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st tribune december 22 1993 p7 library news classic and modern christmas reading the season brings a plethora of reading mate rial much of which is try ing to make the sale by using the christmas theme with all the christmas stalking mysteries sto ries of the best gift ever and humorous pageant plays its difficult to find a story which actually touches the christmas chord take for instance james howes the fright before christmas not to be con fused with tim burtons movie james howe takes his familiar characters harold the dog and chester the cat with bun- nicula the vampire being tucked away in the back ground and puts them into a christmas setting enter a new character howie the puppy afraid of santa claus and we have an interesting story but not so much about christ mas rather its a curious comment on this annual event of a stranger enter ing our homes with a large sack actually it does sound like exactly the kind j fire extinguisher ulc approved sales service smoke detectors 4 4 i of situation none of us want to encounter no won der howie is frightened other modernday santa stories which are beautiful ly illustrated are the berke breathed book a wish for wings that work and chris van allsburgs a polar express people who appreciate the childlike art of grandma moses will liken her illustrations to thomas moores the night before christmas then if that special chord has still not been strummed there are other more traditional choices such as the gift of the magi by o henry and charles dickens a christ mas carol a little tip here dont cheat yourself with classic stories avoid abridged or adapted versions theres no reason the text of a story should be altered to make room for new illustrations jan pienkowskis book christmas is a wonderful sample of text and illustra tion this is the king james version of the original christmas story with black silhouette pictures trimmed with gold foil in the style of old illuminated manuscripts this definitely strikes a good chord wishing you a merry christmas and thanks for the patronage and thanks for the good will the laughs and the chats and for sindbad the pats barb sarah and sindbad peace on earth ciiis may the spirit of goodwill and brotherhood echo throughout the land as we celebrate this most magical of seasons 121 toronto st box 727 uxbridge ontario loc 1k0 mobile recharging 905 8526847 4165596988 have a wonderful holiday season