If I had to pick my favorite time of the year, it would be Christmas, hands down. There was a time when it filled me with dread. You must shop for gifts for family you hardly ever see. You have to spend money you can scarcely afford to spend. You have to make sure your children have at least as much from Santa as they did last year. You also have to put up with family members that you sometimes would rather not. You have to cook up a storm and the calendar is booked from the first of December, giving you so little downtime. That's what Christmas is all about, right?

No. That's just what I thought until I read this little tiny book that helped me put things in better perspective. With this collection of 432 tips to help "make this the best Christmas ever" I've learned the true meaning of Christmas: It's the little things that make the season joyful.

This smart little book was written by H. Jackson Brown, author of a passel of "Little" books, including Life's Little Instruction Book which also is written in the numbered tip format. Both books offer tremendous insight and optimistic views of the world we live in daily.

Mr. Brown, who is the male equivalent of Martha Stewart, says that the idea for this book began when he, his wife and a couple friend of theirs were sitting in their Tennessee home, sipping cider, watching It's a Wonderful Life by a crackling fire. They were reminiscing about cherished holiday traditions and the comfort they bring to us at this time of the year. By the time they finished the evening, The Little Book of Christmas Joys was born.

And what a book! This book will help you and your family rediscover the small joys of Christmas giving: the giving of gifts, of your time, of your hugs or help, encouragement and even second chances. It may even remind you of forgotten family traditions or help you discover new ones that you and your family will try this year. At any rate, it will definitely put you in the Christmas Spirit!

The beauty of this book is in its format. All tips are numbered with bullets so it makes for a book that is simple to read when you just have a few moments (like a bathroom book) and can put down easily without breaking up the continuity of the book. The tips are interesting enough that the reader could easily curl up by a roaring fire and devour the whole book in a night.

I should include a few samples so The Little Book of Christmas Joys can be appreciated:

There are tips that remind you to share the spirit of the season:

· Be the first to wish everyone you meet a Merry Christmas.
· Take a basket of Christmas Goodies to a notoriously grumpy neighbor.
· Be nice to sales personnel. They’re often wearier than you are.

Tips for time management:

· Don’t schedule yourself too tightly during the holidays. Before making an appointment, as yourself, “Can this wait until after Christmas?”
· Find out what’s on everyone’s Christmas wish list when the family is together at Thanksgiving.
· Take a few minutes each month to jot down your family’s news. This will make writing your Christmas letter a lot easier.

Tips for remembering others:

· Take a basket of Christmas goodies to your local fire and police stations.
· Be considerate of your in-laws’ special Christmas traditions.
· Take a shut-in a scrumptious Christmas dinner.

Tips for being a child at heart:

· Rent a Santa Claus suit. Slip it on during your lunch hour and hand out candy canes to everyone in the office.
· Tie jingle bells on your kid’s shoelaces.
· Throw restraint to the wind. Christmas is the one time of year when bigger is better and gaudy is good.

Tips for starting your own traditions:

· Give a young member of your family the honor of placing the star or angel on top of the tree.
· Go caroling.
· Instead of the usual bedtime stories, read to your children about the Christmas customs in other countries.

Some of the tips are actually delicious recipes:

· “It Smells Like Christmas” Pumpkin Bread
· Aunt Emma’s Baked Apricots
· Amaretto Fudge Cake
· Ruth’s World Class Pralines

Lastly, one tip gives a listing of catalogs to do your shopping at home from:

· Wireless
· Crate and Barrel
· Harry and David
· Jardine’s Texas Foods
· Earl’s Honey stand

If you purchase this book, I guarantee you won’t be sorry. This tiny book has enhanced my Christmas’ in the past, given me a brand new perspective that allows me to see and believe in the miracles of the holiday season. I’ll leave you with one last tip that generally I need to read at least once a season:

· Don’t forget whose birthday we’re celebrating.


Recommended: Yes