Monday, December 14, 2015

Holiday Pictures Books. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice

By Susan J. Berger
I interviewed USA today best selling author RaeAnne Thayne on my other blog and asked her about her Christmas Traditions.
My favorite answer?
We have many. When my kids were young, I would wrap up twenty-four of our favorite children's Christmas books and they would get to unwrap a different one each night of December leading up to Christmas Eve, then we would read it together. It was always so fun trying to guess which one they would open. 
Image result for collage hilday childrens picture books
I LOVE this tradition. I'm starting a collection for my grandchildren.
Some are obvious. Twas the Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Frosty the Snowman. But there are so many more. And since I consider December Light, Miracles, Joy, Peace and All the Good Stuff Season, I want to include other holiday books.
Should you be moved to collect, here a few suggestions.  Please add to my list and leave a favorite in your comments.  And however you celebrate love, hope, joy and miracles, I wish you all of the above.

The first two we had at Reading to Kids on Saturday and I adored them.

Turkey Claus

Turkey needs Santa’s help so he won’t be eaten for Christmas dinner.
Turkey is in trouble. Again. He made it through Thanksgiving without becoming a turkey dinner, but now it’s almost Christmas, and guess what’s on the menu? Turkey decides the only thing to do is to ask Santa for help. He sets off for the North Pole, but getting in to see Santa at Christmastime isn’t as easy as Turkey expected. It’s going to take all his ideas—and his clever disguises—to find a way into Santa’s house. After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise, and Santa has the perfect solution! In this holiday treat, a companion to Turkey Trouble, Wendi Silvano’s story is once again matched with the watercolor artwork of Lee Harper.
 

“OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER” BY VIVIAN WALSH

“Olive the Other Reindeer” by Vivian WalshPrice: $13.59 at amazon.com 
Sweet little doggie Olive is confused — she thinks she’s one of Santa’s reindeer and so decides to help him with Christmas. This book is so bright and sweet and brilliantly illustrated, and though I also love the DVD version, the book is nothing like it, with so scariness or negativity. So cute!

“HOW SANTA GOT HIS JOB” BY STEPHEN KRENSKY

“How Santa Got His Job” by Stephen KrenskyPrice: $6.99 at amazon.com 
Haven’t you ever wondered how Santa got the many skills required to do his job? This book explains it all, going over Santa’s past jobs (working in a zoo, at the post office, and at an all-night diner) that got him where he is today. It’s cute, and geared towards kids younger than 5.

 “AUNTIE CLAUS” BY ELISE PRIMAVERA

“Auntie Claus” by Elise PrimaveraPrice: $10.88 at amazon.com 
Spoiled little Sophie has an Auntie who disappears every winter, and she always wonders where she goes, so one year, she stows away in Auntie’s luggage to find out. Gradually, little Sophie figures out her Auntie’s secrets and learns that, as Auntie puts it, "It is far better to give than to receive!"



THE MAGIC VIOLIN BY MAYRA CALVANI ILLUSTRATED BY K.C. SNIDER
Eight-year old Melina wants to become a good violinist. When she loses confidence, her Rumanian teacher Andrea decides it's time for a magic dose of self esteem. A mysterious old woman in rags gives Melina some curious advice; a violinist Russian hamster, who happens to live under the old woman's hat, offers her a virtuoso performance; a shooting star fills her with hope on Christmas Eve. Is Melina actually playing better, or has her violin become magic? Who is the old woman in the town square, and why does she wear the same emerald ring as her teacher Andrea?
Price 10.36 at Amazon

 “LITTLE MISS SPIDER: A CHRISTMAS WISH” BY DAVID KIRK

“Little Miss Spider: a Christmas Wish” by David KirkPrice: $10.36 at amazon.com 
Any little one who loves Miss Spider will love seeing her as a young spider, and will love reading this Christmas-spirit poem. Lonely Little Miss Spider wants a friend to play with, and when she finds a friend in the snowy woods on Christmas Eve, she’s delighted. But where will her new friend go? Where does he live?

 “OLIVIA HELPS WITH CHRISTMAS” BY IAN FALCONER

“Olivia Helps with Christmas” by Ian FalconerPrice: $12.91 at amazon.com 
Olivia is a very precocious, very smart five-year-old piglet, and she’s determined to make this Christmas beautiful. She helps decorate the table, prevents her father from building a fire in the fireplace (to save Santa), and bursts into 
#song when appropriate. I love Olivia, and I love this book!
. “JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER: JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS!” BY BARBARA PARK
“Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” by Barbara ParkPrice: $4.99 at amazon.com 
Junie B. is a first grader now, not a kindergarten 
#baby, and she’s excited to be celebrating Christmas as a big kid. This book is just as funny and sweet as the other Junie B. chapter books, only with a holiday theme.



14 comments:

  1. I'd love to hear Mama Pantone's musical rendition of K is for Kwanza.
    Sincerely,
    Saucey Subscriber

    ReplyDelete
  2. My book, Secret Service Saint, is about Saint Nicholas who discovered the joy of doing secret good deeds and eventually became known as Santa Claus.

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    1. Thanks Janet. Here's the link. for those of you looking for it.
      http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Service-Saint-Janet-Collins/dp/1935137980

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  3. Thank you for posting The Magic Violin it's a wonderful story. I also illustrated Baby Jesus is Missing By Dixie Phillips a wonderful Christmas story , another wonderful Christmas story I illudtrated is a Star in the Night By Jennifer Gladen

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    1. This must be K. C. Snider, one of my favorite illustrators. Thanks for adding to the list!

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  4. The Christmas Angel and One Family's Christmas by Mary Jean Kelso, illos by K C Snider, as also Guardian Angel Publishing books.

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    1. Mary Jean, I may have forgotten because I own both those lovely books.
      Links:
      Christmas Angel:
      http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Angel-Academic-Wings/dp/1933090588/
      One Family's Christmas:

      http://www.amazon.com/Familys-Christmas-Mary-Jean-Kelso/dp/1935137050

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  5. The Christmas Angel and One Family's Christmas by Mary Jean Kelso, illos by K C Snider, as also Guardian Angel Publishing books.

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    Replies
    1. I think GAP needs a list of Christmas books on a blog.

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  6. The Best Christmas Gift by Cindy Appel, with illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier is available from Guardian Angel Publishing:

    http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/best-xmas-gift.htm
    ISBN: 1-933090-19-7

    In a day and age where "Merry Christmas" has been banned in favor of the generic "Happy Holiday", young Jake makes an important discovery.

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  7. Sue, Guardian Angel has lots of Christmas books and musicals: Clare's Christmas Wish, A Blessed Bethlehem Birth, The Best Christmas Gift, The Year Christ left Christmas, Christmas Angel, The Little Shepherd, O Christmas Tree, One Family's Christmas Camille's Journey, Bethlehem's King Size Bed, and more.

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  8. I love Junie B. and Olivia, too. Another favorite and timeless classic is, Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus by Francis P. Church.

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