"The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey", by Susan Wojciechowski

"The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey" is one of my favorite Christmas children's books! This touching story coupled with beautiful illustrations shares the story of a wood carver so harsh that nobody will try to befriend him, and all of the children call him Mr. Gloomy. Nobody knows about the sorrow in Mr. Toomey's past, or the sentimental items hidden in his drawers. 

But one Christmas, a widow new to the area, with her seven year old son, ask the "best wood carver in the valley" for a very important favor. They have lost some very important items, and Mr Toomey must find out how -and why- to make happy sheep and an extra important angel, as well as a mother and child that "love each other more than anything else in the world"! As the Christmas season goes on, the wood carver is given gifts and lessons from young Thomas and his Mother, and is reminded of all that is important about Christmas. 

When Christmas Eve rolls around, Mr. Toomey is left with his hardest task, and finds joy in the midst of his sadness. And the next morning, a new nativity sits in the house of the widow and her son, and the village people see Mr. Toomey smile!

There is also a movie based off of this book, and it is also one of our favorites :)!