The Christmas Truce, the brief stopping of fighting over Christmas in 1914, was a wonderful and spontaneous moment in time involving soldiers and officers from both sides, British and German. They came out of their trenches, sang, talked, exchanged gifts and food. This book is written as a fictional soldier's letter home to his sister sharing the magic of that Christmas Night. It is based on recollections of soldiers researched by Aaron Shepard. As Tom ends his letter to his sister, he writes: "All nations say they want peace. Yet on this Christmas morning, I wonder if we want it quite enough."Christmas Truce is beautifully and realistically illustrated in watercolor by Wendy Edelson, who has really captured the idea of the Christmas truce. The cold browns of the trenches gives way to color, first in the line of brightly lit Christmas trees across No Man's Land, with warmer and brighter colors added as the men get closer and closer to each other. This may be a picture book but students studying WWI would definitely benefit from reading and/or hearing this story. There have been many versions of this story written, but this one is a wonderful edition to any library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Skyhook Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. ( )

I first decided to read this book because the Christmas season is almost upon us (despite what most retail stores would have us believe). I've heard about the truce before, and was genuinely curious to see this interpretation of it. The story and images are very powerful, and a timely read, especially with the unrest within many countries and the various wars and militant attacks going on all over the world. Perhaps if we can all realize we're not all that different after all underneath our skin color, the world could find some peace. ( )

A beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations.

What makes this story especially heartwarming, is that it is based on true events. A real Christmas miracle.

So amazing that this event didn't happen in isolation, but sprung up all over the place. ( )

A beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations.

What makes this story especially heartwarming, is that it is based on true events. A real Christmas miracle.

So amazing that this event didn't happen in isolation, but sprung up all over the place. ( )

A beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations.

What makes this story especially heartwarming, is that it is based on true events. A real Christmas miracle.

So amazing that this event didn't happen in isolation, but sprung up all over the place. ( )