A Review By Mayra Calvani:
One Family's Christmas
By Mary Jean Kelso
Guardian Angel Publishing
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/
Illustrated by K.C. Snider
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935137-34-4
PRINT ISBN: 978-1-935137-05-4
Children's picture book
4-8 year olds
Author's website: http://www.authorsden.com/maryjeankelso
Artist's website: http://www.kcsniderart.com/
One Family's Christmas is a sequel to Kelso's earlier picture book, A Christmas Angel, also illustrated by Oregon-based artist K.C. Snider.
Once again, it is Christmas time in Oregon and the children are preparing to decorate their Christmas tree. Guided by their father, they venture into the mysterious attic to look for beautiful ornaments. They find a delicate red glass ball, as well as garland and tinsel. Then they discover a lovely yet old porcelain angel dressed in white velvet, its gown a bit yellowish from age. This is the same angel from Kelso's first book, an angel that has been in their family for generations. Their father decides it's all right to put the ornament on top of their tree this year. After all, "treasures don't mean much if you can't enjoy them once in a while." Soon they cut their tree, then later decorate it as the youngsters learn more about their ancestors and family history.
The story has a quiet, calming tone, perfect for those holiday nights of reading by the fireplace. K.C. Snider's illustrations, soft and warm, with pastel greens and reds and golds, bring an atmosphere of melancholy and old-fashioned feel to the merriment of the season. Though only 24 pages, the book has a lot of text. At the end of the book, there's a special section about genealogy and how kids may find out about their family history, as well as internet resources, a pedigree-chart and family record sheet. This is one of those Christmas books you'll want to keep on your permanent Christmas bookshelf, one to be read again and again at every holiday season.
Other Books From Guardian Angel Publishing
About The Illustrator
- KC Snider
- KC is an honors graduate of The Eugene School for Art. Her love of the western life and of wildlife has been developed since her youth, with her natural talent for drawing and color exhibited since she was ten years old. Originally specializing in Western Art, KC now has a collection of oil paintings, lithographs, and pencil drawings that include portraits of the All-American Cowboy and Cowgirl and their lifestyles of days gone by. KC had planned to become an illustrator when she was in art school, but when circumstances intervened, she turned to fine art as an outlet to express herself. However, KC has always considered her work to be a form of illustration because even her paintings “tell a story.” In 2007, KC illustrated two children’s books, The Christmas Angel, with author Mary Jean Kelso and The Magic Violin, with Mayra Calvani. Both books are published by Guardian Angel Publishing and are also available as an e-Book. She has now finished illustrations for the first book in a series about an albino horse named “Spirit” and the special children who get to know her. Andy and the Albino Horse was published in April 2008 by Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Andy and Spirit In The Big Rescue...Released
Here are a few more illustrations from Andy and Spirit In The Big Rescue: 
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Preditors & Editors Readers Poll...Please vote!
Vote for K.C. Snider (favorite artist) and Mary Jean Kelso (favorite author) plus all your other GAP favorite including Lynda Burch for eBook editor at the annual Preditors & Editors Readers Poll by clicking on the link below.
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/novelr.shtml#vote.
Thanks,
K.C. and Mary
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/novelr.shtml#vote.
Thanks,
K.C. and Mary
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