Official Review: The Christmas Doll by Jason F. Wright

[Mallory Whitaker]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Christmas Doll" by Jason F. Wright.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Around Christmas time, you'll often hear phrases like, "Remember the reason for the season." If you're looking for a Christian book to read to your children this holiday season, you should check out The Christmas Doll by Jason F. Wright. While he may have written the tale, it's actually a story from Gail Saxton Miller's childhood. (She's the owner of the Utah Jazz NBA team.)

The story opens with six-year-old Gail Saxton on Christmas morning. Her family has been having a difficult time making ends meet. This makes it all the more surprising when Gail gets a brand-new doll for Christmas. The book follows Gail and her Christmas Doll for the next year; we watch Gail's admiration for her doll diminish as she starts to show the wear and tear of being loved by a small child. Can she find a way to enjoy her beloved Christmas Doll again?

While most Christmas books with Christian messages revolve around the Nativity, Wright takes a different approach. Instead, the story focuses on Revelation 21:5: "And he that sat upon the throne said, / Behold, I make all things new." While I was surprised by this, I think it's one of the book's strongest features; it sets it apart from the many other Christian Christmas books out there. It also helps it transcend from being just a Christmas book into one that can be read throughout the year.

This 32-page book is for children between four and eight years old. It contains beautiful illustrations by Howard Lyon. They are so lifelike that I almost thought they were photographs at first. The language is simplistic, yet it still possesses a certain whimsical feel. It contains playful phrases like, "a wide smile fell across her face like snowflakes" and "a smile so bright it could have lit up every tree in the neighborhood."

This book appears to be professionally edited; I found no errors. I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. The message is strong, the illustrations are wonderful, and I enjoyed the author's writing style. There wasn't a single thing about it that I disliked. I would recommend this book for Christian children between the ages of four and eight. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who doesn't want a book with Christian elements.

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The Christmas Doll
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[Laura Lee]

It sounds beautiful! I love beautifully illustrated books that aren't all cartoony. I'm going to check it out. Thanks for the review!

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

Wow; just the summary pulled at my heartstrings. It sounds like a wonderful read for kids. Thanks for the great review!

[kandscreeley]

This is such a different take on a Christian Christmas story. I'm glad it's done well with great illustrations. I love the cover. Thanks for your review.

[MsH2k]

What a wonderfully unique idea to use Revelation 21:5 as a basis for a children’s Christmas story. Thank you for your view!

[Maríe Wamakima]

Wow! During every Christmas he that sits on the throne makes everything anew. There's always a lesson to be learned in reading a book, even children's books. And your wonderful review has pointed out this great lesson.

[Destinycaroline456]

I would love to read this book to my daughter when she gets 4!!!!

[kdstrack]

I love this author's unique perspective on a traditional story. Your positive review of this book makes me want to read about Gail's doll. Thanks for the wonderful recommendation!

[Fairyland1010]

I would love to read this book for my kids. It sounds very interesting. The author gives a great perspective on the story. Thank you for the recommendation!