Children's Literature
- Dr. Judy Rowen
Drawn from the diaries of Lucky Hart, the text tells of Christmas in 1845 in Cobtown. A stranger, a hurt dog and a broken pump organ come together to form a Christmas miracle. The text is sprinkled with recipes and craft ideas. Lucky's chatty news from Cobtown brings the time and place to life. The pictures are bright and cheery, reminiscent of magazine illustrations from days past.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-4--This story is based on writings by the author's great-grandmother, Lucky Hart. Lucky is a spirited, happy child, and her diary entries detail the daily adventures and preparations that give readers the flavor of a 19th-century small-town Christmas. The book has an old-fashioned tone, from the Tasha Tudor-like illustrations to the "yellowed diary" look of the pages, featuring "extras" that a young girl might save, like receipts, ticket stubs, recipes, etc. Unfortunately, illustrations face pages of dense text that will limit the appeal for today's children.--LF
Kirkus Reviews
A nostalgic look at an time gone by, this winsome Christmas tale is suffused with warmth and glad tidings. The diary of Lucky Hart tells of the miraculous events of Christmas, 1845, following some bleak days, when a lost blind man speaking a foreign language shows up in town, a curiously exhausted stray dog appears, and the pump organ is broken, which means that Lucky won't be able to sing the much anticipated "Cobtown Hymn." The blind man and his dog are reunited, and he plays the hymn on his musical bells. The Van Nutts, through Lucky's observations of the townspeople and their preparations for the holiday, skillfully evoke a sense of daily life during this period. Clippings of recipes, railroad tickets, and whimsical sketches from the diary's pages contribute to the sense of realism. The December 24th edition of 'The Cobtown Observer' printed on the front and back inside covers provides engaging anecdotes with a period feel for readers to peruse. The illustrations depicting a quaint village and homespun entertainments, e.g., a skating party, breathe life into Cobtown and its inhabitants. A generous slice of Americana.
