Chaos unfolds at Kiddie Christmas

December 14, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first chapter of a 12-part fictional tale running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. Katie had never thought about what pure chaos would look like. But as she stood in the center of the town’s Kiddie Christmas Village for her first day on the job, she knew. Chaos was dozens of small children running around, shrieking with laughter as they moved from station to station while consuming large amounts of sugar via hot cocoa and marshmallows and candy canes. Frazzled parents stood off to the sides, their arms ...

Making spirit of Christmas endure

December 25, 2022

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final chapter of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. For the first time Anna could remember, she didn’t have the usual bittersweet feeling about Christmas being over. This year was different; the feeling that she and Tyler got from helping others was the best kind of Christmas spirit ever, and it didn’t have to end with the holidays. On the day after Christmas, they were full of excitement as they entered the Book Secret. It was crowded in the small store, and Mr. Hinkly was busy waiting on ...

Tyler receives a special present

December 24, 2022

Editor’s note: This is Chapter 11 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Anna sat at the kitchen table watching snow fall in fat, fluffy flakes as she tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach. All day long, she’d been alternating between excitement and worry about giving Tyler his Christmas gift. She’d had no choice but to involve both her dad and Tyler’s mom. When Anna told her dad about what she wanted to do, he didn’t hesitate in jumping in to help. “That’s a ...

The joy in making a difference

December 22, 2022

Editor’s note: This is Chapter 10 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. Tyler watched as Anna quickly exited back into the storeroom, confusion on his face. “What were you doing in there?” he asked. Anna shrugged. “It opened and I just stepped a couple feet inside,” she said, trying not to sound like she was hiding something. “It didn’t show you anything?” Anna absolutely hated keeping anything from him, especially this, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. Not just yet. “I’m sure it’s waiting ...

Children and cookies warm a heart

December 21, 2022

Editor’s note: This is Chapter 8 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. “I’ve always thought he seemed incredibly lonely,” Anna’s mom said, snapping the lid on the cookies. “Even if he has trouble showing it, I’m sure he’ll appreciate this.” “I hope so,” Anna said, taking the cookies. Her mom had smiled and agreed that Anna’s idea to take cookies to Mr. Banks was a great idea. She was used to her daughter’s spontaneous plans and ideas, and so she hadn’t much questioned Anna’s motivations beyond ...

Children strive to keep spreading joy

December 20, 2022

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Chapter 7 of a 12-part fictional Christmas tale. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children. It hadn’t been hard to find Rosie’s cherished little stuffed dog. He’d been right where they’d last seen him — slightly squashed from being shoved behind so many boxes, but no worse for wear. Anna wanted to return Scruffy in person, but Tyler convinced her to turn him into the customer service desk. “Think how happy she’ll be to get that phone call,” he said. “If we tried to return it ourselves, how would we ever explain how we knew ...