The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

This book was bought for me as a Christmas present in 1997 when i was 9 years old. Every year i pull it off the book shelf and read it. It wouldnt be Christmas without it.

The book itself is a picture book about a frosty old man called Jonathan who is a carpenter. He is known to the children in the town as 'Gloomy Toomey' and when a woman and her son knock on his door unexpectedly one winter day they receive a cold reception. The woman asks if he would be able to carve a set of nativity figures for her son, and would her son be able to watch him work. He gruffly agrees to her requests and it is the beginning of a beautiful christmas miracle.

I love this story and it is a reminder that kindness shown at Christmas can bring a smile to even those who dont seem to have much to smile about.

The image is of Jonathan helping the little boy to carve a robin.