Christmas is a wonderful time for kids-the anticipation of gifts under the tree, the aroma of once-a-year treats in the oven, the excitement of decorating for holiday festivities, the joy of being with family and friends, all the things that create warm memories that linger throughout our lives. Even big kids, better known as adults, eagerly await that first cup of eggnog, savor the scent of a fresh-cut pine tree, and delight in the discovery of that perfect present for a hard-to-please relative. Christmas is a time of celebrating traditions-those that have been in the family for years, as well as those just recently embraced. Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids will start a new holiday tradition for kids of all ages. With twenty-five true stories-one for each day in December through Christmas Day-this unique treasury will rekindle the Christmas spirit every December first and keep it burning in the hearts of readers throughout the holiday season. As kids and their loved ones read these stories together, they'll realize that the best traditions are those the whole family can share. Kids will read about the "angels among us" who give selflessly to those in need. They'll learn that sometimes the best gifts aren't bought at a store. They'll discover that giving to others can be more joyous than getting everything on their list. And both kids and adults will find these stories wonderful reminders of the true meaning of Christmas and make this book a cherished reading tradition for generations to come. Grade 4-8-The introduction claims that these 25 true stories were selected by a panel of 350 youngsters. It is difficult, however, to see where their child appeal might be. Designed for family sharing, most are sentimental, awkwardly written accounts of past experiences where the true meaning of Christmas transcended and transformed personal tragedy or impoverished circumstances. While many of these anecdotes focus on children, most are told from an adult perspective. Libraries that choose to buy this title will do so based on the series' popularity, not for its literary merit.-V. W. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling authors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, are professional speakers who have dedicated their lives to enhancing the personal and professional development of others. Patty Hansen, a mother of two, is President of Legal and Licensing for Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc. She also coauthored, with Irene Dunlap, Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul. An Angel Among Us I come from a large family of nine brothers and sisters, and all of us have kids of our own. On each Christmas night, our entire family gathers at my oldest sister's home, exchanging gifts, watching the nativity skit put on by the smaller children, eating, singing and enjoying a visit from Santa himself. The Christmas of 1988, my husband, Bob, and I had four children. Peter was eleven, Leigh-Ann was nine, Laura was six and Matthew was two. When Santa arrived, Matthew parked himself on Santa's lap and pretty much remained dazzled by him for the rest of the evening. Anyone who had their picture taken with Santa that Christmas also had their picture taken with little Matthew. Little did any of us know how precious those photos with Santa and Matthew would become. Five days after Christmas, our sweet little Matthew died in an accident at home. We were devastated. We were lucky to have strong support from our families and friends to help us through. I learned that the first year after a death is the hardest, as there are so many firsts to get through without your loved one. Birthdays and special occasions become sad, instead of joyous. When our first Christmas without Matthew approached, it was hard for me to get into the holiday spirit. Bob and I could hardly face putting up the decorations or shopping for special gifts for everyone. But we went through the motions for Peter, Leigh-Ann and Laura. Then, on December 13, something extraordinary happened to raise our spirits when we didn't think it was possible. We were just finishing dinner when we heard a knock on the front door. When we went to answer it, no one was there. However, on the front porch was a card and gift. We opened the card and read that the gift-giver wanted to remain anonymous; he or she just wanted to help us get through a rough time by cheering us up. In the gift bag was a cassette of favorite Christmas music, which was in a little cardboard Christmas tree. The card described it as being "a cartridge in a pine tree," a twist on the "partridge in a pear tree" verse in the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. We thought that it was a very clever gift and the thoughtfulness of our "elf" touched our hearts. We put the cassette in our player and, song-by-song, the spirit of Christmas began to warm our hearts. It w