The King’s Christmas List: A Book Review
After I finished reading and reviewing Dave Ramsey’s The Money Answer Book, I hopped on over to booksneeze and had them send me another little tome to ponder.
This time it was a children’s book entitled The King’s Christmas List by Eldon Johnson.
Even holding the book in my hand, I felt like it was going to be a hard sell kind of book.
1. It is published by Tommy Nelson.
2. It is promoted on the back cover by blood:water mission and World Vision.
I really wanted to like this children’s story about a little girl offering true and pure gifts to a king.
I mean, the gold sticker on the front promised that this book would “teach my kids to love giving”.
I wanted that.
This is the type of book about which you feel guilty saying negative words, even if you think they are true.
Because the cause is good.
The cause is important.
I have supported those causes and others like it before.
I will again.
But not because of this heavy-handed sermon.
I feel as if I should apologize right now or something.
But it is just true.
It’s as if you can say about this book . . .
“It means well. Bless its heart.”
Because it does.
Mean well.
It just isn’t, uh, delivered well.
Or at least, it isn’t delivered creatively.
Or originally.
As truth of this magnitude deserves.
I am sorry if this is sounding harsh.
I even thought I might be looking too seriously into this book.
So I read it to a target group of its intended audience.
Kids.
The ones in my house.
After reading this story before bed one evening, I asked London to tell me what happened in the book. She said, “Emma got a golden letter in the mail. She went to see the king. She was going to walk but then a carriage came up. She gave people stuff- like to a grandma and her grandson.”
I switched over to Mosely for the end synopsis. “What’s next Mo-Town?”
She said, “Then she asked the king, ‘Why are people giving each other presents? It’s your birthday.’ The king said, ‘When they give other people presents, they are giving me a present.'”
I guess Mosely got the point.
And that was what mattered. I know.
Next listener questioned.
“Berg – would you want Mommy to read this again?”
“Yes.”
“Why, son?”
“Because I don’t remember it.”
And that’s the other point, I think.
It is an important topic.
And it was a forgettable story.
So I guess they are both right.
(Isn’t that the way it usually goes?)
I say,
teach your kids to love giving.
But do it some other way.
6 Comments
Eldon Johnson
It's alright…please don't feel guilty!!! This is Eldon ( the author)–I have three girls (5, 7, 9) and I know that some books just don't "thrill" me. I just wanted to give parents that want it another tool to help teach their kids that giving can be just a fun a getting at Christmas. So however you do it, I think we all want Christmas to be a fun and meaningful experience for our kids, but also for some of the neediest kids around the globe. Thanks for giving it a chance!
LaceyKeigley
Well.
If you were seeing me right now, I'd probably be blushing.
I reread the review just now to see if it was hurtful in any way.
And it seemed a bit too strong.
Which was one thing when I was typing this to my audience, but another entirely if I had even had the slightest thought that the author would read this review.
(Which I could never have imagined.)
And which is, of course, no excuse.
Thank you for your humility and grace. I am not sure I would be as gracious if my words were criticized.
And the fact remains – you have a book published by a well known publisher.
I do not.
And that gives you a platform for your message.
Which is essential.
And I have learned valuable lesson here – thank you again for commenting, for reading and for being so kind in your response.
Lisa
I completely agree! I felt guilty about not loving this book too!
LaceyKeigley
I am so glad to hear another person agree!
shelley
Yep, I get it. I can't tell you how frustrated I get at some of these watered down, pablum stories that we're supposed to read to our kids. Give them some meat . . . please!
LaceyKeigley
Yes.
Charlotte Mason calls it twaddle.
I like that word.