Christmas is coming and here are some wonderful picture books to make your holidays even merrier and brighter than usual.
The Bear and the Star by Lola M. Schaefer,
illustrated by Bethanne Anderson
Greenwillow Books, 2019, 40 pages
On December morning, Bear wakes up from his winter nap and saw a new, just barely visible star in the sky. He then began a search for a strong, tall tree "a tree that would be the center/of all to come." Finding that, Bear let out a mighty roar East, West, North, and South that echoes throughout the land, letting animals and people know it is time and summoning them to the tree he found. They come from everywhere, people put down their tools and stop what they are doing, "Then they gathered/mask and drum/ scroll and shawl/ candle and copper/ flower and oil." As the star rises in the sky, animals, birds, and people gather round the tree in celebration, "because it was time.../for peace." When I first read this book, I thought it would be another typical Christmas story but with breathtaking, richly textured oil painted illustrations so I was so pleasantly surprised at the ending. It is a Christmas story of sorts, with the star rising in the sky, the tall evergreen tree, and all creatures celebrating, but the call with the message "it is time" is about peace, not the birth of Jesus. But, lets face it, what better time is there to celebrate the idea of peace than during the season of "Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards all people!"
Greenwillow Books, 2019, 48 pages
It seems that Thomas, a roly-poly bear-like creature, has misplaced his basket of dried apples, berries, plums, apricots, grapes, and cherries, after fetching them from his special fruit-drying spot. Lucy, an large indeterminate yellow and red bird, helps him look for his basket, but with no luck. Now Thomas won't be able to make his special wintercake for Winter's Eve. When a winter storm hits, Lucy decides to go home, but the storm is so bad, she stops at a lovely warm tea room where she over hears a large brown furry creature talking about finding a basket of dried fruit, perfect for a wintercake. When the fellow leaves with the baskets, Lucy follows him to Thomas's home, where the guy she has quickly thought quickly decided was a "scoundrel: instead returns the basket to Thomas. Touched by his kindness, Thomas and Lucy decide to make a wintercake and share it with this stranger, whose name we learn is Tobin. But, finding the stranger's home is further away then they had anticipated and fraught with obstacles. Will they be able to find this good Samaritan and celebrate Winter's Eve together? What a charming winter story full of whimsey, twists and turns, snap judgements, new friendships and traditions. The illustrations emanate warmth when the animals are inside and winter cold what they are outside, but always work in harmony with the text, both so richly textured. I worried that the longer length of this book might not work with my young readers, but they loved it, making this book an unalloyed delight for the holiday season.
Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond,
illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Peachtree Publishing Company, 2019, 32 pages
Every year, the National Audubon Society conducts its annual Christmas bird count and once again, Ava and her mother will be participating in it. Together with Big Al, they will drive and walk through the same route they follow every year: fields, woods, wetlands, neighborhoods, even the center of town. This year, after Big Al goes over the rules with Ava again, she is given a really important job: keep the tally of all the birds they spot during their day of bird counting. Richmond has cleverly woven in the details of how the bird count is done, as well as a brief description of what the different birds look like that Ava's team sees throughout the day, and illustrator Coleman is equally as clever at placing the birds in various places on the page for readers to find, as well as a sidebar tally of the birds spotted. This is an excellent book for introducing young readers to the fun of bird watching and counting, something Richmond is has done for years herself. Back matter includes information about each of the birds featured in Bird Count, an Author's Note, and resources for finding more information about birds and bird counts.
The Most Wonderful Gift in the World
by Mark Sperring, illustrated by Lucy Fleming
Tiger Tales, 2019, 32 pages
It's Christmas morning and Esme and bear have finished opening all their presents save one. But the tag says the gift is for Little Bunny Boo-Boo. The friends decide to find Little Bunny Boo-Boo and make sure she gets her gift. But how do you find someone you don't know? Follow the signs that direct them to Little Bunny Boo-Boo, of course, even if they do say things like 'Treacherous Path' 'Howling Gale' and 'Deep, Deep Snow Drifts, Warning: They Really Are Deep!' Perseverance pays off when the finally arrive at Little Bunny Boo-Boo's front door. What a surprise for Esme and Bear when she opens her gift, the box is empty except for a note from Santa. But Little Bunny Boo-Boo, who has just moved into her little cabin, has gotten just what she asked for - two new honest and true friends. What a happy Christmas all around! Christmas is about family, friends, and the joy of giving and sharing, but it's not a fun time to be alone, and this is a good story for reminding young readers to think of others. After all, people enrich our lives so much at the holidays, and all year long. As much as they liked this story, at first, my young readers had kind of a hard time grasping the fact that not everyone has family and friends to celebrate the holidays with. They did agree that being part of a family or being a good friend can be the most wonderful gift in the world and is not something to be taken for granted. I think we will revisit this story again before the holidays are over.
written and illustrated by Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press, 2019, 40 pages
Have you ever wonder how Santa got his team of reindeer? In this atmospheric origin story, readers meet Dasher and his reindeer family, part of J.P. Finnegan's Traveling Circus and Menagerie. It's not a pleasant life, but young Dasher's mother tells stories about living in a cold, snowy place "free to roam under the glow of the North Star." One night, Dasher escapes and following that star , she eventually runs into Santa Claus and his horse Silverbell. It's Christmas Even and there are toys to be delivered, but the sleigh is too heavy for Silverbell, so Dasher volunteers to help. It works out so well, but Dasher misses her family, wishing they could escape the circus and join her. Naturally, Santa grants her deepest wish, and off they go to rescue Dasher's family. The next Christmas, Santa and his sleigh are pulled by none other than Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. This is a fun backstory, and Tavares ends it at just the right point for pairing it with The Night Before Christmas, which I did with my young readers and they loved it. The watercolor, gouache, pencil and pastel illustrations capture the hot pen the reindeer are kept in and the cool snowy place that becomes their new home. Tavares light play in the illustrations give the story a magical feeling, suitable for a magical season. This will definitely be a classic, at least with my young readers.
illustrated by Dan Santat
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2019, 40 pages
The thing that makes Santa Claus so mysterious is that no one ever sees him. But Freddy Melcher is Santa's #1 fan and this year, he is determined to get a self with his idol to add to his very vast collection of Santa memorabilia. Naturally, he's a boy with a plan. First, string cans across the roof so Santa can't land undetected. Next, add a few well-place motion-sensitive cameras around the Christmas tree, followed by a pressure-sensitive plate of cookies, and finally, practice staying up late. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Freddy is convinced he has hidden his plans from Santa so well, he wouldn't suspect a thing. Or does he? Yes, Freddy doesn't get a selfie with Santa, but he gets something almost as good - a handwritten note from Santa that reads "NICE TRY, FREDDY! SANTA" Oh well, there's always next year for a selfie. Santat's whimsical and very colorful ink and watercolor illustrations include fun objects detailing Freddy's Santa obsession and are the perfect compliment to Bird's humorous text. But, in point of fact, even my young readers know that you can't fool Santa - he knows all, he sees all.
written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Holiday House, 2019, 32 pages
As a family heads out to by a Christmas tree, the kids wonder about how the tradition of decorating a fir tree at Christmas began. Luckily, their parents have ready answers, beginning in the Middle Ages when December 24th was called Adam and Eve Day, and a tree was made of evergreen branches and decorated with apples to represent the Tree of Paradise. The development of more customs and traditions are discussed and how the evergreen branch progressed to the indoor Christmas tree. There's lots of interesting information presented as the family buys, brings home and decorates their own Christmas tree. Different families have different traditions, an idea that is echoed at the end of the book: "The main thing is that every family's Christmas tree is very special to that family." This is an sweet book with lots of facts about Christmas, all done using dePaola's signature colorful illustrations. At the end of the book, there is a template and instructions for printing, coloring, and putting an angel together to put on top of a tree, or to just hang on the tree. Perhaps the beginning or addition of a family homemade ornament tradition.
illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Penguin Workshop, 2019, 52 pages
This is the third book in the Crayons series, and it's just as funny as the first two books, and this time it's interactive. This time, Duncan takes a back seat to the crayons, who have a life of their own, right down to the six envelopes with removable content. The first letter, addressed to Peach, is from her parents living in Florida. In their envelop, is a card and some much needed clothing in paper doll form. Next, is a box of decorations for the crayons' Christmas tree, followed by a recipe from Beige's dad for gluten free Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. a Hanukkah card and dreidel from Gray, a gift that's a game for all the Crayons and followed by an envelop containing a map of Esteban and Neon Red's travel about the world. Lastly, is a pop-up Christmas tree, a gift from the Crayons to Duncan. It's a fun book, but a risky one. It would be easy to lose the contents of each envelope. Luckily, most kids have there own crayons, paper and imagination and could make replacements as the originals get lost or ruined, making this an even more interactive book. It's a lot of fun and like an animated movie for kids, there is plenty of humor that will appeal to adults reading this to their kids.
Christmas Activity Book
Candlewick Entertainment, 2018, 32 pages
If you are looking for a Christmas activity book, look no further than this one. It is chockablock with stickers some of which kids can use on different pages in the book and others that can be used for the different craft projects. For example, there are snowflake stickers to add onto the homemake paper garland that can be hung on the tree or in the window. There are instructions for making a wreath using leaves, twigs, and pinecones. In addition, there are recipes and instructions so kids can make a Christmas cake for birds, tree decorations, even Christmas cookies using puff pastry, with some adult supervision. And there are games and jokes scattered throughout. As part of the Bear Hunt books, the main focus of all the activities is nature and the outdoors, including exploring outside to see what creatures can be spotted right at home. There is something for everyone in this slender book that is packed with holiday fun.
Did you know that Drew Daywalt has been accused of sexual misconduct by two women? https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2018/07/sexual-misconduct-in-childrens-book-publishing-metoo-timesup/
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