The Sparkle Box is a fun book and mine came with it’s very own sparkle box in the back.  Once again I was sent a cool kid’s book to review (I have kids it only makes sense right!)  The usual cover my backside text- I got it so I would write about it – good or bad.
So the book was pretty good.  I enjoyed the story and the premise.  I was not so taken by the illustrations however.  It reminded me too much of the 2004 movie “The Polar Express”  Like the move, the story line was ok, but they tried way to hard to make a cartoon look like a human.
That’s my two cents on that one.  My daughter enjoyed the book.  Again she is seven so that gives you a little reference.  My 12 year old boys – not so much.
The lesson was straight from Matthew 25: 34-40

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

It is a story of love.  Love for one another, love for your fellow human, love for those in need, love for our Savior!   I am not sure if we will do the sparkle ourselves in our household, but we will see.  I am not too keen on the idea of putting praises of myself in a box to later taught to Jesus on his birthday.  He sees what we do in private and when no one is looking.  He will give us our  reward in heaven. We don’t need to remind him  of what we did because He already knows.

That’s it.  It was a good book, good precedence, but not for everyone to implement.  Thanks for listening to me rant.  It is fun to do.
Check out hte book trailer
Check out the interview with Author
About The Sparkle Box – A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas
Sam is so excited about Christmas! He’s thinking about his Christmas list, looking forward to holiday parties, and puzzling over one very mysterious gift: a sparkly box sitting on the mantel. In the midst of the festivities, Sam and his family participate in various acts of kindness to others. On Christmas morning, when Sam finally opens the Sparkle Box, he finds only slips of paper that record the family’s good deeds. Sam’s mom explains that the things that they’ve been doing are, in fact, a gift for Jesus, for Jesus said that whatever we do for those in need, we do for Him.
Author Bio
Author Jill Hardie and her family began placing a gift for Jesus under their Christmas tree as a way of bringing more meaning to the holiday.  The first time they opened His gift, the commercialism of the season melted away and they felt a profound joy and peace.  Jill hopes that The Sparkle Box will spark a new Christmas tradition, bringing light into thousands of lives.
 
Illustrator Bio
At a very early age, Christine Kornacki developed a love for painting and bringing stories to life.  After receiving a BFA in illustration from the University of Hartford, her dreams of illustrating children’s books began to take shape.  She spends her days painting in her studio, which adjoins a charming cafe in New Haven, Connecticut.