More Tinsel Tales

With all the promise of an overstuffed stocking on Christmas morning, this collection from NPR is brimming with stories that will soon be holiday classics.

Each year, listener’s tune in to NPR for holiday offerings of all kinds: funny, touching, insightful, and surprising. Now anyone can listen to these evergreen delights while driving to the mall, wrapping gifts, entertaining friends, or relaxing in front of a crackling fire.

More Tinsel Tales includes many of the outstanding storytellers featured regularly on NPR: Kevin Kling finds that Christmas in his family usually includes some type of family disaster, but it provides a wellspring of memories as the family gathers again, undaunted. Ken Harbaugh wonders at the perfection of the unadorned tree in his house—until his family breaks the spell. Bailey White spreads the Christmas guilt as she implicates her mother and sister in their life of yuletide crime. Jay O’Callahan remembers a boyhood Christmas that veered from tragedy to hope. A very merry, but wary Dave Barry shares his latest take on the hazards of celebrating Christmas. Cowboy poet Baxter Black reflects on the modern manger. Julie Zickafoose remembers a frigid but magical night of “Caroling in the Cold.”

And available exclusively in this edition of More Tinsel Tales: “All Things Considered” host Audie Cornish shines with her inspired reading of O. Henry’s “Gift of the Magi.”

Contents:
Introduction by David GreeneA Child’s ChristmasRadio Gift: ’Twas the Night Before ChristmasMerry Stressmas from Kevin KlingNation’s Christmas Tree Plucked from ColoradoEncouraging “Green” Christmas TreesAppreciating the Ugliness of the Christmas TreeStealing HemlockRoman Christmas Revolves Around the FoodMedieval Christmas Cookies Still in FashionChristmas a Busy Season for Tamale-MakersAt a Real-Life Santa’s Workshop, ChristmasComes EarlyStoryCorps: Santa Claus Is Driving to TownWithout Magic, Santa Would Need 12 Million EmployeesAlaskan Village Hosts Christmas PageantChristmas Candles“The Gift of the Magi”StoryCorps: One Student’s Christmas LessonDave Barry Wishes You a Very Wary ChristmasFruitcake Capital of the WorldDickens’ Notes on A Christmas CarolThe Sounds of Christmas, Long AgoBuilding a Better Christmas TreeNativity Collector Dreams of Mangers and MuseumsWhat’s Christmas to a Cow?Toiling Over a Christmas PuddingNina Totenberg Sings the HolidaysArt of Holiday LightingChristmas Songs We Don’t Know the Words ToLife in National Cathedral Boys ChoirCaroling in the Cold