When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four: A Christmas Memory    by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt & Mark Elliott Order:  USA  Can Revell, 2007 (2007) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Melissa Parcel This true story about the author's childhood is both touching and full of joy. Jerry reminisces about his childhood Christmases. Their family is large - five siblings, three cousins, and his mom and dad. Jerry's mom is 'small on the outside but tall on the inside,' and she strives to make Christmas beautiful, memorable, and extravagant for her children. Then one year, things change. Their cousins go back to live with their parents, and their father leaves. There is no money for the type of Christmas they were used to, but the children decide to earn some money to give their mother a Christmas she will never forget. And they learn that the word extravagant doesn't always mean expensive. When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four is a sweet, nostalgic look at Christmas and what it means to be part of a family. Young children will like the pictures and get the general idea, but the larger themes are more applicable to older children and especially adults. This is a sweet holiday tale with a wonderful message about love and giving. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews