“Christmas Turtles” Book Review
I recently read a new children’s book “Christmas Turtles” to my very active and busy six and seven year old grandsons.
This story is based on the true experience of the author, Sara Ann Denson. Tara McMillen provides the beautiful illustrations that encourage children to explore their imaginations as they venture through the book.
Not only did it hold their attention, but they wanted to read it to me. I guess you could say we read the book together and we talked about it all along the way. We stopped and looked at the pictures and discussed all the things we had just read. They really got into it.
This is a true story about a loving and adoring grandmother and her four grandchildren told by Sara Ann Denson, who is one of those four grandchildren. She tells us of a happy and exciting family tradition they shared each Christmas at Grandma’s house.
Each year in the fall the families would come to the farm to help Grandpa plant the winter wheat. The children and Grandma would sit in the cool autumn air on the front porch and crack pecans. They knew it was very important that they save the pecan halves in the magical tin that Grandma brought out every year. When the magical tin was half full, they placed it in the freezer for the elves.
Every year when they returned at Christmas, the elves had magically turned the pecans into candy treats called “turtles”. One year the families came to Grandma’s house early and the elves had not come yet. The magic tin in the freezer was still filled with pecans instead of turtles.
This was the Christmas the grandchildren learned that Grandma was the one making the Christmas turtles. She let them help her make the turtles and it was then that Sara Ann realized how much their Grandma loved them. Even though Grandma couldn’t eat the candy treats and despite her aches and pains, she always made turtles for her family just to see their happy faces when they ate them.
The love and warmth this family shared is the strong overriding theme of this warm and thoughtfully written book. Not only did my grandsons enjoy reading it, at the end they both grabbed me and gave me big hugs.
Parents and grandparents, I must warn you. Before reading this story to your children, be sure you have all the ingredients for making Christmas Turtles. They will want to go directly to the kitchen and make some. And I assure you, that’s just what we did.
The recipe for making this special treat is in the back of the book. You will also receive a wooden spoon with the words “Christmas Turtles” printed on the handle.
This lovely book should be included in every child’s library. The warm memories Mrs. Denson describe reveals the importance of loving traditions shared within the family.
To meet the author and learn more about her, visit her website at SaraAnnDenson.com. You will find this book available at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com and Borders.com.
I hope you enjoy “Christmas Turtles” as much as my grandsons and I did. Merry Christmas and Happy Memories!
