Product Description

Twelve-year-old Jason Bell waits impatiently for Christmas 1890. Set against the carefully researched background life of a middle-class black family in Ohio a century ago, “Hamilton’s story moves along at an elegant pace, giving readers time to savor the holiday preparations.”--School Library Journal

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1393282 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Review
Award-winning author Virginia Hamilton tells the story of a young boy's Christmas in 1890. Jason and his family live by the historic National Road in Ohio and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their relatives. Natural surprises such as snow from a clear sky and technical marvels such as a mechanical walking doll and the idea of "horseless carriages" make the day extra special. Illustrator Lambert Davis did extensive research to uncover the look and details of life in 1890 and his warm portrayals of the family complement Hamilton's poetic text. (Children's Literature )

About the Author
Virginia Hamilton’s books, which combined African-American and Native American lore with contemporary stories and characters, are memorable not only for their inventiveness and rich characterizations, but also for their ability to evoke a wide variety of times, places, and historical figures. She resided in Yellow Springs, Ohio till her death in 2002.

Lambert Davis is a published illustrator of children books. Some of the books he has illustrated are 'The Journey: Stories of Migration', 'Swimming with the Dolphins', and 'Baby Whales Drink Milk'.  

Customer Reviews

this book shows the strength of the family
I thought the was very interesting and heart-warming.My favorite part was when Jason and his father went and waited for thier cousins to celebrate Christmas along the National Road.It shows how much love the family shows for each other. By Cynthia Santagata

It Didn't "Ring My Bell"
The Bells of Christmas had some parts that were interesting. I would have liked to learn more about the father's handicap. However, it seemed like most of the book passed with Jason sitting by the National Road. Learning about the Road seemed to evoke the most interest from my fifth-grade class. One year of that was enough.