this one was such a sweet and cozy read with my son. the message was beautiful, the illustrations were soft and magical, and it felt like a warm hug in book form. he loved pointing things out on each page, and i loved the reminder of what really matters during the holidays. definitely one we’ll be rereading every year.

Mama deer uses simple rhyming to tell Darling Dear about the real meaning of Christmas.
The illustrations by the author are intricate, soothing, clear, and colorful.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on Thorium PDF from Tommy Nelson Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Sep 30, 2025 *****review of a very comfortable book
#MerryChristmasMyDarlingDear by Amy Kavelaris @amykavs @tommynelsonbooks #NetGalley Part of Darling Animals in Bloom #series #familylove #Christmas #kidlitart #picturebook #nature #illustration @childrensbookcouncil @goodreads #picturebookart #MeaningofChristmas #childrensbooks #storytelling #animals

This children's book is absolutely adorable! The rhyming throughout the book is catchy. And easy for younger kids to understand. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Definitely a cozy book for Christmas for you and your little ones. Highly recommend, think it will be a new Christmas classic.

I can not tell you how much I loved this book. The illustrations are gorgeous and the message is even better. It was a sweet way to remind my son about the purpose of Christmas. Even reading it in May to remind him of the gift of Jesus!

What an incredibly beautiful book with so much warm and abundant joy. This story of Christmas makes you feel like it's that season year round. The play on words and illustrations using "dear" deer! The full spread illustrations make the story come to life and the use of light and the pop of color. The choice of words and rhyme made you smile and laugh along the way. What a sweet heartwarming message of the "true meaning" of Christmas and the reminder to enjoy all the season brings but to never forget the true meaning of the season. Highly recommend and believe it will be become a class like "The Grinch" or "Charlie Brown". Cannot wait to share this with my children.

Thank you to Amy Kavelaris and Tommy Nelson for an ARC and a huge thank you to #netgalley!

A very charming story! I think the message is very sweet, but most of all the visuals and graphics were stunning! They gave a cozy feeling and made the book a sweet and cozy read.

With truly lovely illustrations, this book is from the perspective of a mother deer praying a Christmas blessing over her baby. The rhyming is sweet, and the theme of putting Christ first in Christmas is prevalent. I would have liked more of a gospel message, even a few lines that better reiterate we are sinners in need of the Savior Jesus. But overall a good book.

Merry Christmas, My Darling Dear by Amy Kavelaris uses a family of deer and their animal friends to show what the true meaning of Christmas is. It’s a short children’s book that uses rhyming to tell the story. The illustrations are beautiful and wording is easy for a young child to understand.

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC

I love Christmas books that tell the true story of Christmas. This is a cute book, with pretty pictures. Told from a deer families point of view.

The strength of this delightful Christmas book is the illustrations! They are very endearing and joyful. The rhyming is a little clunky to read in places but the theme of putting Christ first during the Christmas season is strong. Places that actually experience snow during December will relate the most but it is a sweet, wonderfully illustrated picture book that would be a good addition to a child's Christmas book collection!

Thank you for the ARC. I’m not a religious person and didn’t realize it was going that angle. It was a cute story overall with wonderful illustrations.

I really enjoyed this lovely book, it reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. It so often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday but the truth is we should all be grateful for our lives and blessings from God.

The illustrations for this were absolutely gorgeous! I felt that the story was lovely, just a little on the short side even for a children's book.

the art is adorable, but I'm not sure a deer family was the best choice. The story starts with woodland animals in a snowy forest, then they walk into the barn that Jesus was born in? But there’s also a snowy Christmas tree?