Christmas Is Coming

Waiting for

Christmas sure can be hard! But Anna helps out her new baby brother by telling him all of the signs that Christmas is coming— like seeing frost on your window, putting lights on windows and fences, and going on an outing to pick out the most perfect tree. She also shows her brother how to help the time pass faster by making cookies, presents, and cards for family and friends. When the big day finally arrives, Anna races downstairs to count all of the presents under the tree. But suddenly she realizes what the very best Christmas present of all really is. And it isn’t something that’s wrapped under the tree . . .

AGES 3-8

R E I N F O R C E D B I N DI N G

For Kathi and Annette —A. B. To my family, with gratitude for all Christmas memories —T. B.

Text copyright © 2007 by Anne Bowen Illustrations copyright © 2007 by Tomek Bogacki All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review. Carolrhoda Books, Inc. A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A. Website address: www.lernerbooks.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bowen, Anne, 1952– Christmas is coming / by Anne Bowen ; illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. p. cm. Summary: As a young girl eagerly awaits the arrival of Christmas, she describes to her new baby brother all of the wonderful ways in which her family prepares for this special holiday. ISBN: 978–1–57505–934–1 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper) [1. Christmas—Fiction. 2. Family life—Fiction. 3. Babies—Fiction.] I. Bogacki, Tomek, ill. II.Title. PZ7.B671945Ch 2007 [E] —dc22 2006035958 Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 – JR – 12 11 10 09 08 07

eISBN-13: 978-1-58013-621-1

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You know Christmas is coming,

I tell my new baby brother, when you wake up one morning and know something is different.

You run to the window, breathe a space in the frost, and outside you see snow! Falling, swirling, floating through the air.

You know Christmas is coming

when you see lights like ribbons of stars shining in the dark— glittering, shimmering, everywhere glimmering, on trees and fences, windows and doors, all around the neighborhood!

When Mama brings out the red berry wreath and Daddy brings down boxes from the closet, asking, “Now, which one has the angel from Grandma?” Then, I tell my new baby brother, you know Christmas is coming!

Waiting for Christmas can be harder than waiting for your birthday or waiting for summer or waiting for a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. But there are things you can do to help the waiting. You can make cards. Christmas cards for the neighbors, for your friends, even a card for the mailman.

Making presents can help the waiting too. Presents for Mama and Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa, even Lucy, our cat.

You know Christmas is coming,

I tell my new baby brother, when Mama asks, “Are you ready to write a letter to Santa?” Santa likes to know ahead of time what you want for Christmas. He likes to make sure he has just the right present for you. So every year, I spend a long time thinking about my just-right present. When I’m finished, I put Santa’s letter in the mailbox. Then I always ask Mama, “How many more days until Christmas?” And she always says, “Soon, Anna, very soon.”

You know Christmas is getting closer,

I tell my new baby brother, when Daddy says, “Everyone into the car. It’s time to get a tree!” Along the way, you sing and sing: “O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!” until Mama starts singing, and then Daddy sings too, and soon the car is cozy and the windows foggy from all that singing.

At the tree place, you walk up and down rows and rows of trees looking for the perfect tree. But . . . if you take too long, I tell my new baby brother, your body will get shivery, your toes will get tingly, and your ears will get all numbly. So I am glad when I find our tree. “Here it is!” I call out. Mama says, “This is it.” Daddy says, “That’s the one!” And I say, “The best tree of all!”

At home, Daddy strings red and green lights on the tree and Mama wraps chains of silver beads all around it. “Now your turn, Anna,” she tells me. I choose my favorite ornaments: a cat that looks like Lucy, three gold stars, and a bell made out of glitter. When we are finished, Daddy holds me way up high, so I can put Grandma’s angel at the very top. And then our tree is ready for Christmas!

You know Christmas is almost here, I tell my new baby brother, when Grandma and Grandpa come from their house in the country to our apartment in the city.

We go caroling, until our voices are tired and our cheeks are rosy circles. Then we hurry home, ready for cookies and a toasty fire.

“Now how many days?” I ask Grandma. Together we look at the calendar: “1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 days until Christmas!” Making cookies to share with the neighbors helps to make the days go faster. Sugar cookies in all kinds of shapes: stars and angels, bells and wreaths, even little reindeer. And then—

FINALLY! “It’s Christmas Eve day, Anna,” Mama says. Only one more day of waiting! One very, very, very long day. And the night will feel even longer, because you know Santa Claus is on his way. You will lay in bed with your eyes wide open, wiggling and squirming, until slowly, slowly, you fall sound asleep. . . .

And when you wake up, I tell my new baby brother, it will be Christmas Day! I always race down the stairs, before anyone else, and count all the presents under the tree. Then I race back up the stairs, to Mama and Daddy’s room, and shout, “Santa was here!” That is sure to wake everyone up, I tell my new baby brother.

There is a lot of hugging and laughing as we all sit down around the tree, ready to open presents because EVERYONE likes presents on Christmas Day. But this Christmas, I tell my new baby brother, there will be something different. There will be something special for all of us.

This Christmas

there will be YOU. And that is the best present of all!

When ANNE BOWEN was a young girl, the first snowfall of winter not only meant magical days of playing in the snow, it also meant Christmas was coming. Her favorite part of Christmas has always been the lights, glimmering and shimmering, like ribbons of stars, up and down the street. Ms. Bowen is the author of several picture books, including What DO Teachers Do (after YOU Leave School)? and Tooth Fairy’s First Night. An elementary-school teacher for more than thirty years, she lives in Ogden, Utah, with her husband.

When TOMEK BOGACKI was a young boy, he loved hanging the ornaments on the tree with his brother and sister. After they were done, his father would light up the tree with candles! Mr. Bogacki is a painter and the internationally recognized illustrator and author of several children’s books. He also illustrated When You Visit Grandma & Grandpa by Anne Bowen and Five Creatures by Emily Jenkins, which was selected as an American Library Association (ALA) Notable Children’s Book. Mr. Bogacki lives in Long Island City, New York. Jacket illustrations © 2007 by Tomek Bogacki

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