fa la la #4
I love the idea of kids growing up on a farm (maybe even my own kids someday... there's still time!). Having to get up early and milk the cows, seeing the vegetables grow and ripen, the whole family having to pitch in together to make it all work.
So that could be why I fell in love with this book, Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl Buck (and oh so beautifully illustrated by Mark Buehner.)
A teenage son overhears his parents talking, and realizes for the first time, that his father loves him. "Neither his father nor his mother talked about loving their children—they had no time for such things. There was always so much to do on a farm."
He wants to get his father a special gift for Christmas. He has little money, but he needs to show his father that he loves him... so he comes up with a plan. "He could get up early, earlier than four o'clock, and he could creep into the barn and get all the milking done. He'd do it alone.. and then when his father went in to start the milking, he'd see it all done. And he would know who had done it."
(I have high hopes that if I read this story to my children enough times, I will one day come downstairs Christmas morning to see the house spotless and all the laundry washed and folded.)
12.21.2008
Reader Comments (12)
When is someone going to design a kids book based on the movie, "Ciper in the Snow?" Brooke, you should take it on.
This account is very moving to me! What more valuable thing is there to teach than than the gift of self and time is indeed a gift and valuable. I may have to make a last minute trip out to look for this one.
Oh! Maybe it's just being pregnant, but I read this at the bookstore and wept. Such a beautiful story!
Here here to the Cipher in the Snow comment!
I didn't know this was a book; I've just seen the movie countless times in Sunday School the week before Christmas. It's such a sweet story and it always makes me cry.
What?! There's a movie version?
mark buehner must have seen the film in sunday school too. . . (it's so lovely). so glad you shared this book, we're big fans of the buehners (and of course, pearl buck).
and if you start designing books based on all those guilt-you-into-being-good church films from the 70s and 80s, i want in (although i'm fairly certain i'd be useless). . ."the mailbox", "prime the pump" ... could be amazing.
my mom just had this book in her class. I love it! I wish I could live on a farm, too.
Let me know if it ever works, Brooke. I'm going to start trying over here, too.
I love this story - I had no idea it was published in book form! (With Mark Buehner illustrations, no less!) Thanks for sharing. I also love the ornament tags. Thanks for the download!
PS I laughed out loud at the 'Cipher in the Snow' comments. (not my favorite.)
Just found your blog - dang cute!!! We buy a book every Christmas for the kiddos and this is the one that was chosen this year, it's sad, happy, and loveable :) Kim
I know I'm a little late on this, but I've been reading back through your blog and this book is one my mom would always get from the library for me when I was little. It's a favorite!
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Christmas-Trinka-Hakes-Noble/dp/1585362700
This account is very moving to me! What more valuable thing is there to teach than than the gift of self and time is indeed a gift and valuable. I may have to make a last minute trip out to look for this one.