Home for Christmas, Stories for Young and Old; compiled by Miriam LeBlanc and published by Plough Publishing House, October 2014.

Home For ChristmasTime until Christmas is short but if you are still looking for a special item for someone on your gift list, look no more. Home for Christmas is the solution! (Or, if you are buying early for next Christmas, keep reading, too!)

This collection of twenty short stories includes tales both old and new, by authors well-known and others not so familiar, originating in countries around the world. Make no mistake, this is a not a kitschy commercial Christmas offering but, rather, a literary treasure of seasonal gifts waiting to be unwrapped with the turn of a page. A common thread of giving and sharing serves as the ribbon that ties all the stories together.

One of my favorites is “A Certain Small Shepherd” by Rebecca Caudill (1950 Newberry Honor). Perhaps because I have son who struggled with his speech when he was very young, or because I have a grandson who had an adventurous birth, or because I worked with many Sunday School children on Christmas pageants, the story touched me in numerous ways. Typical of the collection, it is a heartwarming tale of struggle, love and giving; in this case through the experiences of a little boy who cannot speak, until…well, you’ll have to read the story!

Click here to order Home for Christmas from Amazon. Don’t just order a copy as a gift, though. Order a copy for yourself to warm your heart and share with your family each year.