Jane Williams' meditations on the birth of Jesus take you deep into the story of the original Christmas, as depicted in some of the world's greatest paintings on the nativity. These reflections will deepen and refresh your appreciation of the real meaning of Christmas, and the message of love, joy, and peace that it speaks to all the world.

Imagine going on a tour of a world-class art museum with a talented and insightful curator. But instead of just focusing on the history, technique, and cultural significance of each piece, you have the opportunity to reflect on the spiritual aspects of the works, examining their religious significance and concentrating on the transcendental meaning conveyed by the artist. This is what you’ll find in this exquisitely produced book. It features fifteen pieces of art relating to the topic of Christmas, with an extended reflection on each piece. The commentary is meditative, more reflection on the spiritual nature of the paintings’ subject than art critique. Sister Wendy writes with the deft hand of one who is formed in spirituality, art, and critical thinking. Her imagery is lush, creating a landscape where the sacred and profane live in comfortable coexistence through the medium of painting. For spiritual seekers and lovers of art, this book will offer a unique journey into the experiential nature of a well-rounded faith.

Who doesn't know the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his spectral Christmas Eve dreams? Renowned director Robert Zemeckis (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Forrest Gump, Contact, Castaway, The Polar Express, Beowulf) has applied his signature stamp to this beloved tale, and will be sharing it with audiences on November 6, 2009--just in time for the holidays. This sumptuous hybrid Making of/Art of book will introduce readers to the world behind Zemeckis's camera, revealing the secrets of performance-capture technology, and displaying its singular style in a deluxe, artistic format. Fans of Jim Carrey will delight in reading about his performance, not only as Mr. Bah Humbug himself, but also as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, AND future! This gorgeous book--containing gatefolds and a ribbon--is sure to be at the top of everyone's Christmas list!

They glitter. They shimmer. They bask in the glow of gently rotating color wheels. They last forever. Aluminum Christmas trees are the most spectacular souvenirs of our most recent Christmas Past-the Christmases of the super-mom 1960s.Season's Gleamings is the first book to celebrate these magnificent trees. More than 45 stunning color photographs reveal the beauty and range of aluminum arbor, from red-foil tabletop models to majestic seven-footers. Photographers J. Shimon & J. Lindemann have trained their camera on their own collection of vintage trees, capturing them complete with hi-fi's and highballs.Aluminum trees were born in 1959 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, once the "Aluminum Cookware Capitol of the World." Within a couple of years, shiny, foil-branched Christmas trees were being made by dozens of companies and selling in the millions. Elvis adorned Graceland's front yard with a row of lighted aluminum trees. Their most famous appearance was in A Charlie Brown Christmas, when Lucy ordered Charlie Brown to "get the biggest aluminum tree you can find."Today the trade in vintage aluminum trees is fierce, and these crisp, beautiful symbols of modern living are again brightening thousands of American holidays. Season's Gleamings is a reminder of how beautiful an aluminum tree can be and makes a perfect gift for lovers of Christmases both real and artificial.

Finally, the answer to the incredible question asked by every child: "So how does Santa deliver billions of presents to every corner of the planet in just one night?" According to Arthur Christmas, it takes millions of elves, an ultra-high-tech Mission Control, the S-1, a huge, mile-wide, state-of-the-art sleighship, three generations of working Santas, a family in a state of comic dysfunction, and Arthur, an unlikely hero on an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns. The voice cast includes James McAvoy as Arthur, Hugh Laurie as Steve, Bill Nighy as Grandsanta, Jim Broadbent as Santa, Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Santa, and Ashley Jensen as Bryony. This lavishly illustrated moviebook, The Art & Making of Arthur Christmas, offers more than 300 pieces of fantastic art culled from the archives of Aardman and Sony Pictures Animation, featuring drawings, paintings, concept art, background art, color keys, animation wire frames, and storyboards. The reader will enjoy fascinating insights from director/writer Sarah Smith, co-writer Pete Baynham, Sony Pictures Digital Productions President Bob Osher, Co-Founder of Aardman and Producer Peter Lord, as well as from the producers, animators, artists, designers, Visual F/X and CG supervisors, and other talented filmmakers who brought this hilarious movie vividly to life. This official tie-in to Arthur Christmas, the first film collaboration between the wildly successful Sony Pictures Animation (The Smurfs, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) and Britain's deliciously wacky Aardman Animations (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run), celebrates everything we love about the holiday season and is perfect for anyone interested in movies, animation, or the simple joy of Christmas.

"Christmas letters are the fruitcakes of the literary world. At least once in life, everyone sends one, but no one likes to receive one." Use humor to fight back against boring Christmas letters. This book will teach you how to write a Christmas letter that doesn't suck and even enjoy reading the ones that do. If you hate wading through Christmas letters each year, this book will show you the world as it could be. "Your relatives are already laughing at you. Make them get in line by laughing at yourself first." This book teaches you - - How to walk the fine line between embellishing and lying. - Why you should never let your pets write the letter for you. - How stock photos can give you a more attractive family. - When to write a special letter if an inheritance is at stake. - Why Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs should drive your letter's content. - How to adapt the Christmas letter format for all your holiday needs, from Hanukkah to Kwanza. But wait. There's more. The holidays are busy. If you do not have time to write an original letter, this book includes templates of paragraphs and an entire letter that you can modify to make your own. Put humor back in your holidays and buy this book. Even better, buy a copy for everyone who sends you a boring Christmas letter every year. It is a present for them and a favor for yourself.

Hundreds of winsome, full-color illustrations — all from rare vintage publications — include images of jolly old St. Nicholas, evergreen wreaths and garlands, exuberant children playing with holiday gifts, and much more. The collection features 362 festive designs, ideal for use in ads, personalized greeting cards, giftwrap, and other print projects.