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JB, a clever, open ten-year-old boy with Down syndrome, is able to figure out the secret from the first time Mr. Nicholas gives him a chocolate deer wrapped in gold foil.
JB's father and mother, both cynical and on the brink of divorce, follow the adventures of JB as he flies on the back of a reindeer, feeds Mister Rogers's fish, and defines what can be forgotten by those who are too busy to remember the magic of Christmas, cuckoo-clocks, and love.
Title: Mr. Nicholas, a Novella By: Christopher de Vinck Format: Hardcover Number of Pages: 180 Vendor: Paraclete Press Publication Date: 2021 | Dimensions: 8.00 X 5.00 (inches) Weight: 10 ounces ISBN: 1640607358 ISBN-13: 9781640607354 Stock No: WW607354 |
A story that helps us see the unique goodness in each person.
Every town has its secrets. When it becomes known that Mr. Nicholas, the eccentric owner of the local hardware store, is somehow involved with reindeer, toys, and children, the town becomes more and more suspicious that this man is more than just a clerk on Main Street.
JB, a clever, open ten-year-old boy with Down syndrome, is able to figure out the secret from the first time Mr. Nicholas gives him a chocolate deer wrapped in gold foil.
JBs father and mother, both cynical and on the brink of divorce, follow the adventures of JB as he flies on the back of a reindeer, feeds Mister Rogerss fish, and defines what can be forgotten by those who are too busy to remember the magic of Christmas, cuckoo-clocks, and love.
Christopher de Vinck, husband, father, and grandfather, earned his doctoral degree from Columbia University and devoted 40 years to his career in public education. He is the author of countless essays for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, National Catholic Reporter, Dallas Morning News, USA Today, Readers Digest, and Good Housekeeping, and thirteen books including the bestselling The Power of the Powerless: A Brothers Lesson of Love about his severely disabled brother Oliver and the difference Oliver made in this sometimes jaded world.
De Vincks books have won two Christopher Awards, the 2021 Illumination Book Awards Gold Medal in the category of Christian Living, and "Best Column" by the National Catholic Press Association. He still believes in Santa Claus.
"De Vincks point of view about life and love and children and teachers is important for the world at this near end of a sorry century. I would like as many people as possible to know his work." Madeleine LEngle
"Chris de Vinck is a blessing through his writing and his person. Im grateful for his simple wonders, and the great wonders of our lifelong friendship." Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers Neighborhood)
"We sometimes fall into the habit of thinking that the weakest among us, like your brother Oliver, are a burden we must stoically bear. But you show that they can teach us the deepest lessons of love. Your writing will help many people to recognize this truth." President Ronald Reagan (Unsolicited letter from the President when he was in the White House)
"Christopher de Vincks love of family and respect for its values shine out of every page he writes. I recommend his thoughtful, generously caring essays to every person who is looking for reassurance that the virtues and verities of the committed life are still alive and well in America." Eunice Kennedy-Shriver
"Excellent and often very moving essays." John Updike
"For years Ive been reading Chris de Vincks essays in newspapers, magazines, journals and books. Here at last is de Vinckfather, teacher, dreamerunder one roof! Now, instead of spending all that time photocopying his articles for friends, I can just send the book." Jim Trelease
"Christopher de Vincks writings are widely and wisely attentive; they neglect neither the failures and anguish nor the compassion and hope of this world. They are elegant. They give insight and comfort. They cannot help but nurture the spirit." Mary Oliver
"Christopher de Vinck has the insight and the courage to speak for those small devotions, dangerously unfashionable in our time, by which a human community lives." Wendell Berry
"In a time of great international upheaval, full of violence and war, Chris de Vincks reflections are like a little oasis of peace. More that any other author I know, Chris has the unique gift of revealing the beauty of the ordinary, the truth hidden in the small events of life, and the light shining through the brokenness of our daily existence. This book is a true gift of peace and an urgent call to discover that peace right where we live." Henri Nouwen
"Christopher is the rare combination of art and innocence. Hes ever the sophisticated artist and he is even the person whose innocence belies our common conception of artists. Few spiritual writers write with as much literary talent and as much care for the literary quality of what they are doing." Ron Rolheiser
"Chris de Vincks real subject is magic, the magic to be found in ordinary life, in a conversation with a child, in the unexpected sighting of a school of dolphins. Such magic is there for all to see, but I dont know of another writer who sees it so wholly, with such consistency, and respect, and sweetness. He is like a miner who digs where others see no gold, and who each day finds riches." Peggy Noonan
"These are the wonderful, thoughtful and sensitive and lyrical and personal reflections of a teacher, a poet, an essayist, but most of all a wise and human pilgrim who has a lot to offer the rest of us, his fellow pilgrims." Robert Coles
"Charles Lamb comes to mind when I think of Christopher de Vinck. Here is a true affinity across more than a hundred years. Who today but de Vinck has that charm, delightful humanity, laughter and wisdom? Rare the writer who does, so we must treasure Christopher." May Sarton
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