Review of the Christmas Lantern

[Pablo Josue Mendia]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "the Christmas Lantern" by Cortney Lofton.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Christmas Lantern by Cortney Lofton is a short children’s story set in the Arctic Circle. The story begins in Santa’s Village, where elves work hard to produce cookies and presents for children. Since the North Pole does not get much sunshine, Santa’s Village relies on a magical lantern that always illuminates it. Zinnie, the protagonist, is a firefly that maintains and protects the magical lantern. Zinnie takes pride in her hard work and is very happy that everyone in Santa’s Village works together to help Santa have another successful Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, after Zinnie’s and the elves’ successful work, Santa’s sleigh is loaded with presents and the magical lantern. Santa needs this magical lantern to fly around Earth and deliver children's gifts. However, before everyone celebrates Santa’s departure, something goes wrong.

What does the magical lantern need to shine? Who lives in the Arctic mountains? What happens if the magical lantern does not shine? What goes wrong before Santa's departure? Who or what is responsible for the mishap? Will children get their gifts by Christmas Day? If you read this story, you will find the answers to these questions and more.

I appreciated that the story included the eight traditional names of Santa’s reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. This aspect allows parents, grandparents, and children to connect with traditional and contemporary Christmas storytelling. I liked that children learn words, such as “flit,” and idioms, such as “nook and cranny,” enhancing their vocabulary and idiolect. Moreover, Carlos Escudero’s illustrations are vivid, unique, and engaging. I liked his inclusion of firefly fashion and the Aurora Borealis in some illustrations. Dina Soul Writing’s editing is flawless, containing no spelling or grammar errors (I only found some issues in the “Thanks” section but not in the story). Lastly, the story is educational and emphasizes the importance of friendship, teamwork, kindness, and problem-solving.

I was not too fond of some overlaps between illustration and text. This may only be a Kindle format issue (I read it on my iPhone and Kindle Oasis), which required me to zoom in often during the story. Some words are too close to the stars, which some young readers may confuse them for asterisks. In addition, readers who speak languages that include accents may get confused by some words that seem to have accents but are only aspects of the illustrations. However, this overlap was not constant enough to justify deducting a star from the rating.

Given my likes and dislikes, I give this book an outstanding 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to all families, regardless of their religion or belief in Christmas. The Christmas Lantern does not include religious aspects, is educational, and imparts positive values that families will cherish.

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the Christmas Lantern
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[Cynthia Pence]

As a prospective reader, The Christmas Lantern by Cortney Lofton seems like a charming and heartwarming children's story, perfect for the holiday season. The blend of traditional Christmas elements, like Santa’s reindeer, with a unique protagonist, Zinnie the firefly, adds a refreshing twist. The focus on friendship, teamwork, and problem-solving imparts valuable lessons for young readers, and the vivid illustrations make the story visually engaging.