The Kings Christmas List by Eldon Johnson

The King's Christmas List, with its beautiful illustrations, tells the fanciful story of a little girl who instinctively followed with her heart even when it cost her something to do so. The message, to me, was to those who had much (a new playhouse, a dog, a toy, a set of parents who was supportive in every way) the biggest thing that they had was a sense of sharing and giving.

It is a wonderful story, especially in the Christmas season, to examine the virtue of why we give and ways that we can instill this in others around us as the primary gift of the season. My favorite line in the book is "It takes a lot of love and courage to share the things that are dear to you. When you stopped to help others on your way to the castle today, you showed them what My love looks like." It is the updated version of the Good Samaritan and a true lesson to a child who is far more interested in getting than in giving!

I also thought that the "Give a Gift to the King" was an added bonus instead of a cagily designed advertisement (as some might take it.) I did have a thought that the parent who reads this book and helps the child give the gift should be most careful in explaining that giving demands each of us to sacrifice what is ours to keep. The book made this act specific and individual.