We are completing our countdown today with my family’s choice for number 1 Christmas book for children. The winner is…The Small One written by Alex Walsh and illustrated by Jesse Clay. This book came into our lives when my boys were very young. I first learned of it on television, Kathie Lee Gifford wrote the introduction for the printing of the book. She had been talking about it on “Regis and Kathie Lee”.
I knew I wanted this book for my children. I gave it to my boys with this inscription, “Aaron & Jordan, May this story always remind you of the importance of love in your life. Love, Mommy & Daddy Christmas 1995.” Aaron was 2 and Jordan was 4 months when I gave them this book. When we were deciding on which books to feature on this countdown, and I asked the boys for their input and teenage wisdom, both boys said “The Small One is the number 1 book for Christmas.” We read it aloud together just a few minutes ago. It is what you do with a book like this. This isn’t your typical Christmas book. You don’t even realize it is a Christmas book until the last few pages. If you are the kind of person who cries at movies, tv shows and sometimes even commercials-then you just might tear up at the end of this one. I know I’m not telling you about the plot line, I want you to read it for yourself. It is a story of a boy and his donkey; a story of love.
The Small One was also made into a Disney short film. We saw it once on television Christmas morning. In September of 2005, Disney released this film for the first time on the DVD “Walt Disney’s Classic Cartoon Favorites Volume 9-Classic Holiday Stories” This DVD also featured “Mickey’s Christmas Carol and Pluto’s Christmas Tree.”
If you can’t find the book, check out the movie-you can probably rent it from your local video store. I pray that you enjoy the story of The Small One.
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