Product Review: Christmas from Heaven as Read by Tom Brokaw & The Names of Christ Heirloom Ornaments

If you are looking for a special gift this holiday season, I hope you'll consider Christmas from Heaven, a book with DVD that brings to life the true story of "The Candy Bomber."

When twenty-seven year old Gail Halvorsen is assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, he has no idea how the encounter will change his life. As Lt. Halvorsen performs his duties, he notices German children gathered behind fences at the end of the Tempelhof runway. He talks to the children, and knowing they have so little, offers them two sticks of gum. From this one act of kindness, his idea to "bomb" Berlin with candy is born. Soon he and his crew fashion tiny parachutes to float candy down to the awaiting children.

Word soon spreads, leading to donations of candy and supplies from American candy makers and private donors. On a snowy Christmas Eve in 1948, as Hal waits for clearance to land, Halvorsen feels the spirit of Christmas all around him thanks to the generosity and joy that became a symbol of hope to those yearning for freedom.

Even as I am typing this review, the tears well up in my eyes. What a wonderful story this is. The picture book includes historical photos along with stunning illustrations by Robert T. Barrett. Inside the front cover is a DVD in a plastic sleeve that includes a live performance featuring music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choice, a reading of the book by Tom Brokaw, and a moving reenactment of Halvorsen's encounter with the children. There's nothing quite like watching a symphony hall filled with music and singing and child actors on stage watching tiny white parachutes land. The audience was in total awe; as was I.

This book can be purchased at http://deseretbook.com/Christmas-Heaven-Tom-Brokaw/i/5108410 and is also available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at select retailers nationwide.


Product Details

•Size: 11" x 9"
•Pages: 32
•Year Published: 2013

Tom Brokaw is one of the giants of television journalism. Anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004, he also holds the honor of being the only person to host each of NBC News’s major news programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Meet the Press. He has won several awards, including a Peabody Award and seven Emmys. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and The Greatest Generation Speaks, among other books. He and his wife, Meredith, have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Robert T. Barrett is a professor of illustration at Brigham Young University, received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees in painting and completed postgraduate work in Germany. An accomplished painter, muralist, and illustrator, his work has been featured in many national magazines and in art exhibits across the country and in Germany. He and his wife, Vicki, have ten children and one grandchild and reside in Provo, Utah.



Along with this book, I received a box of The Names of Christ Heirloom Ornaments from the historic Zion Mercantile.

These antique pewter-finish ornaments are a beautiful reminder of the Biblical names given to Christ, like King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Shepherd, and Bread of Life. This set of twelve ornaments comes in a box that includes Scripture references to each name on the back and are nestled upon a bed of brown shredded paper to look like straw. It's disappointing that twine was not included with the ornaments to maintain a rustic look for your tree, but ornament hangers will do an okay job, too. These ornaments are lightweight, so they won't pull down on branches. I can't wait to add them to my tree this year.

This set can be purchased exclusively at http://bit.ly/1h3s7JD.

I'll treasure this book and DVD and the ornaments for years to come.


I received a copy of the book with DVD, along with the set of ornaments, from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.