Hanna's Christmas

I wish I had known about this book before!  Written by fellow homeschooling mom Melissa Wiley for the Hanna Andersson company in 2001, it is an utterly charming book that tells about family, home, and Christmas!  It was also a joy to learn about Swedish traditions while reading this book.  I'd buy one except it's now a collectible so yikes, pricey!

The Night of Las Posadas

And yet one more Christmas classic from Tomie de Paola.  I have to admit the biggest reason I love this book is because it reminds me of a beautiful church we used to attend when I was growing up in the Philippines -- its name was "Posadas".  It sat on top of a hill and the view was just beautiful.  Coupled with warm Manila summers and soft breezes blowing (less pollution at the time)... going there for Mass on Sundays was not only refreshing for the soul, but for the tired body as well.

Onto the book itself... is it just me, or are the background colors in this book more vibrant?  Perhaps Tomie de Paola chose those colors to reflect Mexican arts' usual panoply of hues.  Very, very Catholic book.  :)