The Christmas story is bigger, weirder, and more interesting than the manger scene on your mantle lets on.

In Bizarre Christmas Bible Stories, Dan Cooley digs into five true, strange-but-real accounts surrounding the birth of Jesus - including a priest's very embarrassing wardrobe malfunction and the real story behind the "kingmakers" who show up bearing gifts. Told in the same warm, funny, easy-to-follow voice that's made his other bizarre Bible books family favorites, this is a perfect short read for the Christmas season - around the table, before bed, or as a five-day Advent read-aloud.

Short enough to finish before New Year's, memorable enough that your kids will bring it up next Christmas.

This cool, little stocking-stuffer book contains five rarely heard Bizarre Christmas Bible Stories with color pictures for each chapter. For children, the excitement of the Bible is often its unpredictability. You never know what the omniscient God is going to do-unless, of course, you've heard the story before. Find your kids, their pajamas, and a few minutes of time. They (and you) won't be bored. There are four "Tips" at the end of each chapter, for parents to read with their kids, or for older kids to read on their own. Here's how they work:

So, What Should I Do? Each chapter ends with a personal application

Where Else is this Taught? Other passages from the bible with similar application are listed here

More Notes for the Curious: These are notes to help older children and adults go deeper into each story. Sometimes there are great rabbit trails that just can't make it into the storyline.

Poems: At the very end of each story there is a poem to better understand and remember the truth of the story.

Also, questions are in bold throughout each chapter where, if an adult is reading to a child, you can stop and ask and see what they are thinking. It makes for some terrific discussions!

Bizarre Christmas Bible Stories was written by Dan Cooley to be read by parents to children ages 7 and up, however, older children LOVE reading it for themselves.