Celebrating Christmas in the dark and finding joy in the unexpected.
Discussion Guide
A Discussion and Activity Guide is available as a free download from Beaming Books.
About the Book
Aidan’s city is hit with an ice storm just days before Christmas, causing the electrical grid to go down. All their Christmas plans are ruined! One disappointment piles on another: Grandma and Grandpa cannot travel, the Christmas pageant is canceled, there are no Christmas lights, and it’s impossible to cook a Christmas dinner. But Aidan and his dad persevere to bring doughnuts and coffee to neighbors, and then they’re invited to a neighborhood Christmas potluck.
As Aidan’s mom tells the Christmas story, he realizes that the first Christmas was full of disappointment and unexpected community too. Suddenly Christmas feels special again as Aidan feels connected to the Bible story from long ago, to his grandparents far away, and to his neighbors and family nearby. God is here in the midst of it all.
Sometimes Christmas is not all we hope or expect it to be. The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t invites readers to ponder how sometimes, when things are taken away, it brings us closer to the heart of the holy mystery that still draws us into its warmth.
Read more about the story behind the story here.
Read an interview with Story Monsters Ink Magazine.
Book Details
- Author : Laura Alary
- Illustrator : Ana Eguaras
- Publisher : Beaming Books (September 30, 2025)
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 :
- ISBN-13 : 979-8889830153
Reviews
“Richly colored cartoon illustrations capture the silvery ice of the storm and bathe Aiden’s shadowy world with a tender glow. Awash in the true Yuletide spirit.”
“This story shows readers what holidays are often all about: perseverance, love, community, and faith…Perfect to read with a family member around the holidays.”
“I want an extra copy of this just to pop onto my shelf of books that I keep for helping children cope with change and find new ways of reacting when fear and frustration creep in, encouraging resilience and creativity in the face of the unexpected.”
Laura Alary 