I liked the book. I can’t remember the story completely because I read it so long ago. It was a good book.

This book was cute but my little one was really not interested in it when I read it to him. I personally thought that the pictures fit well it’s the story.

The Worst Christmas Ever is a great little book with lovely illustrations. Myself and my 5 year old son really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for my copy.

The Worst Christmas Ever
by Kathleen Long Bostrom
Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2021
Flyaway Books

I loved this book!~ Here's a quote from it.
"It didn't matter now that there was no snow and that they'd almost had a pink tree. Christmas had come, right in the middle of Matthew's feeling lost in the world. Just as it had come that first Christmas, long ago."
As a teacher, I used to encounter children who went through this experience. I think this is a great book to recommend when children are going through change or a move. It will be an encouragement to their soul.

Great Book! Thanks to Flyaway Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

4 star

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A neat take on a Christmas story. I wasn't super excited about the cover but the book was good.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I love a holiday children's book for my kids. This sweet story about Matthew and his little sister, Lucy is perfect for the holiday season.

Matthew's family has moved and now he is stuck in California where it doesn't feel very much like Christmas. In addition, his beloved dog, Jasper is missing. This Christmas is going to be the worst. Matthew just knows it.

However, when Christmas Eve rolls around, and the magic of the holiday is upon him, Matthew's Christmas may just make a huge turn for the better.

My kids loved this book, and so did I. The pictures are just adorable. Definitely add The Worst Christmas Ever to your rotation of holiday children's books.

The Worst Christmas Ever by Kathleen Long Bostrom is a picture book about a family that moves to California before the holidays. The plot is a bit scattered however enough incidents occur to keep the reader moving through the book. The ending is happy which is always nice for a read-aloud to children.

Matthew's family moves to California before Christmas. While there, he misses his old home and the changing of seasons as the holidays approach. He feels out of place at school and even at church. When his sister decides her doll should be in the nativity scene at church, Matthew's dog Jasper also goes missing. Matthew hopes for a Christmas miracle to find his beloved Jasper as the Christmas play approaches.

The illustrations by Guy Porfirio are beautiful and without them the story would be tough to follow. The muted realistic illustrations add intrigue and the small details keep interest on the page. His attention to detail even allowed the title page and end pages to hold my interest long after the plot did.

There is definite religious overtone in this book that does not allow for a read-aloud in schools or public libraries. A great addition to a collection of books for a family who is Christian and looking for a holiday book without the kitsch and capitalism.

The publisher generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Matthew and his family are moving to California, and it is not the right place for Christmas. In this book Matthew is upset because California is not what he wants for his Christmas experience and everything feels off and what he would love is a Christmas miracle.

I completely understand Matthew's depression about this, it is hard to move and it is hard to be ok with change, but it happens and we need to make the best of the situation. I also agree that Christmas should have some dead leaves and maybe even snow, so being in a different climate would be really unnerving.

To make matters worse, Jasper, the family dog runs off and Matthew is left all alone and missing his dog. It was a sad and mopey book for a holiday book, but it all comes together in the end. Matthew has a change of heart but I think that there was something missing to this book.

I think it will be a great book for when a change is happening but it doesn't get in to the solutions for dealing with change and I thought it should go into that more since it was the plot.

This story is a blend of the first Christian Christmas story and a child’s feelings of insecurity and loss at moving home. Lucy is a bright light in this book which has many sad scenes of Matthew’s struggle to adjust to his new life. It does have lots of Americanisms which may be lost on some child readers overseas, however it does bring out the universal message of needing to feel at home and dealing with change.

This trailer by Flyaway Books shows you some of Guy’s illustrations for this book (https://www.flyawaybooks.com/the-worst-christmas-ever?wix-vod-video-id=3e952d1ba50849be9a733c05bc566e00&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-jyrkhwdf).

I think for me, the scene of the multi-coloured Christmas trees, with no snow in sight, was the spread that really made the feelings of loss for Matthew “hit home”. Matthews sadness grows and grows through the book which makes Kathleen’s miracle-ending put a smile on your face.

I am very grateful to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Matthew's family is moving to California. The rest of his family is excited for the change to warm, sunny weather, but Matthew is NOT. He wants things to stay the same, as they have always been. When the family's dog goes missing it is proof that the move was a mistake. But can a miracle save the Christmas holiday?

This book is cute, with bright illustrations. It is full of religious references, so use with caution in public school settings. It would make an adorable book for use in a Christian school setting, or for families who believe.

This was a cute story. The illustrations were done really well and were very colorful. Children will love this holiday book.

A wonderful story about love and miracles following families wherever they go. Matthew's family is relocating to California, where Christmas trees can be any color imaginable, new schools, new church, new neighbors. Nothing is the same except for Matthew's dog, Jasper. Matthew's little sister knows there will be a Christmas miracle. Jasper runs away one day and does not return. Christmas Eve, at the church's living nativity, will Matthew and his sister find their miracle?

a beautiful Christmas story for "littles" and adults alike to see the real miracle of Christmas!
I will buy a hard copy for my family!

Thank you for a Christmas story that celebrates the season as so many families do. This is so relatable to many kids, moving, dogs, church. I know my students will love it.

This book was cute and I think children who have had to move would relate well to the story. (I’m in that number!)
Had a satisfying ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Matthew's family has moved to California. As if that isn't bad enough there's no snow there and his dog disappears right before Christmas. His little sister Lucy believes she can find the Christmas miracle Matthew says doesn't exist. Is Matthew right, or will Lucy find the Christmas Miracle and give everyone a Merry Christmas after all.

I've read this to my daughter twice so far and we both really enjoyed it. The story is so cute. While Christianity is a theme in this book it isn't shoved in your face. The characters are fun and sweet. It's enjoyable in every way. I would definitely recommend this is you're looking for a new Christmas story to share.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Excellent illustrations, decent story, a feel-good story for Christmas time.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book for my honest review. This is a cute story for elementary school kids and preschoolers. The illustrations help make the book what it is. The story is believable. The boy is having a tough time adjusting to a cross country move and needs a miracle to make Christmas seem more like Christmas. The ending was a bit flat for me, which is why I gave it 4 stars.

This is a very good book dealing with something that a lot of children deal with, moving, family & Christmas. It was written very well and the pictures support the text. I recommend it to anyone.