Breaking News

Annual Christmas story

Joy’s tour with Santa shows her the jolly one’s treasures

Editor’s note: This is the sixth of a 12-chapter holiday tale running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. “Hey, that’s me!” Joy shouted, pointing at the large round object floating in front of her on a shelf. She peered closer into the globe as the image inside stared back, almost like she was looking into a mirror. She slowly pressed her hand against the surface of the globe, but it fell straight through. Joy waved her hand in and out of the globe a few times, her hand sliding right through the image, and looked to Santa, ...

Joy helps stop a nutcracker invasion

Editor’s note: This is the fifth of a 12-chapter holiday tale running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. Joy could only watch in disbelief as the line of tall, wooden men marched into the room, oblivious that they were knocking into everything. “Oh dear,” Santa sighed. “Not again.” Franklin nodded rapidly, wringing his hand. “I’m afraid so, sir. It’s just like the Great Teddy Bear Situation of 1984.” Joy swallowed, not sure if a giant army of fluffy teddy bears would be more terrifying, or an improvement over the ...

Girl’s talk with Santa suddenly interrupted

Editor’s note: This is the fourth of a 12-chapter holiday tale running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. “I don’t believe in Santa Claus,” Joy said defiantly, despite all the evidence surrounding her as she followed the man — Santa? — through the brightly lit hall. Even though it was warm inside, fat snowflakes fell from the ceiling, disappearing as they hit the floor. The walls of the hallway were covered in brightly painted murals, depicting happy scenes of Christmas and winter. She tried hard not to show her amazement as ...

Girl heads to the North Pole, meets Santa

Editor’s note: This is the third of a 12-chapter holiday tale running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. Joy stared in disbelief as a short, pudgy man ran chaotically toward her, flailing his arms about. He was shorter than her, though it was obvious he wasn’t a child. His skin was lined with age, and his short-trimmed beard was as white as the snow outside, but his cheeks were pink and his round blue eyes were bright. He sighed impatiently and pointed his pudgy finger at her. “No time for dawdling, you’re late!” He grabbed her ...

Joy overwhelmed by scents of new world

Editor’s note: This is the second of a 12-chapter holiday tale running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. Just a few feet in front of Joy stood a massive fountain shaped like a gingerbread man, one taller than a house, holding a giant mug out in front of his big red smile. Something that looked — and smelled — a whole lot like hot cocoa poured from the rim of the mug and down into the fountain’s base, where hundreds of marshmallows floated in the chocolatey pool. Joy took in a deep breath, overwhelmed by the delicious scent wafting ...

Sad girl struggles through Christmas

Editor’s note: This is the first of a 12-chapter holiday tale running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children. Joy Noelle sat on the worn sofa, pretending to read the book open in her lap while she watched the other kids giggle and chatter as they placed ornaments on the tree. “Are you sure you don’t want to help?” Mrs. Duncan asked, pausing to peer around the tree at Joy. She held up a red bulb decorated with glitter and sequins. “You made a lot of these ornaments, you should have the honor of putting them on the tree.” Joy shook her ...