Why do we have ornaments on a Christmas tree? 

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Is the reason decoration? Many trees combine ornaments given as remembrances of family members or memorable events.

Would you be surprised to discover that there is a purpose for the decorations, probably one that has been kept a secret from you?

On Christmas Eve, while most people are asleep and dreaming, each ornament diligently goes to work. It is the ornaments responsibility to fix the tree lights, tighten screws on the tree stand, and even guard the cookies and milk from pets. This annual event requires each decoration to be “off the hook.” 

The star on the top of your tree is different and not an ornament. All the ornaments cooperatively work together to activate the star which is a location transmitter lighting each rooftop to be seen only by Santa. 

This year the Thompson family has a problem. They just don’t know that it exists. During their annual Christmas Eve party, the family cat somehow toppled the star, falling into an empty gift bag which Aunt Connie brought to her home. 

Once she discovers the star, she believes it is a gift to decorate one of her many trees. What will happen to the Thompson children when Santa is missing their home? Without a location transmitter, how will their home be found?

How can their Christmas be saved?

How can the family’s ornaments possibly save Christmas for the children? 

Off the Hook is a wonderfully creative story with the illustrations perfectly matching the text into a logical and well-organized original Christmas story for children of all ages. Numerous themes surround this short book such as cooperation, friendship, prejudice, stereotypes, diligence and doing not what is easiest, but what is the right thing.

Surprisingly, each ornament is an independent character with an individual personality humanizing each and even revealing a little of every person’s hidden prejudices and biases.

The colorful illustrations perfectly match the text entrancing readers from as young as 2 to 102 focusing on the individual ornaments and the children.

This enchanting Christmas novel is available as an e-book or a paperback.

Off the Hook is a wonderful Christmas story that will endure the test of time becoming a new family traditional story to be shared with generations.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Off the Hook: A Christmas Ornament Adventure is an adventure picture book for children written by John Arvai III and illustrated by Eminence System. Most people think that Christmas ornaments are just there for decoration purposes, but they're really much more than just decorations. Those heroes on hooks actually make sure the tree lights are working properly, guard the cookies and milk from the family dog, and keep the fireplace in good shape so Santa can visit your house. Then there's the star that goes on top of the tree. This is an especially important ornament as it guides Santa to your house by sending out a golden glow that Santa can see from his sleigh. But what would happen if that star wasn't on top of your tree? What if your cat knocked it off the tree, and it tumbled out of reach? Something very much like that happened at the Thompson house when they were hosting their Christmas party. No one noticed that the star had ended up in a gift bag, and no one saw Aunt Connie leaving with it. Or did they?

John Arvai's adventure picture book for children, Off the Hook: A Christmas Ornament Adventure, follows the front and back side ornaments of the Thompson family's Christmas tree as they try to save Christmas for their family. This is an exciting story complete with conflicts, impossible situations, and a deadline that looms ever closer. Arvai's ornament characters are marvelous! He endows each one of them with a personality and his/her own role in this action-packed holiday tale. The illustrations provided by Eminence System are brilliantly colored and add depth and dimension to the plot. I found myself getting lost in each panel as I delightedly found every detail and action described in the story. Children of all ages, including those adults who volunteer for story time rather than have to sit and chat with the grownups, will thrill to this most unusual Christmas tale that actually gets better with each successive reading. Off the Hook: A Christmas Ornament Adventure is most highly recommended.

What to expect: Christmas, Adventure, Good Vs. BadAre you looking for a wild holiday adventure where two groups of Christmas ornaments will have to find reason for collaboration and teamwork? Yes? Read on.Off the Hook, a naughty or nice Santa tale, begins with an unexpected take on the importance of Christmas ornaments. Children will be surprised to discover that, in this fictional tale, Christmas ornaments are responsible for things like keeping Santa’s cookies and milk safe from pesky pets and, most importantly, activating the Christmas tree star to act as a home locator device for Santa. When the Christmas tree star goes missing the drama in Off the Hook begins.When Christmas-crazy Aunt Connie ends up with the Thompson family’s star at her house all the way on the other side of town, the Christmas ornaments from the front side of the tree band together to retrieve the star. Only … the ornaments from the back of the tree appear to be ready to stand in their way. Will the star be rescued and placed in its rightful spot atop the Thompson’s tree in time for Santa to deliver presents?With his imaginative plot, creative characters, close calls, and adventures galore, author John Arvai III has delivered a good vs. bad holiday tale. The action zips and zings from one page to the next in a way that should capture the minds of even the most reluctant readers. Bright digital illustrations with rich holiday colors, like Santa red, Christmas tree green, and night sky blue, compliment every page of text, highlighting the continuous activity.Off the Hook is an enjoyable holiday romp suited to readers ages 5 through 8.