Saturday, January 2, 2010

Review/Giveaway: Secrets of a Christmas Box

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Secrets of a Christmas Box
Author: Steven Hornby
Genre: Children's Christmas book - ages 8-12
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: January 10, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. Please note: we are giving away our review copy, so it has been gently read.

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Secrets of a Christmas Box, by Steven Hornby, is a 248-page hardcover book that engages kids in an other-world Christmas adventure. It's a chapter book with some black & white illustrations: 24 chapters which make for a nicely-packaged daily December read for your 8- to 12-year-olds. The book has a list price of $18.95. For more information, check out http://www.secretsofachristmasbox.com/.

Here's the publisher's summary of the book: "Enter the magical , festive world of the Christmas ‘Tree-Dwellers', as Larry, a Christmas snowman, and his pet companion Tinsel, wake up after the long sleep in the Christmas box, to find his brother is missing.

Unable to accept his loss, Larry, along with Tinsel, his girlfriend Debbie, and a newcomer Splint, break the laws of the ‘Tree-Elders' and escape down the tree and away into the house, to look for clues to his brother's disappearance.

Away from the safety of the tree, and desperate to piece back their families in time for Christmas, the small Tree-Dwellers stumble upon a dark and sinister secret, that threatens their whole way of life. However, they soon realize it's not just time that's against them, as they begin to unravel the ‘Secrets of a Christmas Box'."

Author Steven Hornby is an award-winning animator, working as lead on projects such as "Kung Fu Panda" and "I, Robot." This first fantasy novel of his was originally intended as a screenplay and is full of active dialogue and descriptions that keep the story moving along for even the most active kids.

This isn't a nice, sweet Christmas story. It's a secular book - a fun, somewhat magical adventure that delves into the imaginary lives of tree ornaments. There is some suspense as the main characters try to find their missing friend and encounter obstacles along the way. There are lessons learned as the characters figure out who they can trust and realize that not everything is as it seems.

The book is full of Christmas tree traditions and family values - ornaments that celebrate special family moments. And mostly, the book introduces a world waiting to be discovered as children dream and imagine...

Thanks to Ecky Thump Books for the review copy of this book.

77 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the chapter/day countdown to Christmas idea.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I follow with google reader.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Katie said...

I follow with Google Reader and would love to win!

kateh12783 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Cheryl B said...

My nephew would love this! Count me in!
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

email subscriber & follow thru google friend connect:
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

wmmahaney said...

I would love this for my kids.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

wmmahaney said...

I follow in Google Reader
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

Lady Araujo said...

Hi
Happy New Year

Please, enter me in this drawing.
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com

Mystica said...

My nephew would find this just right. please count me in and thank you for making it open for overseas readers.


mystica123athotmaildotcom

Katy said...

This sounds like such a fun book to read with my kids! :)

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

Katy said...

I am a follower!

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

ky2here said...

Our grandchildren would enjoy this.

mmentor said...

need a new read

abfantom said...

I think my daughter would love this book. Please enter me in the giveaway.

abfantom at yahoo dot com

Suburban prep said...

sounds like just the book I'd love for the young people in my life to read.

Unknown said...

I'd love to win!

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM ... GOOD READING FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN

mverno said...

love to win for my grandson
mverno@roadrunner.com

mverno said...

i am also a follower
mverno@roadrunner.com

Crystal F said...

I would love to have this to read with my daughters. Thank you!

Crystal F said...

I'm a follower!

Dave said...

This sounds like a terrific book. And since the author works at Dreamworks, can an animated Christmas special be far behind? Thank you for the chance to win.

Anonymous said...

would love to win this for my daugher!

theamira said...

Sounds like a good book for my daughter.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great story that my granddaughter and I would enjoy reading together. dylanzackamber(at)aol(dot)com.

Nickolay said...

I love a good Christmas Story.

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Nickolay said...

Follower

nickolay

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

deb c said...

With the imagination my grandaughter has I know she would love this book.

Heather B said...

sounds like a great read, my son would love it

Jennifer Wilson said...

Sounds like a great book, please enter me!

jenndiggy at gmail dot com

Jennifer Wilson said...

follow

jenndiggy at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

always love a good CHristmas book



mjmeeks5@netscape.net

A said...

Sounds cute! Count me in!

Anonymous said...

Great review.

13rubberduckies [at] gmail [dot] com

Candie L said...

I think my oldest son would like this. Thank you

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Benita said...

Sounds like a fun read. Thanks.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

Email subscriber and follower via GFC.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

cstironkat said...

This sounds like a cute book. Anything Christmas is welcome at our house.

Anonymous said...

This would be another book to help my boys with reading and to enjoy reading the story.

Nora SP
neneelynn@yahoo.com

erma said...

This looks good.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

wgbc1446 said...

I think my grandson would enjoy this book! wgbc1446[at]yahoo[dot]com

Amanda S. said...

Both of my daughters would love this book!

Andria said...

I would love a chance to win. Thank you.

Andria said...

email subscriber

Anonymous said...

For my niece Hannah!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

mindy said...

i would absolutely love this book thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

Renee G said...

We love everything Christmas.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

Gloria's Bits and Pieces said...

Looks like a good one! I follow as kngmckellar.

yellowlabs said...

This looks great. We love christmas themed books!

yellowlabs said...

I'm a follower.

Helen S said...

I would love a chance to read this book.
helencutie06@aol.com

Helen S said...

I follow
helencutie06@aol.com

Lyudmila said...

I would love a chance to win this book.

AEKZ2 said...

This would be fun to read to my children.

annettekz2@yahoo.com

Curling up by the Fire said...

My son would love to read this. Please enter me.

Kathy P said...

Thank you for the AWESOME GIVEAWAY.. Please count me in :)

Kathy P said...

following your blog as klp1965

Carol EL said...

Our grandchildren would enjoy this. jelly15301@gmail.com

Carol EL said...

GFC follower. jelly15301@gmail.com

Shirley said...

I really enjoy reading holiday stories.

shirleynshort at gmail dot com

giggling kids said...

I would love to win!
heatherstamper09@aol.com

DEBIJOT said...

Would love to win for my grandson.

cdmarteny said...

would love for grandaughter

Rita M said...

Aren't children's books the best! Thanks so much for the giveaway & please count me in!

rbailey1958 said...

Thanks 4 the chance 2 win
pkbailey@charter.net

rbailey1958 said...

Follower
pkbailey@charter.net

Melanie Montgomery said...

We collect childrens Christmas books!




clarkmurdock@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Ny granddaughter would enjoy this book. garrettsambo@aol.com

Hotsnotty2 said...

I would love to win this for my son, thanks!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

coliebear said...

This would be a great win for my kids.
lenz.nicole(at)gmail(dot)com

Liz Mays said...

I love the idea of a chapter a day!
doot65[at]comcast{dot}net

Liz Mays said...

Follower!
doot65[at]comcast{dot}net

cman said...

Please enter me :)

disneyfanheather said...

I would love to win!

disneyfanheather said...

Follower!

lilyk said...

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

lilyk said...

I subscribed to your blog.