When your family gets together at Christmastime, this book will prove to be the most treasured gift, bringing together children and parents, young and old. All the great stories of the holidays, along with some wonderful surprises, are waiting to be read aloud around the tree. This superb treasury of 30 seasonal tales, 10 of which were specially commissioned for this collection, brings together all the traditional Christmas characters and customs that children of all ages know and love--Grandfather Frost, Mr. Pickwick, the Snowman, carol-singing, and the birth of Jesus. Some of the stories--by authors such as Charles Dickens, Shirley Jackson, and Sue Townsend--will be familiar to young readers and their parents. Others--by modern writers including Robert Swindells and Philippa Pearche--will quickly become newly-discovered favorites. The selection presents a wide-ranging view of Christmas and its celebrations.

"This fresh collection will appeal to a variety of age groups... (A) fine collection of examples of the storytelling art."--School Library Journal

"A stimulating and unhackneyed collection."--San Jose Mercury News

"An excellent anthology of both old and new...This book will prove a constant joy to children and all the family at Christmas."--Library Materials Guide

"These funny and irreverent tales are aimed at adolescents, who should enjoy them... There are even a couple of holiday ghost stories. Cool."--St. Paul Pioneer Press

Published last year to great acclaim, this superb treasury of 30 seasonal tales, 10 of which were written especially for this collection, is now available in paperback.

The traditional Christmas characters and customs that children know and love are all here — Grandfather Frost, Mr. Pickwick, The Snowman, carol-singing, and the birth of Jesus — along with some more contemporary themes. Authors include Shirley Jackson, Laurie Lee, Charles Dickens and Sue Townsend ("Adrian Mole's Christmas").

Dennis Pepper is a prolific editor, whose literary output includes The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings, The Young Oxford Book of Aliens, The New Young Oxford Book of Ghost Stories, and The Young Oxford Book of Scary Tales.