Managing expectations is a struggle for humans. We often envision how things should go, especially during special seasons like Christmas, only to be met with unexpected disruptions. Learning to navigate our feelings and actions when things don’t go according to plan is a skill, one that improves with practice. One of my favorite ways to help children build this skill is through stories. Stories allow us to explore different reactions, see how characters respond, and process our own emotions alongside them. It takes a gifted storyteller to guide children through these kinds of scenarios, someone who can offer space for reflection, gently support the reader’s feelings, and open doors to wonder. Laura Alary is just such a storyteller, and she’s done it again with The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t.

Based on her family’s real experience, Alary tells the story of Aidan, a child who is eagerly preparing for Christmas. Everything changes when an ice storm shrieks through, taking down the power grid. With no light or heat, Aidan’s family bundles up under blankets, eats by candlelight, and holds onto the excitement of the days ahead. But when Christmas Eve arrives, the plans they were looking forward to can’t happen. Looking for new ways to find the light, Aidan and his father head out into the neighborhood. They share meals with neighbors, visit with those feeling lonely, and in the process, Aidan discovers new ways to celebrate. That night, as the family gathers to tell the story of Jesus’s birth using their nativity set, Aidan notices something new. The darkness in their home helps him connect with the darkness in Bethlehem, and with the uncertainty Mary and Joseph must have felt. Their situation wasn’t what they expected either. Alary deftly weaves in wondering questions for the reader to ponder, giving them the opportunity to connect more deeply with the story of Jesus’s birth and ways to approach our reactions to uncontrollable changes to our expectations. 

This is a book that has so much flexibility. Can you use it for Bedtime Stories and Prayers? Yes. It would be lovely. Should this go into your lending library? Absolutely. Pair it with a pack of glow sticks for the family to light as they read the story and you have a winner of a take-home package. Can you use it during faith formation during Advent? Yes, and you can use it in so many different ways. You might use it with a group ready to approach the nativity from a fresh angle, or with families looking for meaningful, simple traditions amidst a busy season. It’s also ideal for exploring how God comes to us in both light and darkness. This story lends itself easily to a series of children’s messages around hope, peace, joy, and love, making it a strong foundation for Advent. But really, 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. Do you need this book? Absolutely!