The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (1995)

Great story. I loved this book. ( )

Known as "Mr. Gloomy" in his small New England village, woodcarver Jonathan Toomey was a man who had no time for conversation, and no tolerance for the games of children. Enveloped in sorrow, at the death of his wife and son some years before, he had withdrawn from the world, devoting himself to work, and avoiding all human contact. And then one wintry day, the Widow McDowell and her young son, Thomas, knocked at his door, and commissioned a wooden crèche for Christmas. Slowly working their way into his life - Thomas asks to watch him work, having an ambition to become a woodcarver himself, one day - mother and son create a miracle. Just as another mother and son did, so many years before...

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey is one of those books that's been "on my radar" since it was first published, back in 1995, when I was working in the children's section of a large bookstore. But somehow, despite finding the cover immensely attractive, and being curious about the story, I never happened to pick it up. How glad I am that, prompted by the recommendation of a goodreads friend (thanks, Kathryn!), I finally did! A heartwarming story, satisfyingly emotional, without veering too far into the saccharine or sentimental, is joined to gorgeous watercolor artwork that perfectly captures the world being depicted. The reader feels as if she were right there, in that New England workshop with Jonathan - a note about location: although it is never specified in the text, the dust-jacket blurb about the artist mentions that he traveled to Vermont's Shelburne Museum, to study the early American artifacts to be found therein - and feels as one with the characters, both in loneliness and joy. The parallel between the miracle that reawakens the heart of Jonathan Toomey, and the larger miracle of the Christmas season, just adds depth to this wonderful book, which I highly recommend to anyone in the market for Christmas tales! ( )

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski. Epiphany library section 9 C: Juvenile, Holidays. This lovely story book tells of a lonely widower woodcarver in pioneer days who is in mourning for his wife and baby. He is grumpy and stand-offish, and the neighborhood kids have started to call him Mr. Gloomy rather than Mr. Toomey. But Jonathan is a very talented woodcarver; his exquisite work is known throughout the valley.
One day widow McDowell and her shiny-as-a-new-button seven-year old son named Thomas come to his house/workshop to order a carved Nativity set. Jonathan asks to watch the carver at work and despite Mr. Toomey’s grumbling and few words, the widow and son soon settle into a routine of coming a few afternoons a week to watch Jonathan carve the detailed figures and animals. The widow often brings a treat with her to share, and she knits by the fireplace as Thomas watches Jonathan carve the curly-wooled sheep, the wise men, shepherds, and the holy family.
Before you know it, Christmas has come and with it comes a miracle. But you will have to read the book to find out what happens.
The book’s watercolor illustrations by P. J. Lynch have a warm rusticity that gives this story a cozy feeling. Lynch can depict the most complex 3/4 facial views, and conveys emotions in the stances of the characters – not easy to do. This is the perfect blend of story and illustration. In the rear cover you will find a CD of the story narrated by James Earl Jones. Now THAT’S a real Christmas treat! Enjoy this story this season with your children. It expresses the essence of Christmas very nicely. ( )

This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas picture books. A heartwarming tale with gorgeous illustrations. My boys are grown and I look forward to sharing this beautiful story with future grandchildren. ( )

'The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey' has been awarded the following acclaim and recognition:
ALA Notable Book of the Year; Parents' Choice Honor Book ; IRA Teachers' Choice Award; Kate Greenaway Medal; Christopher Medal for Excellence in Children's Books; New York Times Book Review for Editor's Choice; American Booksellers' Pick of the Lists; and the PaLA Carolyn W. Field Medal.

Jonathan Toomey is a woodcarver with a reputation as the "best woodcarver in the whole valley." However, he is also infamous for being extremely miserable and anti-social; the children in town refer to him as "Mr. Gloomy." Unbeknownst to everybody who is familiar with him, Mr. Toomey used to be a man full of happiness until his wife and baby became sick and died. For a long time since, he "travelled until his tears stopped" and eventually settled down in a tiny house at the edge of a village, where he spent his lonely days and nights absorbed in his craft and staring sombrely into the fireplace. But one year, close to the holidays, he is called upon by the widow McDowell and her young son Thomas, who have a very important Christmas request for him- a crèche that the widow's grandfather had carved for her as a little girl, which she recently lost. At first Mr. Toomey's heart is not wholly in this special assignment, nor does he particularly welcome the continuous company of a inquisitive, affable Thomas who hopes to learn to be a great woodcarver like him. But as the kind visits of Widow McDowell and Thomas become a kind of tradition while he works, as does Thomas's innocent, yet meaningful critique of the recreation of their family keepsake, Mr. Toomey comes to experience something he never dreamt he would again.

This is one of the most endearing and heart-warming Christmas stories both children and parents will ever read. The change that gradually takes place in Mr. Toomey, as he warms up to their company, is extremely evident through the author's use of understatement; for example, each time he hears the door knock, he will perform some subtle yet significant action such as brushing the crumbs and wood shavings from his beard before answering, or smoothing down his hair, and the last time they come to call, he is described as jumping up to answer the door- a remarkable contrast to his initial bout of grumping and muttering to himself. He goes from responding to Thomas with incoherent grunts and cold cynicalness, to openly seeking to meet the boy's expectations with each figure he attempts to replicate. Perhaps the most powerful turning-point in the story is when, despite a brief protest, Mr. Toomey takes time from his tight schedule to honor Thomas's request to give him carving lessons; he even goes so far as to guide his inexperienced hand along the way. No dialogue is present during this scene; rather both the text and illustration give a satisfying demonstration of Mr. Toomey's evident patience and Thomas's desire to please Mr. Toomey and make him proud. This act of bonding leads up to a token of friendship and gratitude from his protégé in the simple form of a roughly-carved robin, which he fondly places in the center of his mantle that very Christmas Eve.

The artwork and text simply go together hand-in-hand (much like a wonderful scene on the very last page) to bring the story and characters to life, with stunning depth and attention to detail in this early-American setting. The illustrator is a master at capturing a wide range of emotion in both facial expression and body language. Tone, lighting, and shading are accented brilliantly through usage of soft watercolors, with particular emphasis on images of faces and hands working with great precision in the encouraging glow of the fireside.

Emotional and inspirational, this book leaves us with the message that there may be far more to even the nastiest of folk than what meets the eye, that the key to finding love and happiness exists within sometimes the most unexpected places. One Publisher's Weekly starred review called the book an "elegant, poignant" story about the spiritual reawakening of a bitter man. 'The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey' has all the gorgeous realism and intensity of a classic picture-book, and will undoubtedly go down in history as a memorable classic to rival such titles as 'The Polar Express.' ( )