Book Review: What Happened to Merry Christmas?

I know it's a little early to start in on the whole "War Against Christmas" theme, but I recently received a children's book for review that addresses that subject. The book, titled What Happened to Merry Christmas is authored by Robert C. Baker with beautiful vibrant illustrations by Dave Hill.

The story is set in the weeks before Christmas, when Sam hurries home from school bemoaning that "Merry Christmas is lost!" It seems that Sam had brought home an invitation to a school "holiday" party. "Teacher says there won't be any Christmas", Sam laments with tears in his eyes.

Sam's mother comforts him by saying "Maybe Christmas really isn't lost", but that they "will just have to look a little harder for it." The rest of the book is filled with Sam and his mother going through the house and pointing out those things that remind them of the true meaning of Christmas: a paper snowflake that Sam had made at school, reminding them that God made each and every snowflake, like each and every person, to be unique; the Advent wreath, reminding them of the coming of Christ, "the light of the world"; the evergreen foliage of the Christmas tree, reminding them that Christ is alive; the angel on the tree, reminding them of the Annunciation and of the appearance of the Heavenly host to the shepherds on the first Christmas; the gifts under the tree, reminding them of the gifts brought by the Wise Men; the creche, reminding them of the most precious Gift of all.

I read this book to my 5-year-old and 3-year-old boys last night, and had them pick out things on the pages that reminded them of Christmas. They enjoyed the book, and this will definitely be added to our Christmas reading list this year. The book is 32 pages long in a hardcover format, and is appropriate for children ages 4 to 8. I highly recommend it.

Available at Concordia Publishing House and Barnes & Noble.


Other reviews of note:
"What Happened to Merry Christmas? reminds the young and old of the true meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ. Our current society wants to reclassify Christmas as another civil holiday. Robert Baker's book is a gift. Each page is a companion for families striving to help children remember the true meaning of Christmas. The author reminds us all that being in the world is no reason to be consumed by the world."
— Seán Cardinal O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston

“What Happened to Merry Christmas? is a delightful book and one that should be put in the hands of committed Christian parents…I commend you for a little work that makes its point very delicately and at a level that small children…will be able to understand and appreciate.”
— Thomas G. Doran, Bishop of Rockford, Illinois