Review
======
Title: The Christmas List of Richard Lindsay
Author: Bruce Lindsay
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children’s book
Year Published: 2023
Number of Pages: 32
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-63993-157-6
Price: $18.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for The Association for Mormon Letters
On the dust jacket of this new delightful Christmas children’s book, it states: “Based on the true story of a boy who brought Christmas to the people he loved during hard times.”
As the story starts, we learn that young Richard is wondering if Christmas will really come that year. It was 1933, his father and oldest brother had died of pneumonia earlier that year.
As Christmas approached, he noticed a line of men standing outside by a large truck. Richard ran outside and discovered that the truck contained fresh turkeys for all the poor families in the neighborhood. When he ran home to tell his mother to hurry and go get one, she took this opportunity to teach him a valuable lesson.
His mother told him that they were not a poor family, that they were just going through a difficult time, and that they had everything they needed. She said that they could have the fat red rooster in the chicken coop for their holiday meal.
Richard, however, was still concerned about the rest of Christmas. His wise mother had him write down a list of people that he loved and to use the money he had earned throughout the year to buy them small presents. The boy did indeed find small gifts for everyone on his list including family members, friends and neighbors, and teachers. While he watched his mother open her gift from him, he noticed that Santa had left fruit and knitted mittens for every child. Richard put on his new mittens and hurried to deliver his gifts to others.
That afternoon, Richard’s mother asked him to pray as they sat down to eat their rooster dinner. He gave thanks for the meal, their furnace, the coal in the cellar, and for the baby who brought Christmas to the world. He finished his prayer by saying, “And we give thanks for the gift of people to love.”
On the final page of this beautifully illustrated book, the author states that throughout his life that was the Christmas that he remembered best because Richard was his father, and he told him that story year after year.
The book ends with this very appropriate scripture: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
As I wrote this review, the only thing I struggled with was whom to give it to! I finally decided I would keep it and read it to my grandchildren, then offer to read it to my neighbor’s children too.
The Christmas List of Richard Lindsay is by far one of the best children’s books I have ever read. It is truly meaningful, moving, and timely!
The illustrations by Dan Burr add to the beauty and meaning of this wonderful book!!