The people and animals present during the birth of Christ each explains what happened during the Nativity, from their own point of view.

Dick Saperstein had the best trees for sale, and the worst attitude to go with it. When he gets hung for the holidays, it's up to sassy Ethel Cunningham to put down her spiked eggnog, and find out who sleighed him before Christmas in her beloved Clover Court is ruined. It was to be the snowiest Christmas on record for the East Coast, and one the Coffee Sleuth would never forget as she Jingled-all-the-way to solving her trickiest, and merriest mystery yet.

In these poems author captures the mystery and magic of the Nativity for readers of every age.

Peter and Rebecca Harris: mid-forties denizens of Manhattan's SoHo, nearing the apogee of committed careers in the arts—he a dealer, she an editor. With a spacious loft, a college-age daughter in Boston, and lively friends, they are admirable, enviable contemporary urbanites with every reason, it seems, to be happy. Then Rebecca's much younger look-alike brother, Ethan (known in thefamily as Mizzy, "the mistake"), shows up for a visit. A beautiful, beguiling twenty-three-year-old with a history of drug problems, Mizzy is wayward, at loose ends, looking for direction. And in his presence, Peter finds himself questioning his artists, their work, his career—the entire world he has so carefully constructed. Like his legendary, Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, The Hours, Michael Cunningham's masterly new novel is a heartbreaking look at the way we live now. Full of shocks and aftershocks, it makes us think and feel deeply about the uses and meaning of beauty and the place of love in our lives.

Children can use the month of December to share God's love by doing acts of kindness in the community and for family members.

"This book charts the changes in the lives and fortunes of these incredible people. It focuses on their humanity and on their individuality. It shows that they are people, just as we are people, and not simply exotic objects. It tells us that they have a fundamental right to our respect, and that we have an obligation to protect their land, their environment and their chosen way of life." - Sting The Spirit of the Amazon is the work of photojournalist Sue Cunningham and writer Patrick Cunningham. It is a celebration of cultural difference and a call for better stewardship of the world. Sue's stunning photographs demonstrate the spiritual and material value of the Xingu tribes to all mankind; they keep the forest alive and they protect the climate of South America and the rest of the world. Their spiritual connection to their environment and the wider Earth shows us an alternative way to connect to the natural richness of the planet, built on foundations completely different from those of global materialism. During their expedition by boat, the authors followed the course of the Xingu River, a tributary of the Amazon, travelling 2,500 km through the heart of Brazil. They visited 48 tribal villages in this remote part of the Amazon, accessible only by small plane or by negotiating the rapids of the Xingu. This is the story of the tribal communities they met; their daily lives, their connection to the land and to the rivers, the threats which pervade each day of their lives. It is also a validation of their importance to the rest of the world; why these small, remote and often secretive indigenous communities are so important to our own lives and to our shared planet. It is a celebration of their vibrant cultures, their rituals and their rites of passage, of cultures very different from each other, but with a shared spiritual basis which respects the trees, the rivers and the rain. And it is a call for the world to protect them, their lands and their forests and rivers from the destruction which our avaricious greed for natural resources drives ever closer and deeper into their realm. AUTHORS: Photojournalist Sue Cunningham was born in London, but moved to Brazil at the age of twelve. Writer Patrick Cunningham was born in Northamptonshire. In the early 1980s, while on a commission to cover gold mining in the Amazon for the Financial Times, Sue came into contact with the Xicrin tribe. She experienced first hand the discrimination they suffered and the immense threats they were under from pressures for the development of the Amazon. Sue later took Sting, and Anita and Gordon Roddick (The Body Shop) into the Amazon to visit the tribes of the Xingu and help raise a more global awareness. In 1998, Sue and Patrick won The Royal Geographical Society award for their Heart of Brazil Expedition.

Christmas Under the Veil of Mystery Ultimate Collection for the Murder Mystery Holiday juxtaposes the joy and tranquility often associated with the holiday season against the dark, compelling allure of the murder mystery genre. Through an exquisite selection of tales by some of the most venerated authors in mystery and detective fiction, this anthology explores the multifaceted ways in which the festive season can serve as a backdrop for stories of intrigue, suspense, and revelation. The diversity of literary styles, from the keen psychological insights of Edgar Allan Poe to the intricate plotting of Agatha Christie, provides a rich tapestry of narratives that underscore the complexity and enduring appeal of the genre. These compelling stories not only entertain but also illuminate the shadows that lie beneath the surface of our festive traditions. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from various backgrounds and time periods, collectively contribute a wealth of perspectives to the anthology. Their works reflect significant historical, cultural, and literary movements, from the burgeoning detective fiction craze of the late 19th century to the golden age of the whodunit. This convergence of singular talents, including pioneers like Arthur Conan Doyle and innovators such as Anna Katharine Green, creates a mosaic of storytelling that enriches the reader's understanding of the theme, while offering insights into the evolution of the mystery genre itself. Christmas Under the Veil of Mystery invites readers to explore a fascinating composite of mystery and merriment. This anthology serves as a unique educational tool, offering readers not just entertainment but a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind some of the most influential works in mystery fiction. It is an essential collection for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the breadth of narratives that can be spun from the intersection of the festive and the forensic, and a testament to the enduring fascination with the mysteries that lurk just beneath the surface of our celebrations.