For Christmas all over the world, Christmas is a special day, full of wonder. And while the story of Jesus' birth is at the heart of the celebration, the traditions surrounding it are varied and diverse.

In this classic text, Barbra Cooney offers readers a retelling of the timeless Christmas story with a beautiful explanation of the origins of many cherished and beloved customs from around the world. With charming illustrations by Loretta Krupinski, and fun holiday activities by the publishyer, this book will be treasured for many Christmases to come.' Cooney begins by conveying the feeling of excitement that surrounds Christmas and then slips easily into examining the holiday' s history. The religious significance of Jesus' birth is first related, followed by explanations of older widwinter celebrations (for example, Yule and Saturnalia) that show the blending of various customs into one special season. . . . There is a lot of information in this little book, including recipes for rolled Christmas cookies and instructions for making a clove-covered orange, and a pinecone bird feeder.' --BL.

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 1998 by HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd .

Barbara Cooney was an American writer and illustrator of over 100 children's books, published over sixty years. She won two Caldecott Medals, which are awarded to the year's best-illustrated U. S. picture book, and a National Book Award. Her books have been translated into 10 languages. Helene J. Jordan was a science editor associated with the American Museum of Natural History. She also served as the editor of Natural History magazine and as the director of the Rockefeller University Press. Loretta Krupinski has illustrated several children's books, including Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here by Jean Craighead George, The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo, and her own Into the Woods: A Woodland Scrapbook. She has also illustrated one other book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro. She successfully grew all the bean plants pictured in this book. She lives on the coast of Maine.