The Christmas Porringer

The Christmas Porringer is a sweet and quick holiday read. Written by Evaleen Stein and first printed in 1914, The Christmas Porringer is a special little treasure. The novel is set in the Middle Ages and centers on a generous but poor little girl named Karen. Karen is determined to give the Christ-child a Christmas gift of His very own. When the special gift is stolen, it becomes clear that God desires to use the simple gift as a way of bringing change to those who desperately need it. The story shows that no one is too "messed up" for God to change. The Christmas Porringer is a compassionate look at redemption, and it is told in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by children and adults. 

Written for ages six and up, The Christmas Porringer is a great choice for a holiday read-aloud. The story could be used to introduce children to the way a poor child would have lived during the Middle Ages. In the story, Karen and her grandmother both do lacework to make an income. The story shows the importance of hard work, even for a child. There are many other moral concepts and ideas that could easily be applied to family discussions and extended into the homeschool day. 

Had I not been given The Christmas Porringer to review, I probably would have passed over this book without giving it any notice at all. The cover has a very simple and old-fashioned look that, honestly, would not have caught my eye. This book proves the folly of judging a book by its cover. It is a beautifully simple and heartwarming story, and I'm glad I didn't miss out on reading this book. 

The thee's and thou's in the book were, at times, a bit awkward. Maybe that's because it's not everyday that I read books set in other time periods. I thought the plot made for an endearing holiday read that any family would enjoy. The price of $7.95 is fair. I am happy to recommend this book for your holiday reading list.

You can order your copy through www.yesterdaysclassics.com.
* I was given this product free to review on behalf of The Old Schoolhouse^® Magazine, LLC, June 2009