A Louisa May Alcott Christmas: “A Christmas Turkey, and How It Came”

From the Barnes and Noble collection of Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott called Christmas Tales and Stories (edited by Laura Ciolkowsk) comes a sweet tale with a lot of fodder between the lines for those of us well-acquainted with the life of Miss Alcott. "A Christmas Turkey, and How It Came" The premise is familiar: a …

Rewriting “A Christmas Carol” for children: “A Christmas Dream and How It Came True”

I came across an article on Scotsman.com about why we so often associate Charles Dickens with Christmas  (see The father of Christmas: What the festive season owes to Charles Dickens) and it really opened my eyes. The influence of Charles Dickens Despite that fact that I have read so little of Dickens, I could still …

“What the Bells Saw and Said” – Louisa May Alcott’s State of the Union Address

If Louisa May Alcott were to deliver a State of the Union address (minus the politics), what would it be like? You can find out by reading "What the Bells Saw and Said," in Christmas Tales and Stories, edited by Laura Ciolkowski. Portrayed through the reports of six spirits living in the bells of the local …

“Little Robin” is the heroine of Christmas Eve

It amazes how Louisa May Alcott's children's stories, written approximately 130 years ago, continue to strike a chord, reminding me of similar stories in my own life. The second story from Christmas Tales and Stories (edited by Laura Ciolkowski), "Little Robin," instantly brought to mind the entertaining and slightly ridiculous Christmas Eve adventures that my dear …

Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Stories – “Bertie’s Box” in real life

I just picked up an e-book of Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott from Barnes & Noble called Christmas Tales and Stories (have to love e-books for the convenience, especially since I wanted to start reading right away). "Bertie's Box" - setting up the story It includes an introduction by the editor, Laura Ciolkowski. She …