Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas

The Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens — 2017 — Winner

Every year, the Christmas family puts up the biggest Christmas tree. They hang up the most lights. And their dog, Rudy, barks "Jingle Bells" for the entire neighborhood to hear. The Christmas family LOVES Christmas!

That is, all except for seven-year-old Mary Christmas. Mary wants to love it. But how do you make a Christmas celebration better when it's already as big as can be? With some help from her family—and Rudy—Mary just may find a way to make this year's celebration the merriest yet.

With oversized humor and heart, this story of spreading Christmas cheer is sure to become a holiday classic.

"Friedman makes the case that the best thing to do with abundance is to share it."—Publishers Weekly

"The message that one person can bring about positive change, no matter the situation, is triumphant, and the idea that the holidays are for sharing is beautifully presented. . . . A merry selection, just perfect for storytimes highlighting the true meaning of Christmas."—School Library Journal

"Everyone loves Christmas, but when your last name is Christmas, you love it even more. The Christmas family's celebrations diminish those of their neighbors, and this has begun to bother young Mary. She scorns the overabundance and wonders if there is 'such thing as too much Christmas?' Mary seeks the advice of a wise mall Santa who opens her eyes to the true meaning of the day. This contemporary tale is timely and filled with relatable characters. The message that one person can bring about positive change, no matter the situation, is triumphant, and the idea that the holidays are for sharing is beautifully presented. Readers will root for Mary as she tries to shape her families' spirit into something everyone can enjoy. The colorful illustrations add to the merriment. A merry selection, just perfect for storytimes highlighting the true meaning of Christmas."—School Library Journal—Journal

"Mary Christmas wishes that the other members of the her family were a bit less fanatical during the holidays: her parents and siblings pick a tree so big that it shoots through the roof of their house, they short-circuit the neighborhood with their light display, and the pile of presents in their shopping cart is an avalanche waiting to happen. When Mary confides in Santa about her feelings, he suggests that maybe she can find a way to embrace (and spread) her family's enthusiasm. She does so by persuading them to share their celebration with the larger community in the local park—tree, gifts, and all. Durst's kinetic mixed-media cartoons convey the family's over-the-top enthusiasm with humor and understanding as Friedman makes the case that the best thing to do with abundance is to share it."—Publishers Weekly—Journal

Laurie Friedman is the author of the popular Mallory series, The Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair series, and many award-winning picture books. She lives in Florida.

Kathryn Durst received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Animation in 2013, after an internship at Pixar Animation Studios for storyboarding in her third year. She loves working on children's entertainment, publications, and media—especially children's books and television series. She lives in Toronto, Canada.