title: Joy to the World: A Family Christmas Treasury
author: Ann Beneduce
description: Christmastime is filled with special traditions, both secular and sacred. In <i>Joy to the World</i>, editor Ann Keay Beneduce compiles a host of holiday customs, beliefs, and folklore. Each chapter introduces the history and symbolism behind a familiar Christmas symbol--the star, the manger, the gift givers, the tree--followed by biblical passages, carols, stories, poems, and plays, by such distinguished and diverse authors as Truman Capote, Beatrix Potter, E.E. Cummings, Hans Christian Andersen, and of course Charles Dickens. Find such haunting classics as "The Gift of the Magi" mingling with the poignant "Tailor of Gloucester," and nestled between everyone's favorite traditional Christmas carols: "Away in a Manger," "O Christmas Tree," and "Silent Night." A final section focuses on Christmas celebrations around the world. Whether Christmas is a solemn occasion or a gala festivity in your family, there's something for everyone in this golden treasury. And without a doubt, award-winning artist Gennady Spirin's exquisite old-fashioned watercolors will bring joy to everyone's world. (All ages) <i>--Emilie Coulter</i>
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  ### Annotation
  
  
  **With Christmas fast approaching, will there be festive cheer or troubles
  ahead? Perfect for the fans of Katie Flynn and Dilly Court.**
  
  
  **December 1930.** Christmas should be for the children, but with the
  Depression biting deeper, money and food in short supply and factories, ship
  yards and businesses closing down, the outlook is pretty bleak.
  
  
  It looks like many East End kids will wake up on Christmas morning to nothing.
  
  
  Robbie Graham is out of luck and work. Can he earn enough to put food on his
  table for his motherless children, Ben and Ruthie? Never mind something for
  their Christmas stockings?
  
  
  Meanwhile single mother and local shop owner, Flo Hawkins cannot bear the
  thought of some children having nothing for Christmas. Alongside her daughter,
  Honour, they decide to make their own gifts and the community unites to throw
  a Christmas party at the Salvation Army for those less fortunate.
  
  
  But will it be Flo who gets the best gift...
  
  
  
  
  
  *