Parents' Guide to

Joy to the World: A Family Christmas Treasury

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

A good selection of holiday literature.

Book Ann Keay Beneduce Holiday 2000
Joy to the World: A Family Christmas Treasury Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

A collection of Christmas stories, poems, carols, plays, Biblical excerpts, and information, lavishly illustrated in styles from different historical periods. A good introduction to a wide variety of holiday literature, but many of the excerpts and abridgements will send readers hunting for the originals.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is a high-quality edition with lots of content and beautiful pictures. It's a fine choice for families looking for a coffee-table book with a variety of holiday material or for those who don't want a large Christmas library. The selections are good, if unsurprising (with the delightful exception of the excerpt from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever): The carols are classics, and the stories are mostly familiar. The selection of poems is weaker, though there are a few standouts, such as Langston Hughes' Carol of the Brown King.

The information in the introductions is often fascinating. Gannady Spirin's paintings and decorations are often glorious. Ranging in style from medieval-church frescoes and Persian miniatures to 19th-century illustrations, they draw the eye and reward close inspection.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about their favorite holiday stories, songs, and poems. What other traditions are important to your family?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate