Christmas Countdown, 12-15

 Day 12:

The Last Straw by Paula Palangi McDonald, Illustrated by Carol Pettit Harding.  This story is about a modern family and their quest to serve one another in order to fill the manger for the baby Jesus.  Really cute!
Day 13:

Christmas Oranges by Linda Bethers, Illustrated by Ben Sowards.  This story tells of a girl at an orphanage who is excited to taste her first ever orange.  I love the story and the message of selfless service and love to those around us.
Day 14:

Oh, Come, Little Children by Anita Reith Stohs, Illustrated by Benrei Huang.  I found this on the clearance desk at Seagull Book for $2.00!  It is adorable and I love the whimsical pictures that go along with the simple story.
Day 15:

The Little Shepherd Girl by Juliann Henry, Illustrated by Jim Madsen.  I absolutely LOVE the pictures in this book!  I also love that the little girl wants so much to help her family.  This is a great story about the shepherds and also about father/daughter relationships.