Stories to inspire, crafts to decorate the home, gingerbread houses of all sorts to bake, and drinks to bring cheer to all who come by: these are just some of the ways to make Christmas very, very merry, and more than 500 of them are beautifully collected right here. How will you celebrate? Perhaps the traditional American style seems most appealing: then make a Tole Painted Nativity, whip up some delicious Hot Buttered Rum, and read “The Night Before Christmas” aloud. For a classic Victorian holiday, sing “Deck the Halls,” place a charming Violin and Cherub wreath on the door, and sip some mulled wine. Or choose the Country, Southwestern (a little salsa verde, anyone?), International, or fun-filled Not-Quite-Grown-Up style.

Christmas should be the most anticipated day of the year. Instead, we dread the shopping, baking, spending, and stress. Bestselling author Collins wants to help readers rediscover the joy and peace of the holiday season.

Tis the season to be jolly -- and with this holiday activity book, that shan't be a problem! This cheery celebration of Christmas includes: -Delicious hints and tips for holiday cooking! -Loads of yuletide stories, carols, and poems to enjoy around the fire! -Exciting Christmas activities for the whole family! -Useful advice on gift giving, wrapping, and receiving, including what to do when you get an awful present! Plus much, much more!

This pleasantly quirky and off-beat memoir invites the reader to accompany Danny Boy, age eleven, as he gets swept up in a conspiracy by a bizarre band of bootleggers to create a lucrative black market for booze. The bootleggers scheme to join with their small town's Churches to rid the community of alcohol by Christmas. The smugglers, a hilarious collection of harmless street hustlers, serve as poster boys to show the ill effects of whiskey, wine, and beer. Working together through a series of wry, engagingly loony episodes, the teetotalers and the bootleggers succeed in ridding the place of Demon Rum. But the tension created by new prohibition laws threatens the town's Yuletide tradition of peace and goodwill. Fortunately, from the dark shadows of conflict, miraculous events bring a surprise ending and a renewed Christmas spirit to the entire community.

Includes, beginning Sept. 15, 1954 (and on the 15th of each month, Sept.-May) a special section: School library journal, ISSN 0000-0035, (called Junior libraries, 1954-May 1961). Also issued separately.