The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

"Christmas is pish-posh," grumbles Jonathan Toomey, the best wood carver in the valley. This story about a grumpy wood carver and a little boy who wins his heart will touch your heart also.

Jonathan Toomey has moved to a small town to forget his past –a past which included a wife and baby – both of whom have died. One day he is approached by the Widow McDowell and her little boy, Thomas. They ask him to carve a nativity set for them, to replace one that was lost. The little boy wants to watch the master craftsman as he carves, so he can learn to carve too. The boy is very concerned that Mr. Toomey carve the animals and people with correct facial expressions. He learns to ask questions carefully and Mr. Toomey begins to accept the questions and the boy. Through time, kindness and love, the woodcarver’s heart softens and his healing begins – he’s no longer called Mr. Gloomy by the neighborhood children.

Although the subject matter is “deep”, children of all ages will enjoy this story. The illustrations are beautifully rendered watercolors. This book gets a two tissue rating on Annette’s touching story scale.

While we think reading the story is the best way to enjoy this book, there has been a movie made from the book too. Here's a preview.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Mavrika1