Christmas

Book Review & Giveaway: Amal the Thirsty Gamal: A Christmas Tale by Robert Schorr

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Book Title:  Amal the Thirsty Gamal: A Christmas Tale by Robert Schorr
Category:  Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7),  38 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book 
Publisher:  Mascot 
Release date:  July, 2021
Content Rating:  G.

Book Description:


The charming tale told in Amal the Thirsty Gamal is for every young person who might be anxious about how they are viewed by those around them (and yes, camels care about that too!). For so long, our little hero has been hearing taunts and jeers and thinking negative things about himself, his looks, and especially his little hump. But—oh, brace yourselves! — because Wise Men are traveling with Amal’s special caravan, and when one of them speaks up around the campfire one night, everything changes for little Amal!

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N 
Mascot Books

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I love it when I read a children’s book and learn something new! Like Amal, I learned that you shouldn’t believe everything you hear about camels. In Amal’s case, it did wonders for his self esteem.

Knowing what is at the end of the caravan’s trip, I am excited to read this to my grandchildren. There is a lot of text for youngsters, but the rhyming and the bright colors of the illustrations should keep their interest.

I like this story of Amal that not only teaches that being different is okay, and sometimes even better than being “normal,” but also has the Christmas story included. And such a great ending for Amal!

About the Author

Robert Schorr resides in San Clemente, California, with his wife Sharilyn and their family nearby. For 26 years, he served as Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Towne in Orange, California. Prior to that, they lived in Asia for 17 years. He is devoted to his Savior, to Sharilyn, his children, flying, hiking, fly-fishing, Chinese, and writing. He loves any story that makes someone special, and he knew, a long time ago, that little Amal had one to tell.

Connect with the Author: website ~ facebook 

Giveaway

Enter to win a signed copy of AMAL THE THIRSTY GAMAL! (one winner/USA only)

Gleam

Follow the Tour

July 6 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
July 6 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
July 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
July 7 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
July 8 – Laura’s Interests – book review / guest post / giveaway
July 9 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
July 12 – Books for Books – book review
July 13 – Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway
July 13 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
July 14 – Reading is My Passion – book review
July 15 – Icefairy’s Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
July 16 – Lisa’s Reading – book spotlight / giveaway
July 16 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / giveaway
July 19 –She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
July 19 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
July 20 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
July 20 – The Adventures of a Travelers Wife – book review / guest post / giveaway
July 21 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
July 22 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
July 23 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
July 26 – @twilight_reader – book review

Another Christmas Gone

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Artist Josip Falica

Another Christmas Gone
by Anonymous

The first white hill still glistens
Beneath the moonlit skies;
As on the night of Christmas
Untrod it sleeping lies,
A new born year is waiting
To meet the early dawn:
And whisper this to all the world,
Another Christmas gone.

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Carols Around the Christmas Tree

sleepygirl2
Artist Lucy Grossmith

Carols Around The Christmas Tree
By Angela Wybrow

The night was cold, but, thankfully, dry,
As, at the church, the villagers arrived;
They gathered about the bejewelled tree,
With their hearts and faces so full of glee.

The rich and the poor, the young and the old
All came together, braving the cold;
Donning their coats, hats, scarves and gloves,
They gathered together in this season of love.

Around the tree, the merry throng
Raised their voices in joyful song:
They sang of Jesus and of angels singing;
Of kings bearing gifts and of church bells ringing.

Their warm breath clouded the frosty air,
As, the joy of song, they cheerfully shared;
A local brass band played along –
Their sound ringing out, sweet and strong.

When the carols were over and the music had died,
The merry throng then trooped back inside,
Where they were offered a welcome glass of mulled wine,
And a deep-filled mince pie on which they could dine.

They had come together and sung as one,
And the evening, they agreed, had been immense fun;
Spirits were high, as they went their own ways,
Having enjoyed singing carols – great songs of praise.

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The Little Christmas Tree

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Artist Lynn Bywaters

The Little Christmas Tree
by Bob Lazzar-Atwood

A happy little Christmas tree
Stood bravely in the cold,
And prayed to some nice family
It one day would be sold.

It dreamed of all the pretty lights
They’d string around its limbs,
And of the warm and quiet nights
They’d fill with Christmas hymns.

It pictured all the loving smiles
On each and every face,
And all the brightly colored piles
Of gifts around its base.

So every day the little tree
Would stretch its trunk up high,
And hold its limbs out gracefully
As people passed it by.

And lots of people loved the tree
And stopped to say hello,
But most of them would later leave
With larger trees in tow.

With Christmas just a week away
The rush for trees was on,
They sold them faster every day
’til most of them were gone.

But not the little Christmas tree
It stayed upon the lot,
And when it closed on Christmas Eve
It still had not been bought.

With heavy heart and weary limbs
The tree began to weep,
And as the day grew cold and dim
It cried itself to sleep.

That night an angel passing by
Took pity on the tree,
And flew it swiftly though the sky
To find a family.

She left it by a poor man’s door
And knocked so he could hear,
She knew that he could not afford
A Christmas tree that year.

On Christmas Day the tree awoke
To loud and joyous noise,
It saw the smiles of happy folks
And laughing girls and boys.

Its limbs were draped with popcorn strings
And ribbons tied in bows,
And up on top with tinfoil wings
And angel proudly posed.

No treasure to be found on Earth
Could match the little tree’s,
For none could be of greater worth
than love and family.

And way up high above the clouds
Where only angels roam,
A light was shining brighter now,
The tree had found a home.

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