Reviewed by Allison Greenwell

The Red Suit Diaries By Ed Buchart

Some people say since we’re Christians we can’t have Santa. Nice idea, but we should ONLY focus on the birth of Christ. I disagree. The IDEA of Santa is wonderful: giving without wanting in return, giving to everyone, and being everywhere in 1 magical night. Check out The Red Suit Diaries (in our Gift Book Section) for the story of a man who has mixed the 2 Christmases beautifully. *You might want to grab a box of tissues.*

Ed and his wife Annie are committed Christians who have portrayed Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Atlanta/Stone Mountain area. He runs a ministry called "Friends of Disabled Adults and Children" in the off season. Ed started his "career" by playing Santa for his niece-who ran screaming from the room and wouldn’t come out. This Santa encourages the shy and the screamers to share in the love. He also includes the disabled children who come to see Santa to get out of their wheelchairs and sit on his lap. Many of these children and their parents have become family friends. By using his Santa persona he can share the love of Jesus.

Some of the stories are really funny, while others are thought provoking. What about the time a family ‘forgot’ their late-in-life baby on Santa’s lap? Or the time he thought he had double-double vision when a group of quadruplets showed up for a visit? How about the boy who really thought about if he’d been good or bad, and came up with "August was a pretty good month"? On the other hand, what about the boy who trusted Santa enough to show him scars from child abuse? Or the family of 5 who couldn’t even afford a tree for Christmas. Santa was quick enough to notice a child with a hearing disorder and encourage his mother to get it checked out.

He’s had his beard yanked and been challenged by the bigger children, and through it all he delights in telling of Jesus love and how He’s the REAL Reason for the Season. What Ed sees every time he puts on the Red Suit is Hopes, Dreams, and Faith…mostly Faith. What he gives back is Love.

Into the Nevernight, by Anne de Graaf, is a suspenseful fiction story of a family who travels to Africa and is kidnapped.  The wife and mother, Miriam, is separated from her husband and son.  Although she suffers greatly, Miriam learns more about herself, her family, and God’s love for her than ever before.  Into the Nevernight is an intense story that once you begin reading you will not want to put down.  The book engages the reader in two different stories at once, but brings them together in the end in a miraculous way.  Through this story, Graaf shows what miracles God can do if we put our trust in Him.  She also portrays such a detailed image of what life is like for children who live in a country in the midst of war.  It will break the readers’ hearts while also giving them something to smile about and be thankful for.  I highly recommend this book to everyone! 

Reviewed by John Cook (9 years old).

I thought that the movie, “Good The Bad And The Eggly ”, was good but it was too short. I liked the easy egg zapper and the two villains. I also like the teamwork that the characters displayed, but the Selfish Grape was a little too much. I liked it when Larry Boy got his date, and I liked the comedy and jokes made in the movie. I noticed that the Super Hero Handbook resembled the bible. The Rabbit Robot with shooting claws was very cool. The animation on the rabbit was cool too. I liked the super shorts at the end of the movie. I just loved the movie and I would recommend it to everyone.