Cole Family Christmas is a delightful story about a coal-mining family of eleven in the Appalachian Mountains who learns that love and togetherness far surpass material things. It’s a story similar to the O'Henry's Gift of the Magi in which one’s most prized possession take on a new meaning when you give them away.
The humble family with nine children tightly embrace the importance of listening and respect as they struggle to make ends meet in the harsh climes in the Kentucky mountains. The co-authors, eighty-eight year old Hazel Cole Kendle, on which her true story is based, and her granddaughter-in-law Jennifer Liu Bryan, write with such beauty that you can feel the cold drifting up from the frigid floorboards. You can smell the food Mama cooks and sense the coziness in the tiny kitchen as her children help her prepare each family meal.
In this tightly written story, the authors do a great job developing the characters, a none too easy task in a seventy-five paged illustrated book. An inanimate object, even the Sears catalogue wish book takes on a life of its own as the centerpiece of the children’s lives in the story.
Aside from the lessons of love the reader learns, another significant message is conveyed: the importance of recording family history. Genealogists and parents alike will love Cole Family Christmas for its uplifting quality and its gentle reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
Christine Hohlbaum
Mama's Musings
Berea College Appalachian Fund
Next Chapter Press will contribute a percentage of the net proceeds from the sale of Cole Family Christmas to the Berea College Appalachian Fund. The Berea College Appalachian Fund supports organizations working to improve the health, education and general welfare of people living in the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas.
Cole Family Christmas is a production of:
Next Chapter Press
PO BOX 1937, Boca Grande, FL 33921
(513) 709-4344 info@nextchapterpress.com
Who is Hilda?
Hilda is a character in Cole Family Christmas. He is the pet goat of protagonist Ruble Cole. Hilda was brought to life this year in a live, interactive traveling animated show. Hilda is also the spokesgoat for ReadAloud.org.
Hilda is touring the country and interacting with live audiences in real time at book readings, children's festivals, and other family events to share the importance of reading aloud. See where Hilda will be appearing.
Visit ReadAloud.org and register to help Hilda in his campaign to encourage families to read aloud everyday.
Why read aloud with your family?
"Years of research tell us the single most crucial family activity for improving the success rate of children in school is reading aloud together," says Jennifer Liu Bryan, author of The Benefits of Reading Aloud. "Improving child literacy really can be as simple as devoting quality time to reading aloud and as inexpensive as having a library card."
What will you find at ReadAloud.org?
- Regular video campaign messages from Hilda
- Weekly drawings for kids
- Links to join the campaign on social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace)
- Links to partners with read aloud resources
- An 800 number for children to ask Hilda questions
- Hilda's favorite blogs
