I love childrens books and I love true stories in childrens book form!
If you’re looking for a new book to add to your Christmas book collection, definitely add this one! It’s a great story about the true spirit of Christmas – giving to others especially when they have little.
Christmas From Heaven is a true story about the Berlin Candy Bomber – Gail “Hal” Halvorsen. Hal was a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps. After WWII had ended, he was assigned to take food and supplies to the people in West Berlin. On one of his stops there, he saw children lined up at the fence at the air base. The children would ask him questions in the English they knew and he would answer them. He wanted to do something more for them, but only had two pieces of gum in his pocket. He gave them to the children although it wouldn’t be enough for all the children there. But to his surprise, they unwrapped the gum and smelled the minty wrapper and passed it along for all the children to smell.
Hal wanted to give more and the candy bomber story begins. He dropped candy attached to little parachutes to the children from his plane and began receiving donations from American candy makers and private donors.
I love the quote in the book, “This is the real spirit of Christmas – to give whatever we have, no matter how small the gift.” It reminds me of the story of the little drummer boy who had nothing to give to the baby Jesus, but to play a song for him.
What a wonderful story to read to your family to help them better understand the spirit of giving during Christmas! I hope as I raise my children that I help them understand that Christmas isn’t about the gifts they’ll receive, but about giving to others and doing things to provide service for those in need.
I definitely cried as I read it, but that’s pretty normal these days with being pregnant. It really is a touching story and amazing that one man was able to do so much for the German children during such desperate times. And they even show you how to make little candy parachutes at the end of the book so you can make them with your children. So fun!
Like I said, this is definitely a book you’ll want to add to your Christmas collection.
Audra Day says
What a great book. We don't have many places to store books, so I try not to accumulate them. But this one looks like one to add, and the illustrations look fantastic.