Welcome to the world's most confusing holiday... Christmas! What do hanging stockings, putting up trees, and waiting for Santa Claus have to do with Jesus' Birthday? More than you'd think! You know the Christmas story - but do you know the story of Christmas?

Around the world Santa Claus has many names. But in a deep, swampy bayou of Louisiana, he's known as Papa Noël. In such a hot and humid place, there can be no sleds or reindeer, so Papa Noël rides the river in a boat that's pulled by eight alligators, with a snowy white one named Nicollette in the lead. On this particular Christmas Eve, it's so foggy on the river that even Nicollette's magical glowing-green eyes may not be enough to guide Papa Noël. The alligators are tired, grumpy and bruised from banging into cypress trees, and Papa is desperate to get all the gifts to the little children. Well, "quicker than a snake shimmies down the river," the clever Cajun people come up with a solution that saves the day. A colorfully inventive Christmas tale, Papa Noël is a lesson in fast thinking, as well as a witty introduction to a part of America that's rich in folklore and legend.

Do you enter every holiday wanting it to be meaningful, only to find that it feels chaotic with no direction? We set New Year’s goals we can’t keep, struggle to love or be loved on Valentine’s Day, and find it hard to celebrate the risen Jesus when we are searching for the perfect Easter dress. Our summer and back-to-school seasons are whirlwinds, even as adults; we aren’t quite sure what to do with Halloween as Christians; and we feel less than grateful at Thanksgiving because it is sometimes full of complicated people. Even Christmas becomes a challenge, as celebrating Jesus gets lost behind twinkling lights and a mountain of gifts. Holidays are meant to be more than chaos with glimpses of grace; they are meant to draw us closer to God and one another. We want all the whimsy and joy the holidays held when we were children, before life crowded it out. We want the holidays to reflect our love for Jesus and reveal the grace that has been lavished on us, but life is so busy that setting a game plan just doesn’t happen. No more. It’s time to stop trying to survive the holidays or over indulge the whimsy, and instead live in the abundant life God called us to live. Sacred Holidays is part book and part resource: meant to help you avoid what has tripped you up in the past and give you insights, tips, and tools to make your holidays less chaotic and more about loving Jesus and others. Don’t let your holidays be marked by regret, whirlwinds, or survival mindset. Let’s celebrate every holiday together purposefully and worshipfully–loving Jesus and others well in every moment.

Celebrate the Christmas season with this beautiful and heartwarming nativity retelling from beloved, bestselling author Glenys Nellist. Told in the style of the classic ?‘Twas the Night Before Christmas poem, make this read aloud your new holiday tradition. ‘Twas?the Evening of Christmas shares the glorious nativity story of baby Jesus, the King of Kings! Written in both prose and poetry, this beautiful picture book will engage children and adults alike and become a new holiday tradition for families everywhere!? ?‘Twas?the Evening of Christmas: Is a wonderful holiday read aloud for children ages 4-8? Shares the powerful message of Jesus and his miraculous birth Features beautiful artwork by celebrated illustrator Elena Selivanova? Serves as the perfect gift for the family as you prepare for the Christmas season? Presents portions written in the familiar rhyme scheme of Clement C. Moore’s?‘Twas?the Night Before Christmas? Makes a great holiday, Christmas, or Advent, gift for readers young and old? Is the perfect addition to a Sunday school or children’s ministry lesson, classroom setting, or homeschool library Join Glenys and families around the world as you and your family celebrate the arrival of God’s son, Jesus.? Look for additional inspirational children’s picture books from Glenys:? ‘Twas?the Morning of Easter? 'Twas?the Evening of Christmas? Snuggle Time series? Love Letters from God series

Wink the Elf asks the reader's help to get Santa's present ready for Mrs. Claus on Christmas Eve.

Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox, the duo behind Llama Destroys the World, take their trademark hijinks up to the North Pole in this laugh-out-loud, heartfelt Christmas-themed picture book. Santa is feeling old, and being in the business of Christmas for centuries is . . . well, it isn't all milk and cookies. In hopes of regaining some of his pep, Santa asks the spirit of Christmas to give him something for a change: skim off a couple of years and make him younger. But Christmas magic is powerful, and Santa gets more than he wished for. Instead of a fresh new outlook and boundless energy, he needs diapers and a nap—stat. With Christmas only a few days away, the elves rush to teach Santa Baby the basics. But will there be enough time to prepare their new bundle of holiday joy for the job? Funny and spirited, bright and inspiring, and with an unforgettable title, Santa Baby is destined to be a yuletide read families revisit every year.

A classic holiday story about a teddy bear loved by children for 50 years. It’s almost Christmas and Corduroy sits on a department store shelf, wishing he could be a child’s holiday gift—but he’s a plain bear, and nobody seems to notice him. He sets out across the store to ask Santa Claus for help, but he can’t visit without wearing a special outfit! After stopping to try on hats, boots, and even baby clothes, Corduroy finally arrives at the North Pole. Can Santa help Corduroy find a new home in time for Christmas? With warm humor and classic art, A Christmas Wish for Corduroy takes readers back to the beginning and shows how Corduroy became the beloved bear we know today. This is a heartwarming story about the power of hope, perseverance, and friendship--an important addition to any Corduroy collection, and the perfect way to celebrate Corduroy's 50th anniversary.

From creator of Veggie Tales® Phil Vischer, these fun and easy-to-read picture books based on the popular video series Buck Denver Asks... What's in the Bible? teach children about character and virtue through beloved Bible stories. What does it mean to be thankful? Buck Denver has had a bad, bad day, so his friends take him on a quest to learn about thankfulness. Soon, he's on a ride with Sunday School Lady, Marcy, and Brother Louie to learn about Jehoshaphat and Lazarus. In the end, Buck learns that on good days AND bad days, God is good and worthy of our thanks-every day, no matter what!

Santa comes to the barnyard in this holiday addition to the award-winning Click, Clack series from the New York Times bestselling Doreen Cronin

"One night on a quiet hillside, a little boy sat beside an old tree stump, watching and waiting. His name was Benjamin, and he was a Watchman"--Page [4] of cover.