Christmas Stars Book Unbound The Writing of Rita Y. Toews Category:  Children Publisher: Books Unbound E-Publishing Co. ISBN-10:  1592010059 Type: Fiction Pages: 20 Copyright: Nov 1 2002 Catherine is so excited. Snow has been falling for many days, and it's time to decorate the trees in her yard for Christmas. When she sees two young deer eating from her bird feeder, she learns that the snow is too deep, and many animals are hungry because they can't find food. With the help of her father, Catherine is able to work out a solution to the problem. Christmas is only weeks away and Catherine wants to help decorate the trees in her yard. As she helps her father with the lights, she sees two young deer eating from her bird feeder. When her father explains that the snow is too deep for the deer to find food on their own, Catherine asks if they can feed the young animals. All is well until noise from snowmobiles frighten the deer away. Will they find their way back to Catherine's yard? Can Catherine protect the deer from the snowmobiles? This delightful Christmas book includes several children's activities that will keep the little ones busy over the holidays. Excerpt Catherine was so excited she could hardly stand still. It was the last Saturday in November, and today her father was going to put Christmas lights on the big tree in the front yard. He also wanted to decorate two big spruce trees in the back yard. Father had told Catherine this year she was big enough to help.

5 out of 5 Stars
CHRISTMAS STARS by RITA Y. TOEWS
Reviewed by: Jennifer LB Leese

Published by Books Unbound

Illustrator: Jennifer Macaire

ISBN: 1-59201-005-9



Catherine loves the snow, but her father thinks it is too early for it. Not understanding why, she follows her father into the meadow to decorate some huge pine trees near their house. After her father says that it is too early for snow again, she asks him why. Before he answers her, she notices two deer searching for food. Father explains that's the reason why he feels that it is too early for snow--the animals in the forest can’t find food. Catherine felt horrible. That night, after lighting up the tree, she watches as the same two deer try to eat bird seed from the bird feeder. Immediately, she asked her father if he could lay some hay out for the deer that she saw earlier. Naturally, he agreed.



All through December, Catherine and her family watched as rabbits ate the hay during the day and deer ate it during the night. She felt that it was better than the zoo. However, when loud scary machines called snowmobiles zoom past their land…the animals and Catherine and her family are in for a bit of a shock.



CHRISTMAS STARS is a beautifully illustrated picture book (drawn by artist Jennifer Macaire) for children. This book is a great way to teach children how to use the mouse on the computer, as it is an interactive book, where the child has to turn the page by clicking the mouse. Toews’s book is also interactive in the way that certain pictures come to life with animation! It’s a tremendous book, put together in a tremendous way. Bravo, Rita!



My children’s faces lit up as they turned from page to page, and when they came to the finished newly decorated Christmas tree--they shouted in delight! Toews’s book is a wonderful tool to teach children love, caring, and responsibility.



Included in the back of the book, children can “Help Feed Catherine's Birds", and they can play a maze game and a crossword puzzle.



Rita is the author of several children's electronic books, including "The Flood" and "Kelly's Baby Brother". She has also co-authored three adult books with Hungarian author Alex Domokos, including the award winning "The Price of Freedom". Please visit her website at http://www.domokos.com



This reviewer looks forward to more works by such a talented author.



Jennifer LB Leese

Children's Book Review Columnist for FictionForum.net "Jennifer's Corner"

http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff



5 Stars!
(Author) Rita Y. Toews

(Illustrator) Jennifer Macaire

Title - Christmas Stars

5 STARS!



Catherine's father had decided that she was old enough to help him decorate and put lights on the trees outside. Winter had come early. The snow was deep. When Catherine noticed two hungry deer eating seeds from the bird feeder in the back yard, she asked her father if they could help the deer through the rough winter.

*****

Author Rita Toews warmed my heart with this touching story. She showed that by doing little acts of kindness, such as putting food out for the deer, the rewards would come back three-fold.



Illustrator Jennifer Macaire created lovely pictures for each page of the story. In addition, there is a picture of Catherine's trees that, when you touch them with your mouse, they light up!



As a special bonus, once the story is over, there are a few pages with puzzles, games, and projects. This is a perfect way for parents and children to have some delightful time together. Children will beg, "Can we read it one more time?" Highly recommended!

*****

HUNTRESS REVIEWS(Reviewed by Detra Fitch)



Posted: http://www.huntressreviews.com/eallkids.htm