Jack Canfield - Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids: A Story a Day from December 1st Through Christmas for Kids and Their Families

Chicken Soup for the Soul
Christmas Treasury for Kids

CHICKEN SOUP
FOR THE SOUL
CHRISTMAS TREASURYFOR KIDS

A Story a Day from December 1st
Through Christmas for Kids
and Their Families

Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Patty Hansen
Irene Dunlap

Backlist, LLC, a unit of

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC

Cos Cob, CT

www.chickensoup.com

This book is dedicated to
Gabby and Dee Dee Romanello...
your example of reading Christmas stories together
inspired this book.
We also dedicate this book to our children...
we love reading with you,and hope that someday you will pass
this family tradition
on to your own children.
Blessings and love.

DENNIS THE MENACE used by permission of Hank Ketcham Enterprises and byNorth America Syndicate.

Contents

Denise Peebles

Karen L. Garrison

Megan McKeown

Crystal Ward Kent

Storm Stafford

Maddy Lincoln

Sandra J. Payne

Michele Wallace Campanelli

David Scott

Marvin J. Wolf

Nick Montavon

Rita Hampton

Kristina Richardson

Jessica Lamb

Nancy B. Gibbs

Harrison Kelly

Joseph J. Gurneak

Barbara King

Molly Walden

Elaine C. Smothers

Brittany Anne Reese

Dottie Smith

Quynh Thuc Tran

Whitney Von Lake Hopler

Veneta Leonard

Ahhh... Christmas! The fresh smell of pine, cookies baking and a roasted turkey filled with stuffing. Tree decorations sparkle and shimmer in the lights. Last-minute shopping, Santa Claus in the mall and going Christmas caroling. Candlelight church service on Christmas Eve. Trying to stay awake long enough to hear reindeer on the roof. The big present that youve been wanting all year, other presents under the tree that tempt you to pick them up and shake them. Christmas stockings filled with candy, toys and books and underwear from your grandma (again!). Its all part of the holiday season.

But the most important of all is the magic that happens when love is shared this special time of the year... love for your fellow humans, your teachers and friends, and especially your family.

One of the best ways for a family to show love for one another is to spend time together. We encourage you to give a special gift to your family this season by reading these stories togetherstories that show the true meaning of Christmas, each in its own way.

You are holding the only book that we know of where kids themselves have selected stories about Christmas that were written by other kids (and some adults who havent forgotten what this special time of year means to kids!). To make sure that you will love the stories in this book, each one was carefully chosen by a readers panel of 350 kids, just like you, from all across the country. The one thousand or so stories that we received were narrowed down to the top twenty-five stories about the sharing of love, Christmas traditions, giving from the heart, holiday magic in the form of miracles and the meaning of the real spirit of Christmas.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids will help you celebrate each day of the Christmas season one story a day starting December first through Christmas day.

Our highest hope is that youll love each story as much as the kids who chose them did. We wish also that the magic and love that is found in the true meaning of Christmas is yours now... and evermore.

Merry Christmas!

W hat is Christmas?
It is tenderness for the past,
courage for the present,
hope for the future.
It is a fervent wish that every cup
may overflow with blessings
rich and eternal,
And that every path may lead to peace.

Agnes M. Pharo

Dec
1
The Easter Egg Christmas

C hristmas is not a time nor a season, but a stateof mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to beplenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit ofChristmas.

Calvin Coolidge

Easter was just a week away when the radio announcements began. Each day, as the holiday approached, my five-year-old daughter, Ashley, and I would hear updates about the Easter egg hunts coming up at local parks in our area.

With the first mention of the events, Ashley began pleading with me to take her to one of the big egg hunts the coming weekend. I knew in my heart that sometimes events like these could set kids up for disappointment. With so many kids scrambling for only so many eggs, the odds of her not finding any at all were very real. Still, I did not want to be the reason why she might feel let down, so I smiled at her and agreed to take her, all the while hoping that she would be able to find at least one egg.

Saturday came and we drove to the hunt that Ashley had decided would be best. The parking lot was jammed with cars loaded with children. Frustrated by all the chaos, I considered leaving and just going home again when Ashley jumped out of the car with basket in hand, eager to begin hunting. She was not discouraged in the least by the crowds.

After I parked the car, I joined Ashley and as we began walking toward the event area we heard an announcement on the loud speaker. The Easter Bunny had hidden hundreds of eggs early that morning, and each and every one contained a surprise inside. Ashleys eyes lit up as she imagined what treasure she might find inside the special eggs.

I glanced across the field that was roped off for the hunt and was easily able to see several eggs lying out in the open area. To make sure that the hunt was fair for kids of all ages, the field was roped off in sections and each section had an age limit. Ashley signed in and was directed to the proper line for her age group. When the whistle blew and the rope was dropped, the children ran into the field searching quickly for all the eggs they could find. After the hunt was officially over, each child began his journey back across the field.

Disappointment showed on the faces of the children who didnt find any eggs. Huge smiles were on those who did. I searched the crowd for Ashley, growing concerned that she might be in the group of children who didnt find anything. I hoped that her heart had not been broken.