Jennifer Liu Bryan

Perfect for : Family reading / Children

In a nutshell: This is a beautifully written and illustrated book full of fun family memories. Written by the youngest Cole child, Hazel, and her grand-daughter-in-law Jenniffer, the authors write a wonderful story that retells a favorite family Christmas that took place just before the Depression. I had so much fun taking a walk down memory-lane with this book. While I did not grow up in a coal town, I did enjoy making my list for Santa from the Sears Wish Book each year when I was younger! I also remember sitting with my parents and reading from family books each night, which is something the Cole family does. Finally, the book leaves the reader with a powerful message of love, family, and Christmas wishes.

Extended Review: With nine children in the house, something was bound to happen sooner or later, and the story starts with one of Mother Cole's favorite carnival glass bowls accidentally being broken. That night after dinner, the children get to look through the special Wish Book and choose something they want to write to Santa for.

Christmas Eve arrives and the family gets ready for the town holiday party. The party ends early as the miners need to try to get one more load onto the train and out of the town before the snow storm shuts the rails down. All through the night, Mother Cole stays up to make sure her husband returns safely, and the children pray for his safe return.

With the worst snow storm in 100 years, the family fears that Santa won't be able to make it to their house, but the children each receive a precious gift that they will always cherish.

Characters: The members of the Cole family make up a heart-warming group. The main character of the story is Ruble, whom the authors disclose as the families main story-teller. This wonderful family will work its way into your heart and help you remember what the holidays are really about!

Story-line: I can see why Hazel chose to retell this family story with the help of her grand-daughter-in-law - it is a wonderful story, and I hope to have many family memories like this one.

Readability: A very fun and easy read, great for children and adults alike.

Overall: A wonderful family-friendly holiday story. This wonderful family will work its way into your heart and help you remember what the holidays are really about! I hope you will join me in adding this book to your holiday collection.… (más)

Cole Family Christmas is a truly heartwarming, charming, family-friendly book; great for all ages. This book is sure to jump-start your Christmas spirit and put you in the mood for the holiday season. Based on a true events, it tells the story of the Cole family and one of their more memorable Christmases. The Cole family is not rich, in fact some would call them poor by societal standards, living in a drafty, 2 bedroom house in a little mining town. But they are in fact wealthy, in love, spirit, kindness and faith. These virtues shine through with clarity. This book will not disappoint, gather your family together around a roaring fire and read Cole Family Christmas aloud.… (más)

One of my favorite books I read over Christmas was a children's book called "Cole Family Christmas" by Jennifer Liu Bryan with Hazel Cole Kendle. This is a true story of Hazel's family at Christmas time in 1920.

As a coal miner's family of nine children they don't have much money, but they realize they are rich in many other ways. The children are excited about getting a chance to look through the 'wish book' for Christmas ( a Sears, Roebuck and Company catalogue). Each child may choose a gift that they really want.

"Think carefully about how good you've been this year when you make your wish," Mama said. "There are plenty of magical things in this book that Santa could bring to some lucky Cole children - if they just look." And with that, Mama searched the book's pages and opened the volume wide, pointing.

From one of Mama's treasured possession getting broken to Papa getting caught in a blizzard coming home from the mine Christmas Eve, everyone realizes how special this Christmas will be. When Christmas morning arrives, the true meaning of giving and receiving shines through all their hearts.

This warm and tender book about family should be read to every child 'any' time of the year! The story reminds you of how family memories are to be cherished and passed down to the next generation to enjoy. Kids will love the goat, Hilda, who gets to live in the house when it's cold outside. I loved the illustrations that brought the Cole family to life for me as I read the book. The Cole Family Christmas story will help you realize that the best gift you can give someone is something from the heart.

Check out the Cole Family website: http://www.colefamily-christmas.com to read the first chapter.… (más)

The Coles are a family of eleven in the winter of 1920. Mama and Papa Cole are raising nine children on a coal miner's salary. Money may be in short supply but there is plenty of love to go around. When a big catalog full of every item you can think of arrives, the children all write letters to Santa to tell him the one thing in the catalog that they would like the most. They all know that Mama & Papa can't afford fancy presents but it almost doesn't matter, the choosing and dreaming are so much fun.

As the Christmas season arrives, everyone is very excited about the big Christmas party thrown by the mining company on Christmas Eve. It is a fun and festive time, the highlight of the year, and the whole town participates. When a blizzard interrupts the event, Mama Cole and the kids head back up to their mountain cabin while Papa Cole must stay in town to work.

When the children awaken on Christmas morning they are relieved to find their Papa at home after being out in the blizzard all night. The presence of their father and the special gifts that are received that morning will show the family the true meaning of Christmas and they will cherish the memory all of their lives.

This wonderful story gives us a little glimpse into Christmas past, into a world long gone but whose values and dreams need to be remembered today. The chapter lengths are just right for reading aloud one chapter a night and the beautiful illustrations by Jenniffer Julich go perfectly with the story.

As I was reading, I was strongly reminded of The Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that were a beloved favorite of mine as a child. You will find the same strength of character, the rewards for hard work, the love of family, in this book.

I especially like the last page which shows a photograph taken of the Cole family in 1919, in front of their mountain cabin in Kentucky. "There are five living generations and 165 direct descendants of Mama and Papa Cole."… (más)