The Magical Christmas Store

Story of the Christmas store is interesting but no one warned me that the boy’s mother is either dead or somehow separated from the family which could be the reason why the Christmas holiday was so sad for him and his family. I didn’t appreciate that. I would return the book but the cover page got ripped. I got this for my children. The oldest is 5 years old. Its a bit long but interesting.

Bought for my almost 4 year old, as part of our Advent Book Calendar for Christmas. It's a really beautifully illustrated book - lots of little things you can point out in the pictures. The story is very sweet - and really explains that you can give extraordinary gifts to people with a little imagination. Also reinforces that Christmas isn't about the flashy gift or price tag - but about the joy the gift brings. The book also does a good job of representing a non-nuclear family. I keep looking for books that have characters from all backgrounds, economic positions and locations - so make sure that my child's story books represent what the world really looks like. This book fit nicely into that goal. The book would also be great if you have a child that loves exotic animals - there are quite a few in this book. I'm not sure my 3 year old totally grasped the concept of the book without my explanations - but it's for sure one that you could enjoy from age 3 for several years.