby Jesus and its pretty amazing. This book comes with a huge sparkle box that can be placed by the tree. the book is beautiful hardcover and it will help kick off our theme of how we can all give gifts to Jesus as a way of life.
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