One Hundred Shining Candles

Lucy Jamiesen, a ten-year-old girl living in the deep woods of Upper Canada (present day southern Ontario) in 1800, is inspired by her schoolmaster's tale of the "one hundred shining candles" he saw one Christmas season, in the big city, and decides to make some candles as a holiday present for her parents. But although she and her younger brother Dan start out with the best of intentions, somehow things don't go quite as planned. First they must smuggle the dye and the tinder-box out of the house, and then, when an accident upsets the kettle, Dan must spend his only penny - a special gift from Grandpa - on more tallow. But although their creation is far from smooth, and their appearance somewhat uneven, those candles have true holiday show more magic in them, as Lucy and Dan discover, Christmas morning...

After greatly enjoying Canadian author Janet Lunn's The Root Cellar - a time travel novel for young readers - I had been meaning to read more of her work, and was therefore quite pleased when this holiday story was mentioned, over in a discussion of Christmas titles, in the online children's books group to which I belong. An engaging, heartwarming story that puts family love and the true spirit of the holiday front and center, One Hundred Shining Candles does not disappoint! The illustrations, done by Lindsay Grater, are not really in a style I admire (I don't care for her faces), but still work well with the narrative. All in all, a sweet little Christmas book! show less

This story was about a little girl named Lucy who was inspired by her teachers story about Christmas. So, the little girl ran home and told her brother Dan. Dad had already told them their was not enough money for presents and barely enough to have the bread they have every Christmas. After dad left for his two day trip to get the flour for the bread, the children began the process of making candles. The two children had to sneak all the supplies while ma slept. then, they spilled the Tallow. Dan had to give up his special penny to buy some more tallow from Mr. Bosey. They didn't have enough to make 100 candles like the story but they made 5. On Christmas morning, the family was the happiest they had been in a while! This was a very show more cute little story! show less

This is a book about a poor family during Christmas time. They barely have enough money to eat so they decided that there will be no present that year. The children in the house wanted to surprise their parents with candles they made since they couldn't afford anything else. They traded in their cherished penny thatw as given to them by their grandfather to make the candles. That penny meant so much to them, but they were selfless and gave it up to make their parents happy. They all shared that Christmas together and it was the happiest Christmas because they all went out of their way to make it special for one another. The father came home with special bread and the mother cleaned and cooked for the occasion. This book is a good exaple show more of how you don't have to have everything you want, but as long as you have family, or poeple you love around you, happiness is possible. Also, this could remind kids how lucky they are and to appreciate what they have at home. show less

Sweet Christmas story. If only everyone would 'keep Christmas in their hearts, all year long.' Sharing joy and light is important.

When Lucy was ten years old, the schoolmaster talked about Christmas and candles. Lucy and her brother worked and helped each other to make candles. Her Ma and her Pa smiled and smiled. This book helps children know that something makes whole family feel happy. It also helps children imagine about “the light of a hundred shining candles”.