Christmas Soul: African American Holiday Stories

Christmas Soul: African American Holiday Stories

From BooklistAges 4-9. The celebrity names will grab kids and their families--Debbie Allen, Whitney Houston, Kobe Bryant, Aretha Franklin, and more--but most of their one-page accounts sound pretty much the same. They are not really stories as much as warm, upbeat childhood memories of African American families exchanging gifts, preparing festivities, and sharing the feast. In the best pieces, the drama is in the personal detail. Denzel Washington remembers tiptoeing downstairs in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve and playing secretly with his new toys. As a child, Ananda Lewis didn't get along with her mom, but a few years ago they healed their relationship and "learned the true meaning of the holiday spirit." For Shaquille O'Neal, the best thing about Christmas was the time he had his father all to himself. Wood's richly colored oil paintings, with elaborately detailed borders, capture the holiday festivities, including black Santas, Barbies, and families together across generations. A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to the United Negro College Fund. Hazel RochmanCopyright ? American Library Association. All rights reservedWith original stories by Debbie Allen, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Whitney Houston, D.L. Hughley, Monica, and more. In this collection of poignant and witty original stories, African American celebrities recount their favorite childhood Christmas memories. Accompanied by evocative oil pintings, these stories will illuminate the holidays for years to come. A portion of the proceeds for Christmas Soul will be donated to The United Negro College Fund.About the AuthorAllison Samuels is a writer for Newsweek magazine. She lives in Los Angeles, California.