Christmas is coming

Waiting for Christmas sure can be hard!But Anna helps out her new babybrother by telling him all of thesigns that Christmas is coming—like seeing frost on your window,putting lights on windows andfences, and going on an outing topick out the most perfect tree.She also shows her brother how to help thetime pass faster by making cookies, presents,and cards for family and friends.When the big day finally arrives, Anna racesdownstairs to count all of the presents underthe tree. But suddenly she realizes what thevery best Christmas present of all really is.And it isn’t something that’s wrapped underthe tree . . .AGES 3-8 REINFORCED BINDING



For Kathi and Annette —A. B.To my family, with gratitude for all Christmas memories —T. B. Text copyright © 2007 by Anne Bowen Illustrations copyright © 2007 by Tomek Bogacki All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review. Carolrhoda Books, Inc. A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A. Website address: www.lernerbooks.comLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bowen, Anne, 1952–Christmas is coming / by Anne Bowen ; illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. p. cm.Summary: As a young girl eagerly awaits the arrival of Christmas,she describes to her new baby brother all of the wonderful waysin which her family prepares for this special holiday.ISBN: 978–1–57505–934–1 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)[1. Christmas—Fiction. 2. Family life—Fiction. 3. Babies—Fiction.] I. Bogacki, Tomek, ill. II.Title. PZ7.B671945Ch 2007[E] —dc22 2006035958 Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 – JR – 12 11 10 09 08 07 eISBN-13: 978-1-58013-621-1

t Carolrhoda Books, Inc. Minneapolis • New York

You know Christmas is coming,I tell my new baby brother,when you wake up one morningand know something is different.

You run to the window,breathe a space in the frost,and outside you see snow!Falling,swirling,floating through the air.

You know Christmas is comingwhen you see lightslike ribbons of stars shining in the dark—glittering,shimmering,everywhere glimmering,on trees and fences,windows and doors,all around the neighborhood!



When Mama brings outthe red berry wreathand Daddy brings down boxesfrom the closet, asking,“Now, which one has the angel from Grandma?”Then, I tell my new baby brother,you know Christmas is coming!



Waiting for Christmas can be harder thanwaiting for your birthdayor waiting for summeror waiting for a visitfrom Grandma and Grandpa.But there are things you can do to help the waiting.You can make cards.Christmas cards for the neighbors,for your friends,even a card for the mailman.



Making presents can help the waiting too.Presents for Mama and Daddy,Grandma and Grandpa,even Lucy, our cat.



You know Christmas is coming,I tell my new baby brother, when Mama asks,“Are you ready to write a letter to Santa?”Santa likes to know ahead of timewhat you want for Christmas.He likes to make surehe has just the right present for you.So every year, I spend a long timethinking about my just-right present.When I’m finished, I put Santa’s letter in the mailbox.Then I always ask Mama,“How many more days until Christmas?”And she always says, “Soon, Anna, very soon.”



You know Christmas is getting closer,I tell my new baby brother,when Daddy says,“Everyone into the car. It’s time to get a tree!”Along the way, you sing and sing:“O Christmas tree! O Christmas tree!”until Mama starts singing,and then Daddy sings too,and soon the car is cozyand the windows foggyfrom all that singing.



At the tree place,you walk up and downrows and rows of treeslooking for the perfect tree.But . . . if you take too long,I tell my new baby brother,your body will get shivery,your toes will get tingly,and your ears will get all numbly.So I am glad when I find our tree.“Here it is!” I call out.Mama says, “This is it.”Daddy says, “That’s the one!”And I say, “The best tree of all!”



At home, Daddy strings red and greenlights on the tree and Mama wraps chainsof silver beads all around it.“Now your turn, Anna,” she tells me.I choose my favorite ornaments:a cat that looks like Lucy,three gold stars, and a bellmade out of glitter.When we are finished,Daddy holds me way up high,so I can put Grandma’s angelat the very top.And then our tree is ready for Christmas!



You know Christmas is almost here,I tell my new baby brother,when Grandma and Grandpacome from their housein the countryto our apartmentin the city.We go caroling,until our voices are tiredand our cheeks are rosy circles.Then we hurry home,ready for cookies and a toasty fire.



“Now how many days?” I ask Grandma.Together we look at the calendar:“1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 days until Christmas!”Making cookies to share with the neighborshelps to make the days go faster.Sugar cookies in all kinds of shapes:stars and angels,bells and wreaths,even little reindeer.And then—



FINALLY!“It’s Christmas Eve day, Anna,” Mama says.Only one more day of waiting!One very, very, very long day.And the night will feel even longer,because you know Santa Claus is on his way.You will lay in bed with your eyes wide open,wiggling and squirming,until slowly, slowly, you fall sound asleep. . . .



And when you wake up,I tell my new baby brother,it will be Christmas Day!I always race down the stairs,before anyone else,and count all the presents under the tree.Then I race back up the stairs,to Mama and Daddy’s room,and shout, “Santa was here!”That is sure to wake everyone up,I tell my new baby brother.



There is a lot of hugging and laughingas we all sit down around the tree,ready to open presents becauseEVERYONE likes presents on Christmas Day.But this Christmas,I tell my new baby brother,there will be something different.There will be something specialfor all of us.



This Christmasthere will be YOU.And that isthe best present of all!

When ANNE BOWEN was a young girl,the first snowfall of winter not only meant magical daysof playing in the snow, it also meant Christmas wascoming. Her favorite part of Christmas has alwaysbeen the lights, glimmering and shimmering, likeribbons of stars, up and down the street. Ms. Bowenis the author of several picture books, includingWhat DO Teachers Do (after YOU Leave School)?and Tooth Fairy’s First Night. An elementary-schoolteacher for more than thirty years, she lives inOgden, Utah, with her husband.When TOMEK BOGACKI was a young boy,he loved hanging the ornaments on the tree with hisbrother and sister. After they were done, his fatherwould light up the tree with candles! Mr. Bogacki is apainter and the internationally recognized illustratorand author of several children’s books. He alsoillustrated When You Visit Grandma & Grandpaby Anne Bowen and Five Creatures by Emily Jenkins,which was selected as an American LibraryAssociation (ALA) Notable Children’s Book.Mr. Bogacki lives in Long Island City, New York. Jacket illustrations © 2007 by Tomek Bogacki tCarolrhoda Books, Inc. A LDIVISION OF E R N E R P U B LI S H I N G G R O U P 241 First Avenue North • Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A. www.lernerbooks.com • 800-328-4929 PRINTED AND BOUND IN U.S.A.

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