Children's Book Review: A Christmas Secret by Candace Hall -- Part of the Pump Up Your Book Tour

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Perfect Paperback: 36 pages
• Publisher: Tate Publishing (July 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1617773530
• ISBN-13: 978-1617773532
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.8 x 0.2 inches 

Summary:

When Santa’s reindeer discover a lost kitten named O’Malley, they have no choice but to rescue him and bring him back to the North Pole.  Soon all the residents of the North Pole are doing their part to save O’Malley, including Broome, the head Elf, and Wilma the mouse.  Because only those who were born in the the North Pole can live there, everyone decides to keep O’Malley a secret–until O’Malley goes missing.  Will O’Malley be able to stay in the North Pole?  What will Santa think about  ‘A Christmas Secret’?

My Review:

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays in the year, as I just love the holiday movie specials on television and all the great family friendly books that are released, and eventually become part of a family's tradition.  We have a few favorite Christmas books and movies in our household that we read and watch together.  They never get old, and it makes celebrating the holidays with family ever so much more fun and joyous.  I jumped at the opportunity to read Candice Hall's book, A Christmas Secret, and hoped that this book could be added to our family's list of holiday must read books.

When I found out that this book was based on a mixture of real experiences and people, that revolve around a tiny black kitten named O'Malley, I was eager to dive right in and begin reading.  O'Malley was a rescue cat, who ended up becoming a member of the Irvin family.  Having 3 rescue dogs of my own, one being rescued a few years back at Christmas, I know how important it is to give these stray animals a forever home, and how they provide you with unconditional love for your gratitude.

This book follows Dixie Irvin's daughter, Candace, who ends up taking care of O'Malley once her mother takes ill and passes.  Together O'Malley and Candace form a bond that will last a lifetime. I loved the concept of this book, and how it showed another side of Christmas and the powerful bonds animals and humans have when welcoming a stray animal during the holiday season.  This book has made it on our family's annual must read list, as the power of love is seen in each page of this heartfelt story.

About the Author:

Who would have thought a California girl would grow up to love the magic of a snowy Christmas and the mysteries of the North Pole.   The scent of pine needles fills the air as the sleepy eyes of six small children begin to open.  Then it begins “The Great Race.”  Who will get to the presents first?  The sounds of wrapping paper tearing, children laughing, and toys strewn everywhere.  This was Christmas Day for my family in Los Angeles, California.  There were no snowflakes and Santa led a parade down Hollywood Blvd.  As time passed and growing up continued, sunny California was left behind,   Texas became home and there was snow at Christmas.

Snowflakes would dance and swirl in the wind making the lights on trees seem to actually twinkle.  If you held your breath you could almost hear the tiny hooves lightly touch down on your rooftop as Santa slid down the chimney.  I think it really was the snow that touched off my imagination and sent me spinning off to the North Pole in search of all the mystical people and creatures that dwelled there.

There were no empty hours in a day to begin writing, even though my pen had touched a page or two, no real stories began to unfold until my health forced me to retire.  It was then that real life experiences and my love of Christmas and a special black kitten turned into “A Christmas Secret.” 

Writing has now become my passion and with the help of the good Lord there will be more stories and adventures to be shared.

Click here to learn more about Candace and O'Malley.

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.