New Books to Celebrate Christmas, 2007

Angela and the Baby Jesus
Frank McCourt
Illustrations by Loren Long
   Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes, reaches back to his Irish family history for this touching Christmas tale. When his mother, Angela, was 6-years-old, she worried that the Baby Jesus in the local church nativity scene was cold - after all he was left in that manger in swaddling clothes and not much else. Naturally, she decided to take the Baby Jesus home to warm him up. She didn't count on running into her brother Pat in the backyard when she snuck the baby home, but no one believed him when he told them Angie had the Baby Jesus with her. Once her misguided attempts to help were recognized, the family trooped back to the church to return the Baby, only to encounter the parish priest and a local policeman. The resolution of this prickly dilemma is heart warming. Two illustrated versions of this tale are being published this Christmas season; this version is a small format book. Subdued illustrations with extreme perspectives convey the bleak surroundings, dashed with a spot of color from Angie's red coat. 2007, Scribner, Ages 6 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4165-7470-0
ISBN: 978-1-4165-7470-5

Angela and the Baby Jesus
Frank McCourt
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
   Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes, reaches back to his Irish family history for this touching Christmas tale. When his mother, Angela, was 6-years-old, she worried that the Baby Jesus in the local church nativity scene was cold - after all he was left in that manger in swaddling clothes and not much else. Naturally, she decided to take the Baby Jesus home to warm him up. She didn't count on running into her brother Pat in the backyard when she snuck the baby home, but no one believed him when he told them Angie had the Baby Jesus with her. Once her misguided attempts to help were recognized, the family trooped back to the church to return the Baby, only to encounter the parish priest and a local policeman. The resolution of this prickly dilemma is heart warming. Two illustrated versions of this tale are being published this Christmas season; this version is a full-sized edition with colorful, textured illustrations by Colón. 2007, Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 up, $17.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4169-3789-7
ISBN: 978-1-4169-3789-0

Away in the Manger
Illustrated by Thomas Kinkade
   Kinkade's luminescent illustrations grace the pages of this small board book. The first line of the song is printed on a snowy village scene showing houses with peaked roofs. Two children gaze out a gable window at a crèche in front of the church across the street. The next picture takes the viewer to ancient Bethlehem where a woman is holding a baby near a manger as a man looks on. Two more illustrations feature the baby Jesus with angels and his parents nearby. Then the pictures return to the original village as the townspeople are walking to the church. The children from the gable window are shown sleeping in their beds with a Christmas tree and presents in the room. The light of a large star is coming through the open window. The following village scenes depict families ice skating and sledding, families caroling and singing around an outside Christmas tree, and families approaching the open doorway of the church. Kinkade's use of light and shimmering colors enhance the joy of this familiar carol. The song with its musical score appears in the back. 2007, HarperCollins, Ages 3 mo. to 6, $6.99. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-078735-X
ISBN: 978-0-06-078735-6

The Barnyard Night Before Christmas
Beth Terrill
Illustrated by Greg Newbold
   With the rhythm and cadence of the original poem, Terrill has fashioned a new story in which the barnyard animals, who are bickering among themselves, discover Santa has appeared without his reindeer. They have eaten too much Christmas pudding and cannot fly Santa the rest of the way. Setting aside their differences the animals work together and are soon flying Santa's sleigh through the air. Another round of bickering, however, causes Santa's sack full of toys to fall out of the sleigh. Once more they must work together to save Christmas. While the theme is a good one, the poem feels like it goes on a bit too long. The animal faces in the illustrations can be frightening and the layout often looks crowded. 2007, Random House, Ages 4 to 7, $14.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-83682-4
ISBN: 0-375-83682-9
ISBN: 978-0-375-93682-1

Bear's First Christmas
Robert Kinerk
Illustrated by Jim LaMarche
   In rhymed couplets, Kinerk tells the story of a young bear awakened from his winter's sleep by an unusual sound. As he follows the sound, he meets a hungry crow (with whom he shares a honeycomb), a moose (Bear helps the moose break the creek's ice to get to the plants growing there), and a family of pheasants (whose nest has been destroyed by an avalanche of snow from an overhead branch). All of these new friends follow Bear to the source of the sounds that had intrigued him-a family singing Christmas carols around a beautifully glowing Christmas tree. This glow fills the animals with awe and they all return to Bear's den, where a tiny tree growing there is aglow in the moonlight. This magical moment is recognized by all of the creatures. In the spring they go about their own lives. Bear reflects that the glow of their shared time will remain in each of their hearts forever. LaMarche's illustrations carry the story with grace, depth, and a luminous beauty that reveals the gentle, deft touch for which he has become famous. The animals are portrayed in a realistic, natural way with only the slightest anthropomorphizing of expressions to convey their emotions to the reader. I do wish the author had chosen another creature for the "family" since pheasants do not have young chicks in the winter. Aside from that little quibble, this is a lovely, quiet look at the power of the Christmas season to influence the "glow" in all sorts of hearts. 2007, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 up, $19.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-86972-3
ISBN: 0-689-86972-X

Biscuit's Christmas Eve
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Illustrations by Pat Schories and Mary O'Keefe Young
   It is a busy Christmas Eve for Biscuit and his little girl owner. Biscuit helps as she trims the tree, hangs the stockings, wraps a gift for her parents, and bakes cookies. On Christmas morning they find many wrapped gifts under the tree. As she hugs Biscuit, she says, "The very best part of Christmas is sharing it with a sweet puppy like you!" Each lift-the-flap page shows an eager puppy engaged in the activity and often getting into mischief. Young's illustrations are done in the style of Schories, and young readers will not notice the difference in this, the latest story starring Biscuit. There is not much of a storyline here. Rather, it is a listing of the common customs of Christmas. The short text and the illustrations of this charming little puppy amid the Christmas decorations make this an appropriate introduction to the holiday. This soft cover edition makes this most suitable for family purchase. 2007, HarperFestival, Ages 2 to 5, $6.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-112836-3

The Blade of Kringle
Nathaniel Marunas
   The endpapers of this book hint at the intrigue to be found within the text through a map of Santa's massive workshop and a first look at the ninja teddy bears pouring over the map and spying over the edges of the book and the introduction provides a back story of Santa and the Samurai. The story begins with Fritz a disgruntled elf who feels as though his magic-centered ideas for increasing productivity are being ignored not only by his elf superiors, but by the chief elf - Santa himself. He brings his complaints to Santa on the morning of December 23rd in the midst of the Christmas Eve rush. When Santa rebuffs Fritz, he decides to take the next step by showing everyone at the North Pole just what he can do by creating a little disaster that Fritz will solve himself thereby showing everyone just how clever he is. The little disaster turns into a big one when one of Fritz's spells goes awry creating an army of evil ninja teddy bears who wreak havoc throughout the workshop and threaten the power plant running the entire Christmas operation. Fritz is forced to confess his involvement to Santa and is sent to retrieve Santa's two ninja swords - the only weapons capable of stopping the ninja teddy bears. Santa's transformation into Manga Claus complete with bulging muscles is hysterically reminiscent of the transformation of the Incredible Hulk. Of course, Santa/Manga Claus saves the day and finds a way for Fritz to redeem himself. This book was full of humorous - if slightly twisted - situations and illustrations many of which cause the reader to pay close attention not only to the text, but to the details of illustration. Certainly a non-traditional and slightly irreverent Christmas tale, this graphic novel is sure to appeal to readers of graphic texts as well as fans of Japanamation. I laughed my way through the entire reading. 2006, Razorbill, Ages 10 to 13, $12.99. Reviewer: Louanne Jacobs (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-59514-134-0
ISBN: 978-1-595-14134-7

The Christmas Angel
Hans Wilhelm
   The news spread quickly from cloud to cloud: "the Son of God would soon be born in the little town of Bethlehem." All the angels were very excited, especially the smallest one, until the others told him he was too small for the journey. After the other angels left, he was lonely. Walking to the edge of the cloud, he slipped and fell to earth near a tent. When the men began to wake up the angel hid inside a bag. Before long he noticed they were traveling by camel. These were the Wise Men on their journey to visit the Christ Child. The little angel sang a song for the Baby. Later, the other angels carried him back home. This is a sweet little story with soft watercolors to match. Preschoolers will be introduced to the Magi, while children a little older will be pleased that they guessed the identity of the men in the tent. The straightforward story is bland in the telling. Church libraries and parents who want to emphasize the religious aspect of Christmas will find this to be acceptable additional material. 2006, Little Shepherd Books/Scholastic, Ages 4 to 7, $3.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-00853-2
ISBN: 0-545-00853-0

Christmas at Stony Creek
Stephanie Greene
Pictures by Chris Sheban
   Pip, short for Pipsqueak, is the quiet member of the mouse family. Will used to be more boisterous, but he has been fairly subdued since his disastrous trip to forage for food at the new house on the edge of the cliff, Land's End. Uncle Hank died on that trip, and Will came home injured. It has been a tough winter, and Pip's beloved Papa leaves home to search for food. He promises to be back in three days, but those three days stretch past a week. Will he be home for Christmas? Soon, the situation is desperate and Pip resolves to be brave. She will return to Land's End and bring back food for the family. Her harrowing journey and quick thinking keep the reader enthralled. With a little help from others, the family is reunited for a joyous Christmas--after all, having the family together is the best present of all. An anthropomorphic tale reminiscent of "Little Women," this would be a good read-aloud in front of a roaring fire. 2007, Greenwillow/HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 12, $14.99 and $15.89. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-121486-8
ISBN: 0-06-121487-6
ISBN: 978-0-06-121486-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-121487-5

Christmas is Coming
Anne Bowen
Illustrations by Tomek Bogacki
   The excitement leading up to Christmas is explained by Anna, who looks forward to enjoying this holiday season with her new baby brother. Christmas is coming when the lights appear and when Mama and Daddy bring down boxes of ornaments from the closet. Anna thinks waiting for Christmas is even harder than waiting for your birthday. She has suggestions for ways to make the time pass faster - make cards for everyone and presents, too. Don't take too long choosing a tree or your ears may go numb. When Grandma and Grandpa arrive, you know the time is getting closer! Making cookies is another good way to make the days go faster. Anna and her family (including Lucy, the cat), are depicted in stylized, colorful illustrations on a background of frosty white. A nice story to distract little ones who are impatient for Christmas to come. 2007, Carolrhoda, Ages 3 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-57505-934-1

Christmas Is Coming!: Turn the Wheel to Touch and Feel
NA
   This die cut board book has the added interest of an easily turned wheel which controls 5 different colors (2 that sparkle) that can be viewed through the cut-outs on each page. Only 2 colors appear on each page, except for the last page where all five colors show up as ornaments on the decorated Christmas tree in Santa's workshop. The text tells of the preparations for Christmas and gives clues as to which color would be appropriate for each page. "Mrs. Claus decorates treats with snowy white icing." I can see little perfectionists dialing up the white disc and the rambunctious ones making the icing red or black or green! Cute as well as interactive, this title would serve to stimulate language development, reinforce following directions, improve manual dexterity, and provide a lot of simple fun. 2007, Robin Cory Books/Random House, 12 mo to 3 years, $6.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-84573-4

Christmas Magic
Sue Stainton
Illustrations by Eva Melhuish
   Winter comes to life in this beautiful picture book that contains a simple, yet magical text of Santa and some well-known forest animals. The enchanting story revolves around some missing reindeer bells. A snowshoe rabbit, bushy brown squirrel, fluffy fox, and fuzzy mouse decide to help the reindeer find the bells by having a treasure hunt. During the hunt they search for clues, play hid-and-seek, and find footprints to follow. Along the way, they find one bell at a time. Each bell offers up a tingling sound as the animals try to decide if they hear the wind, the trees laughing, or the snow singing. It's as if tricks are being played on them and they are joining in on the trick playing, too. Wonderful illustrations capture the flavor of the delightful story and all ends well as "midnight moonbeams light up the forest." In addition to being royally entertained, listeners who hear this tale will learn about friendship and cooperation. 2007, Harper Collins, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Nancy Attebury (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-078571-0
ISBN: 978-0-06-078572-7
ISBN: 0-06-078571-3
ISBN: 0-06-078572-1

A Christmas Memory
Truman Capote
Illustrated by Beth Peck
   Capote's story of the beautiful and loving relationship between an orphaned boy and an elderly woman is accompanied by fine illustrations that capture both the era and the warmth shared between them. Capote presents one autumn and winter as the two prepare the annual fruitcakes and make homemade gifts for one another. Capote's story was originally published in December 1956 in Mademoiselle magazine. It is a story whose message and language will be appreciated more by adults. The nostalgia and the sadness of the ending will not be for every child. However, for the special older child who is still lucky enough to enjoy listening to a parent or grandparent read, this will affect both deeply. This new edition includes a CD narrated by Celeste Holm whose superb reading adds just the right touch of a Southern accent and completes the fine package. 2006 (orig. 1989), Alfred A. Knopf, $17.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-83789-2
ISBN: 0-679-80040-9
ISBN: 978-0-375-83789-0
ISBN: 978-0-679-80040-8

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Susan Wojciechowski
Illustrated by P. J. Lynch
With Storytime CD Read by James Earl Jones
   This reissue of the touching story of Jonathan Toomey's transformation reminds readers of the potential for hope in the holiday season. The widow McDowell asks Toomey, the acknowledged best carver in the village, to create a crèche, as hers was lost in a recent move. Toomey's interactions with the widow and her son cause him to face his deepest sorrows, recognize his unfathomable loss, and emerge with a joy that has been missing in his life. Lynch's softly colored realistic illustrations capture the emotions of the characters well. Toomey's gloom is clearly evident in his face throughout most of the book. The widow McDowell is caring and proper, while her son exhibits an innocent exuberance. The text of the story read by James Earl Jones on the accompanying CD emanates a pleasant storytelling style. Teachers and librarians would have the option of using the recording and turning the pages so all could enjoy the sensitive pictures together. Notes from the author and the illustrator appear in the back of the book. 2007 (orig. 1995), Candlewick Press, Ages 7 to 11, $14.99. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-56402-320-9
ISBN: 978-0-7636-1930-5

Christmas Night Fair and Bright
Julie Stiegemeyer
Illustrated by Melissa Iwai
   A soothing rhyme traces the Christmas story from Jesus' birth through the flight to Egypt and return to Israel. Each quatrain ends with the line "Jesus, born for us" emphasizing the meaning of the holiday. The text appears atop full color illustrations spanning both pages. Iwai's illustrations are suffused with light. The final two pages and verses are set in modern times, in a church candlelight service, reminding the reader who it is we celebrate during the Christmas season. 2007, Concordia, Ages 3 to 7, $14.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7586-1271-0
ISBN: 978-0-7586-1271-7

Clifford's First Christmas
Norman Bridwell
   Emily Elizabeth recounts Clifford's first Christmas with her family. Clifford was just a tiny puppy then and was fascinated with the trimmings on the tree. Of course, Clifford got himself into some silly situations: ending up on top of the tree, being knocked over by an ornament, getting tangled in wrapping paper, and ending up in Emily Elizabeth's Christmas stocking. Santa rescued the little red fur-ball and put both Clifford and Emily Elizabeth back to bed. In the morning, the entire family opened their presents. Clifford got into Emily Elizabeth's new doll house and "pretended to be a giant dog." (Teachers and parents will find this a excellent example of foreshadowing-children will just think it is funny!) Even though Clifford has grown to gigantic proportions since his puppy days, he is still a "very special Christmas puppy" says Emily Elizabeth. Fans will adore this addition to the body of Clifford books. Stiff pages are suitable for easy turning by those graduating from board books. The front cover has a plastic insert filled with sparkles and glitter-sure to be an eye catcher. 2007, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Ages 2 to 5, $7.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-02022-0
ISBN: 0-545-02022-0

Cock-A-Doodle Christmas!
Will Hillenbrand
   Long ago in the village of Bethlehem Old Rooster crowed every morning. It was the beginning of the daily routine for all the animals. Hen would lay an egg, cow gave milk, donkey pulled the cart and ox plowed the field. One day, Old Rooster announced he was retiring and moving to another farm. He gave lessons to young Harold on how to crow. However, Harold believed he was too small to properly do so. Indeed, when it became his turn to wake everyone up, his whispered crow was not loud enough and the animals overslept. One night, as Harold looked into a newborn baby's eyes he saw they were "filled with love and understanding." As the sun rose, Harold crowed, "Cock-A-Doodle-Doo! Good News for You!" Hillenbrand's story reminds us that with the birth of Jesus came a new day, and a message for all. Even the smallest among us is capable of spreading the "good news." Hillenbrand's eye-catching illustrations in gouache, ink and collage show barnyard scenes as well as a choir of angels and the visiting shepherds. The loud and soft crowing sounds of the roosters make this fun to read aloud. The traditional Christmas story wrapped in a barnyard tale will help young children understand the true meaning of Christmas. This is a terrific book for religious education teachers to use during the Christmas season, as well as a delightful story for parents to share with their children. 2007, Marshall Cavendish, Ages 3 to 7, $16.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5354-3
ISBN: 0-7614-5354-7

Comet Can't Wait for Christmas
Paul Bracegirdle
Illustrated by Susan Mitchell
   A page of silvery stickers for the reader to use as she pleases precedes the title page. Comet the reindeer is scurrying around the house preparing for Christmas: wrapping presents, cleaning the house, decorating the tree and making cookies. Her friend, a little penguin, stops over with a gift and stays to help with the tasks. Comet carefully selects or makes gifts for the other reindeer. Basically, the story is comprised of the listing of their gifts. On the last page, she is dressed for Christmas and Santa is seen through the window walking with his pack of goodies on his back. There is no sign of a sled or the other reindeer. While the story is lacking suspense and a storyline, Mitchell's cartoon-style illustrations are engaging. They are full of action and whimsy. The stickers are an added gimmick to this little paperback although they do not have an actual connection with the story. This holiday "filler" is not an item to add to the library collection. 2007, Little Simon/ Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 5, $5.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-87139-9
ISBN: 0-689-87139-2

Cool Christmas Stories
Compiled by Elizabeth Holland
Illustrated by Teresa Murfin
   Of all the treats readers will indulge in this holiday season, the ten tales in this collection are likely to be the sweetest! Best of all, the "little guys" triumph in each of these stories, helping to ensure that the true spirit of the season prevails in spite of whatever challenges the various authors' concoct. Martin Waddell's "Imelda and the Dragon" chronicles the pivotal day on which a young girl's advice brings about a life-altering realization for a very old wyrm. Lou Kuenzler's "Santa's Little Helper" spotlights the phenomenal efforts of a garden gnome with holiday ambitions. Chris Powling's "King Wod's Present" flips the notion of Christmas gift-giving on its head. Elizabeth Holland's own "The Clumsy Reindeer" celebrates one who provides the real power behind Santa's phenomenal annual trip. This series of quick-paced, humorous stories is sure to be a hit with both parents and children as they wait for the big day to arrive. This collection is part of the "Super Shorts" series. 2007, Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin, Ages 6 to 10, $6.95. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6073-3

The Corps of the Bare-Boned Plane
Polly Horvath
   After their parents are killed in a train accident, cousins Meline and Jocelyn become wards of their eccentric uncle, Marten Knockers, who lives a secluded life on a rainy windswept island. Very quickly, Marten realizes that his role as guardian of two very different teenage girls requires more skills than he possesses. Do his responsibilities include dinner conversation, in spite of his heartfelt belief that all meals should be eaten hunched over a desk with one's nose in a book? Is his daily diet of hotdogs and macaroni and cheese insufficient? Marten decides to hire people to do those things that he does not want to think about. Over time, he and the girls are joined by Mrs. Mendelbaum, a very elderly and living-in-the-past Jewish woman who was hired sight unseen to be cook and housekeeper, as well as Humdinger, the mysterious butler hired to help her. Over time, the four come to form a peculiar, but functional household. As Marten observes, "People do so often seem to show up on your doorstep and then stay forever." Horvath's novel is an out-of-the-ordinary story with an old-fashioned feel that weaves together the voices of four individuals who are each coping, in their own unique ways, with loss and new beginnings. The book benefits from a bit of mystery, colorful characters, and a surprising amount of humor. Uncle Marten's clueless attempts at housekeeping and cooking, as well as his frenetic attempts to create an old-fashioned Christmas make for laugh-out-loud reading. 2007, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 12 to 16, $17.00. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-374-31553-5
ISBN: 0-374-31553-1

Counting Christmas
Karen Katz
   Toddlers are introduced to the excitement, sights and symbols of Christmas in this simple counting book. From ten tiny lights around the tree, to eight cookies for Santa, to "three sleeping children dream of treats and toys" right down to "one magical day," the reader can see the three young children preparing for and anticipating this special day. While some of the pages are a bit crowded, and the page with "four loving arms" might be confusing for a young child, there is a joy and excitement that comes through the text. The numeral as well as the word is clearly given for each number. There are little ice-blue snowflakes that can be counted on each page. Originally published in picture book format, this moves easily to the board book edition. 2007, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 2 to 5, $7.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-3624-4
ISBN: 1-4169-3624-6

Coyote Christmas: A Lakota Story
S.D. Nelson
   Coyote the Trickster is cold and hungry on Christmas Eve. Remembering that Santa Claus is always welcome, he costumes himself as Santa and is welcomed into a home where a family is preparing for the holiday. At dinnertime, young Davy comes to the table in a wheelchair as the grandmother, grandfather, and young Isabel all help Coyote to eat his fill. Since he has brought only a sack of straw for "presents," Coyote is shocked when it spills open to reveal wonderful gifts for the grandparents and Isabel. Since David's box is empty, Coyote flees, feeling guilty, only to see that David's gift is the ability to walk. All the animals are pleased at the happy ending, while Coyote gets his "comeuppance." The tale is filled with the magic of the holiday, the talking animals, and the humor of the trickster tricked. Nelson creates a Coyote with character galore, changing as the story progresses. Textured acrylic paints produce double-page scenes filled with details and action. We can feel the cold of the snow and the warmth of the household. Nelson adds a note about the background of the story and the character of Coyote. 2007, Abrams Books for Young Readers/Harry N. Abrams, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8109-9367-8
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9367-9

Do Rabbits Have Christmas?
Aileen Fisher
Illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies
   Wildlife illustrator Sarah Fox-Davies received a plum assignment when she was given the task of illustrating Aileen Fisher's lovely, natural poems, and she definitely makes the most of it! The fifteen poems of this collection move the reader gently from the winter-anticipation of autumn's chill into the thick of winter, with all of its snowy magic and holiday warmth. Each brief poem has, at its core, one compelling question or thought-provoking observation. Reading about the mouse "footprints ... like stitches in the new white snow," one wonders if there could be anything about the chilly season that the keen-eyed poet failed to notice or imagine. Young readers may be attracted to the Christmas poems more than the others; nearly half of these pieces will fit that bill. This book is an excellent choice for introducing young children to poetry. Fox-Davies' illustrations have a sense of gentle play, and keen-eyed readers will notice that all of the drawings show the same family, animals, and farm. Fisher's poems encourage readers to let their imaginations run wild, too. 2007, Henry Holt, Ages 4 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7491-8
ISBN: 0-8050-7491-0

The Dog Who Thought He Was Santa
Bill Wallace
   It's 1957, and Don is counting the days until what is sure to be the best, or maybe the worst, Christmas ever. It seems like the whole town is bothered about something, but Don and his friends aren't sure what to do about it. Money is tight, and Don is worried there won't be enough left over for Christmas presents. His dog, Frank, thinks the humans worrying is a silly waste of time, especially when they could be doing something more useful, like patting his head or scratching his ears. And now some of the children at school are tormenting Don's sister Susan, telling her that Santa isn't real and even if he were he wouldn't bring any presents to her family because her father wants to shut down the mine. Can Don and Frank rescue the holiday spirit in time for Christmas? Don and Frank take turns telling the story, giving readers a glimpse into the challenges children face as they attempt to understand and deal with the adult problems that surround them. It looks like Frank just might be the one to save the day when he takes matters into his own hands-or rather his own paws. 2007, Holiday House, Ages 8 to 12, $16.95. Reviewer: Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2114-5
ISBN: 0-8234-2114-7

Eloise's Christmas Trinkles
Kay Thompson
Illustrated by Hilary Knight
   The inimitable Eloise twirls and runs through the Plaza Hotel on Christmas Eve bringing her idea of Christmas decorating and caroling to everyone she meets. "I'm rawther fond of caroling/ Fa la on every floor..." She delivers gifts to the staff, her dog and turtle, and to her beloved Nanny. Her "mother called long distance from the Mediterranean," making Eloise a little wistful. However, her dear Nanny knows just the thing to say. This small book is adapted from Eloise at Christmastime, first published in 1958. Knight's pen & ink drawings of this precocious little girl and her antics are still perfectly suited to the droll text. 2007 (orig. 1958), Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 8, $9.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-87425-3
ISBN: 0-689-87425-1

A Forest for Christmas
Michael Harris
Illustrations by Eric Orchard
   The striking illustrations in this sweet story of the power of a young girl's love of nature have a realistic look. Many of the paintings would not be out of place in a nature magazine; here they are combined with a unique quality (especially the human faces) that makes this book one to savor over many readings. I found myself drawn back into the book to reexamine the pictures and marvel at their impact. The text is dense for a picture book, so it will appeal to older readers and will make a good family (or classroom) read aloud. The storyline follows Emily as she goes through the days just before Christmas, doing her chores, feeding the birds and woodland animals, watching her parents' change in demeanor. The people of her county have been depending on fishing to support them but the fish have become scarce. A businessman has proposed to build a factory (to make "whatzits") which will provide much needed jobs. Unfortunately, he has one demand for the county...the giant spruce trees which would obscure the "view" from his new home must be cut down. Emily's relationship with the various animals that live in and depend upon the trees prompts her to think of a way to "save" the trees. Together she and the animals (with the help of the other local children) proceed to decorate the largest tree. They use all of the lights and ornaments from around the town, including the angel from the top of her father's fishing boat's mast. Ultimately the glowing tree serves as a beacon for the airplane, lost in a storm, in which the businessman has been flying ...needless to say, he views the tree with a change of heart and all is well. The cooperation of the animals and children to save an important part of the community gives the magical touch to this story-touching the imaginations of readers and listeners alike. 2007, Nimbus Publishing Ltd, Ages 5 to 10, $19.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-55109-589-9
ISBN: 1-55109-589-0

Geronimo Stilton: Christmas Catastrophe
Illustrated by Silvia Bigolin, Christian Aliprandi, and Davide Turotti
   Geronimo Stilton, "publisher and editor in chief of The Rodent's Gazette, the most famouse newspaper on Mouse Island," was trying to decide what to write about when his favorite nephew asked him to take him skiing. A ski accident renders Geronimo in the hospital where he learns he has broken every bone in his body. He proves that laughter and rehab are the perfect prescription for getting well. The full color drawings and maps enhance the text. A variety of fonts in different colors highlight particular words and phrases within the text of the story. The reader will find information interspersed with the madcap humor of the story. For example, there is a page describing the rules of conduct for skiers, descriptions of various types of hospital workers, and tips to make a hospital stay easier. For those who like to cook and experiment with food, there is also a recipe for a mozzarella cheese sandwich. If that isn't enough jokes and games are also included in this addition to the "Geronimo Stilton" series. 2007, Scholastic, Ages 7 to 10, $6.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-00902-7
ISBN: 0-545-00902-2

Great Joy
Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
   This beautiful collaboration by a wordsmith and an accomplished artist lives up to every anticipated expectation. Simple and direct the text is uncomplicated but speaks volumes on the responsibilities of people to open their hearts and doors to those less fortunate. Set in an unnamed city, the time frame appears to be during WWII. There is a picture of a naval officer sitting on a shelf in the living room of the apartment shared by a mother and her daughter, Frances. The "old fashioned" iron and ironing board as well as the clothes and cars reinforce the impression of the 1940's. Frances sees an organ grinder and his little monkey on a nearby corner and questions her mother about them. Busily preparing Frances' angel costume for the Christmas pageant, her mother dismisses the questions without really thinking about the plight of the aging man and his little companion. Warmly dressed and wearing boots in the cold snow, Frances and her mother pass the man and his cup holding monkey on the way to the church. Frances stops and puts a nickel in the cup and invites the old man to join "everyone" for the Christmas play. Struck with sadness for the old man, Frances is unable to deliver her line from the stage until she sees the doors swing open to admit the organ grinder and his monkey. "Behold I bring you tidings of Great Joy!" Frances finds her voice in the perfection of the moment and "because the words felt so right, Frances said them again. 'Great Joy.'" The beautiful, luminous illustrations support the overall intent of the text with heartwarming visions of the possibilities of human interaction. In the last double spread we see the old man and his monkey joining the congregation for refreshments and companionship. I suspect that the beautiful faces are based on people beloved of the illustrator-if not, they reflect that spirit. I also suspect that the old man and his monkey will have a warm place to spend the night from that shining moment on. This book will give any reader a warm glow and a thoughtful look at what "sharing" the season is all about in reality. 2007, Candlewick Press, Ages 3 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2920-5

Happy New Year, Julie
Megan McDonald
   Part of the "American Girl" series, this edition tells the story of Julie, a San Francisco girl in the 1970's. Since Julie's friend, Ivy, is of Asian descent, readers will learn about aspects of Ivy's culture, such as foods, games, and calligraphy. The two girls share joys, fears-including getting lost together in Chinatown-and a strong friendship, but all is not rosy in Julie's life. Her parents are recently divorced, so Julie and her fifteen-year-old sister, Tracy, are adjusting to shuttling between their parents and celebrating two Christmases, neither of which is anything like the Christmases they remember. Adding to Julie's stress is the fact that Tracy is not adjusting well, focusing her anger on Dad, making Julie feel even more conflicted. When her entire family is invited to join Ivy's for Chinese New Year celebrations, Julie worries how her parents will handle the situation and if Tracy will even speak to Dad. In the end, Julie realizes that Chinese New Year is a new beginning and that, perhaps, her family can enjoy a new beginning on a new, albeit different, path. The story offers a gentle but direct approach to real family tension, showing desirable behavior from both Julie and her parents. As always, the historical notes at the end provide some interesting facts for readers about what life was like during the time in which the story is set, as well as further information about Chinese New Year celebrations. 2007, American Girl, Ages 8 to 10, $6.95. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-593-69291-9
ISBN: 978-1-593-69291-9

Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present
John Burningham
   On discovering Christmas Eve that he has forgotten to deliver one present, Santa Claus wearily makes his way in a variety of conveyances to the top of Roly Poly Mountain to deliver it. It's a wonderful subtle story as only John Burningham can do it -from the delivery of presents and putting the reindeer to bed after taking care of the sick one, to remembering that he had forgotten Harvey Slumfenburger's present. Santa was very tired but he put on his coat over his pajamas and started to walk through the cold winter night where Harvey lived on top of the mountain that was far away. He met a man with an airplane and they flew until the snow made them come to a halt. The pilot directed Santa to a man who had a jeep in his garage. They bounced and spun until they skidded and crashed through the fence into a tree. A boy on a motorbike took Santa as far as he could until they slid on the ice. He was then directed to a girl with skis and she took him along until the skis cracked and they tumbled into the snow. He was directed to a man with a rope that took him up the mountain until the rope broke. So, Santa climbed on until he arrived at the hut where Harvey Slumfenburger lived. He went down the chimney and put the present in the stocking. The he went home a variety of ways - read the book and look at the delightful pictures. You can see Burningham with a twinkle in his eye and those who love this kind of story will run right out and get the book. What a wonderful book for reading aloud and sharing the illustrations! 2007 (orig. 1993), Candlewick Press, Ages 3 to 6, $8.99. Reviewer: Naomi Butler (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3517-6

It's Christmas
Tina Burke
   Clean lines of text and illustration make this a good introduction to the preparations and symbols of the holiday. Happy, round-faced children go about making cookies, decorating the Christmas tree, singing in angel costumes, making a special gift, standing under the mistletoe, and visiting Santa. The carefully chosen words of the short text are just right for reading to toddlers. The ending certainly captures their feelings on Christmas Eve. Plenty of white space allows them to focus on the illustrations. Occasional touches of humor, such as the dog eating the strung popcorn and the typical picture of the little girl and the baby with Santa, will provide additional material for parents and their young children to discuss. This is a good addition to the holiday collection and for a toddler or young storytime program. 2007, Kane/Miller, Ages 2 to 5, $14.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-933605-44-9

Jingle Bells: My First Little Taggies Book
NA
Illustrated by Kaori Watanabe
   This soft, plush covered cloth book has ribbon loops sewn around its edges. The different textures of the ribbons will be welcomed for those early tactile experiences. The bright colors of the polar bear, penguin, and reindeer will appeal to tiny ones as will the embroidered and plushy depictions on each page. Inside the front cover a tiny rattle can be felt and heard. The text is just the first line of the popular winter song...perfect for babies. A note on the packaging says "Slip it inside a pillow case and it is machine washable and dryable (on low)." This is a nice feature for a book intended to be handled and "digested" by babies. Some might have wanted to have an actual "jingle bell" attached to the book; but, without one it is much safer and more suitable for the intended audience. 2007, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Newborn to 1 year, $12.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-01159-4
ISBN: 0-545-01159-0

Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
   Judy Moody made a T.P. list of what she wanted for Christmas. That is "a Totally Presents list" created on toilet paper, the only thing long enough to contain her whole list. Her younger brother, Stink, had a very short list. He wanted snow. When the new mailman, Jack Frost, tells Stink that he "can almost taste snow in the air," and delivers an anonymous package with mittens for the children, Stink is sure that his wish will come true. This is contrasted with Judy's class presentation: a song about Christmas in Hawaii -a far cry from the snow-filled traditional Christmas scenes. Peter Reynolds' full-page illustrations and McDonald's humorous quips and wordplay keep the story moving at a lively pace in this, the newest book in the series. Judy Moody's Christmas spirit and a little Christmas magic make this a delightful early chapter book for the season. 2007, Candlewick Press, Ages 7 to 9, $14.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3237-3
ISBN: 0-7636-3237-6

Librarian's Night Before Christmas
David Davis
Illustrated by Jim Harris
   With staff cuts and no money for books the librarian was shelving and repairing those she had. As she gazed out the window, what should she see but a red bookmobile cruising out of the sky. Her wishes had come true. Santa and his elves bring in stacks of new books. Santa stays and reads to the children. The elves repair the leaks and cracked walls and replace the frayed rugs. When it was time to go, "He loaded his crew and sang from the yard,/ 'The best gift of all is a library card!'/...Nick boomed from his book van, 'Do one more good deed. Have a real merry Christmas-teach someone to read!'" Not so much a picture book for children, this will find a home for its message with adults. Humorously illustrated, this oversized book will be just the thing for librarians to share with community groups to get them to support the library and reading initiatives. And yes, the librarian has her hair in a bun, but it seems perfect for her unruly red curls. With her arms full of children and her dedication to her profession, she is a fitting role model for this pleasant plea for better library funding. 2007, Pelican, Ages 9 to adult, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-58980-336-7

Librarian's Night Before Christmas
David Davis
Illustrated by Jim Harris
   Not only will this book be welcome in homes and schools everywhere, But it should find a place in each librarian's chair. The rhyming and rhythm in this take-off from Clement Moore's classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas" has just that much ring. David Davis, the author, spins a wonderful tale of a woefully stocked library with a dedicated librarian and their rescue by Santa and his elves. Although occasionally the cadence of the rhyme falls short of the classic inspiration, it is a delightful story with a modern twist. Woven cleverly into the story are references to library and literary terms every child should know. The author also adds an important message of giving in his holiday wish "have a real merry Christmas - teach someone to read!" The illustrations are delightful and wittily drawn, from Santa's green fedora to the bright red bookmobile, reminiscent of Mrs. Frizzle's bus of The Magic School Bus fame. This book belongs in everyone's stocking! 2007, Pelican Publishing Company, Ages 5 to 95, $15.95. Reviewer: Cathy Puett Miller (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-58980-336-7

The Light of Christmas
Dandi Daley Mackall
Illustrated by John Walker
   Walker's painterly illustrations are full of light and color. Done in a classic style which will undoubtedly remind parents and grandparents of Sunday School tracts from their childhood, the illustrations are by far the highlight of this book. The text is a series of tortured verses which conclude with a phrase including the theme of "light." The book begins in a tumultuous modern household with the father figure trying to string a tangled skein of Christmas lights. The reason for these lights traces back to the beginning, when the Lord brought forth light on the earth. The text traces the biblical story through the annunciation, birth of Jesus, Epiphany, Jesus' mission on earth, the Crucifixion and Easter. At the conclusion, we return to the modern family, putting together their traditional crèche and topping the tree with a star, remembering that "we still need the Light of Jesus." 2007, Concordia, Ages 3 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7586-1270-2
ISBN: 978-0-7586-1270-0

Little Rabbit's Christmas
Harry Horse
   Little Rabbit is back! The night before Christmas, he sees a red sled in the shop window. It is all he can think about that evening, that night, and the next morning. His other presents do not matter at all; he just wants his sled, so he is thrilled when he finds it waiting for him outside! Little Rabbit immediately heads out to play. He shows it off to his friends, but does not want to share. At first, he has a blast. Then, he has a crash. What a way for his Christmas day to end ... or is it? It is easy for young children to fall prey to "what I want" thinking, which focuses on getting and enjoying that special gift. Harry Horse pulls no punches; there are times in this story-such as when he is having his temper tantrum on Christmas morning or when he rejects the playtime overtures of his friends-that readers will find it difficult to like Little Rabbit very much at all, but Little Rabbit is really a realistic portrayal of our own baser instincts, and readers will thrill to see him learn from his mistakes and go on to have a suitably wonderful Christmas. Horse's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations aptly convey the cozy warmth of home, the action-adventure of sledding, and the light of the holiday. This is a book readers will come back to again and again. 2007, Peachtree, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-56145-419-8
ISBN: 1-56145-419-2

The Littlest Christmas Tree
R. A. Herman
Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers
   In a town, the woodland creatures are the furry residents that are busy preparing for the Christmas holiday. With only five more days left until Christmas, families are looking for their tree to buy and decorate. On the street in the town is the Christmas tree lot and among the many types of evergreen trees on the lot is the Littlest Tree. By using personification, the story examines the perspective of the Littlest Tree. The Littlest Tree reveals its feelings and thoughts as families arrive and seek the ideal Christmas tree for their home. When Christmas Eve arrives, many of the families are at home baking, wrapping, and decorating for the holiday. The lonely Littlest Tree still remains in the tree lot with fading hopes to be selected by a family. As the snow falls and the man begins to close up the tree lot, the Littlest Tree sadly wonders if it will even have a home for Christmas. What is the fate of the Littlest Tree? 2007, Scholastic Inc, Ages 4 to 7, $3.99. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-439-54007-0
ISBN: 0-439-54007-0

Making Spirits Bright
Susan Magsamen
   A hodgepodge of ideas and stories for Christmas, this book is bundled with a keepsake box. The box is loaded with all you need to create 4 wooden ornaments--glitter glue, paint, cording. The text reviews some "true facts" about Christmas, including a reminder that it isn't winter everywhere when Christmas is celebrated. Sample family traditions serve as prompts for recording your own. One section is meant to be copied to create an 8-page book of Christmas carols. In addition to the ornaments provided, ideas for additional ornaments and garlands are explained. Part of the "FamilyStories" series, this book aims to bring families together to enjoy the holiday without added stress. The text is illustrated with clear, pleasing graphics. 2007, Sterling, Ages 3 up, $17.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4027-4825-6
ISBN: 9 78-1-4027-4825-7

Merry Christmas: A Storybook Collection
   Three previously published books are brought together within these puffy covers: Once There Was a Christmas Tree by Jerry Smath (2005), Ten Timid Ghosts on a Christmas Night by Jennifer O'Connell (2002), and Merry Christmas, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt and illustrated by Cyd Moore (2002). On the cover, a blue-eyed, cherry-nosed Santa with a fuzzy-to-the-feel beard, hair and white fur on cap peers out at the reader. To its credit, each story has its own distinct theme. In Once There Was a Christmas Tree, reminiscent but not up to the quality of the wonderful out of print Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree, one large tree becomes four. Since the tree is too tall for the Bear family's house, the top of the tree is given to the Fox family who cuts the tree and gives half to Old Rabbit, who cuts his portion to share with the Mouse family. The story is a sweet reminder of the joy of giving inherent in Christmas. Ten Timid Ghosts on a Christmas Night are frightened by a stranger in black boots and a red cap, just as many young children are. A startled Santa tells them he is there to bring them presents. Part counting book, part rhyming Christmas story, finding the ghosts is part of the fun in this sequel to the popular Ten Timid Ghosts. In Merry Christmas, Stinky Face a little boy helps his mother decorate the house for Christmas and he begins to ask many "what if" questions. She responds to each with a practical answer, even when the question involves the arrival of a dinosaur. Humor and reassurance are combined in this lively interchange between child and parent. This three-in-one book is nicely packaged and nicely priced. 2007, Cartwheel Books/ Scholastic, Ages 3 to 8, $7.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-01341-3
ISBN: 0-545-01341-0

Merry Navidad! Villancicos en espanol e ingles Christmas Carols in Spanish and English
Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy
English version by Rosalma Zubizarreta
Illustrated by Vivi Escriva
   Truly a cooperative effort on the parts of the two original authors, the translator and the illustrator-the whole is a wonderful product of the parts. Hispanic Christmas carols are rendered with rich vocabulary in both languages and portrayed with soft watercolors that reflect the same rich approach with a gentle loving touch. The people's faces are simple but expressive and the clothing and backgrounds give a real flavor of the heritage of the people depicted. The animals frolic and cavort across the pages or embellish the margins adding another layer of depth to the visual enjoyment this book brings to life. There is an excellent introduction which gives a history of the development and spread of the Hispanic Christmas songs called villancicos. The book is divided into sections covering the time from December 16 to January 6 with notes along the way to help readers understand some of the back ground and history of the particular songs. The English translations are adeptly handled and often have an added dimension when compared to the original Spanish versions, which seems quite in keeping with the changes and variations of the villancicos as the repertoire has continued to grow and expand. Many of the songs have a gentle humor and an extremely personal relationship with both Mary and the Baby Jesus-at times there is a sense of playfulness that borders on the kind of teasing that goes on in close families. Selections include: Open Wide the Door, The Three Wise Kings, This Child Is Sleepy, On a Long-Eared Donkey, Come, Shepherds, Come and many others. The musical notations are included for six of the songs. I am especially delighted with how the illustrations seem to gather both the Spanish and English versions into one whole expression of praise and love. The pictures surround the text and often show two aspects of the same setting. Most of the double page spreads only show one scene that supports either language in both scope and intent. There is an abundance of love in this beautiful collection that should become a mainstay for family celebrations centering on Christmas, la Navidad. I will be adding this to my collection of Christmas books, families and libraries should do likewise. 2007, Rayo/HarperCollins, All Ages, $16.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-058434-3
ISBN: 978-0-06-058434-4
ISBN: 0-06-058435-1
ISBN: 978-0-06-058434-1

Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve
Janet Morgan Stoeke
   The charming Minerva Louise returns in this welcome addition to Stoeke's series about the slightly mixed-up hen. Readers who are already acquainted with the fabled fowl will relish this look at her encounter with "The farmer in the red hat..." This fellow fell down the chimney after putting a vehicle pulled by "goats" with fancy horn on the roof of "her" farmer's house. Minerva Louise always identifies new things in terms of things already familiar to her-goats she knows. She always views the world with an eye to "hennish" activities-almost everything looks like a good spot for a nest to her little black dot eyes. She follows the new farmer down into the "nest" and discovers that a tree has found its way into the living room. Adults will adore the next line, even if little ones do not "get" it: "It must have come in out of the cold." She assumes that the angel on top of the tree is a pretty white hen. She also assumes that said hen has laid all of the colorful eggs that are decorating the indoor tree. She does try to protect her farmer's socks: "Now take your stuff out of their socks!" as well as telling him not to eat the farmer's "breakfast" (those cookies would make an unusual breakfast treat). And then...the farmer in the red hat unpacks one more box and offers it to Minerva Louise. She was "...so thrilled. She just loved presents." Of course, she immediately removes the hat and scarf from the gift box and settles into the tissue paper-ah, another perfect nest! Stoeke's uncluttered illustrations convey all of Minerva Louise's feelings as she experiences each new facet of this adorable look at Santa's visit to "her" farmer's house, oops excuse me, I meant nest. I can hardly wait to share this with Minerva Louise's fans in my own family (even though they are grown-ups they still love this particular hen)! 2007, Dutton Children's Books/Penguin, Ages 3 to 6, $15.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-525-47857-7

Miss Wire's Christmas Surprise
Ian Whybrow
   This book flouts the typical conventions and political correctness by celebrating the "Unwanted Toys", toys perceived to be dangerous for children to play with today. It also celebrates the idea of renewed childhood for older people. When people enter the later stages in life, this book believes that they should find their inner child, possibly with the help of BB guns, electric trains and pocketknives. After all, Christmas and toys are for children of all ages! The book takes a gently mocking tone to the overly safety conscious, with lines like "the tin planes said, 'Small children will cut their hands on us!' The toy soldiers said 'Little boys will put us in their mouths!'". Some parents and caregivers may be riled by the concept; but the book is suggesting that adults should play with the "dangerous" toys of their childhood, rather than espousing age inappropriate toys for today's generation of children. As the author states at the back of the book: "I really like the idea of old people playing with toys that are too dangerous for small children. We all need toys, no matter what age we are!" The writing and illustrations of this book are charming, and this title is recommended for purchase for public libraries and school media centers. 2007, Kingfisher, Ages 4 to 8, $3.95. Reviewer: Meagan Albright (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-75346-136-6
ISBN: 978-0-7534-6136-5

Mortimer's Christmas Manger
Karma Wilson
Illustrated by Jane Chapman
   This endearing look at the Christmas story from the viewpoint of a mouse has a nostalgic feeling in both the text and the charming illustrations, which are direct and uncluttered. Much to his delight Mortimer, the mouse, discovers that a large decorated tree has been set up in the house in which he resides in a cramped, cold, creepy "dark hole under the stairs." He also discovers that there is a "perfect house" for him set up on a table near the tree. The problem is that it is filled with little statues of a woman, some men, and a tiny baby. After evicting all of the statues from the house, Mortimer settles into "the bed of straw" for a warm, cozy nap. He spends his day scuttling about the house for bits of fruitcake and other delectable things to eat. When he returns to his house, he finds that the statues have been carefully replaced in their original positions; so with great effort he hauls them out again-even the baby. One evening the family of the house gathers in the living room and the father tells the story of the Christ Child and the Manger in which he lay on Christmas Day. Mortimer comes to know that the baby was "...not just any statue. You are a statue of Jesus." With a sniffle and a wiped tear for the family that had been turned away from the Inn, Mortimer assured the statues that "I know where there is room." After carefully tucking the infant Jesus back into the warm straw, Mortimer feels that there is no longer a place for him and innocently cries out to Jesus for a "home" for himself. On the next page we see Mortimer merrily peeping from the window of a gingerbread house. "You've made room for me, too." The concrete application of religious teachings will be relevant to youngsters with out seeming too heavy handed. Mortimer himself is irresistible and adults will have the chance to discuss making room for all sorts of people "at the Inn." This is a charming addition to the body of Christmas literature. 2007 (orig.text 2005), McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster, Ages 3 to 8, $?? (Children's Literature). Reviewer: Sheilah Egan
ISBN: ??

My Penguin Osbert
Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Illustrated by H. B. Lewis
   Tired of not getting exactly what he wants from Santa Claus, a little boy sends very specific instructions for a pet penguin. Of course, we must be careful what we wish for, since that wish just might come true. At first he is delighted with Osbert, his penguin. As the days pass, however, he realizes how difficult this gift is. He has to go out in bitterly cold weather, take cold baths, and eat cold creamed herring for breakfast. Another letter to Santa soon sets things right. Osbert discovers he would rather live at the zoo. Next Christmas is still eleven months away, but it is none too soon for our little boy who already knows what he wants. Humor abounds in both the text and illustrations as our little hero does not learn his lesson. Light and enjoyable with the subtle message that Santa knows best what we should get. This boxed set includes a plush penguin wearing the name tag "Osbert" and a small version of the original book (63/4" X 8"). The plush animal "meets or exceeds" U.S. Manufacturing standards and is safe for little ones since the eyes are embroidered. This will make a sweet little Christmas gift. 2004, Candlewick Press, Ages 5 to 8, $18.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3683-8

My Very First Christmas
Lois Rock; Pictures by Alex Ayliffe
   Ten tales tell the real story of the Christmas holiday, as well as some of the traditions and customs that are associated with it. There is the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus, and also the tale of the wise men (including the fourth one who brings a most unusual gift). Others stories that may not be as familiar to American children are the ones about Little Brigid who helped Mary tend the newborn babe and was rewarded with a new cloak, Baboushka who delayed going to Bethlehem and ended up taking with her a basket of gifts that she left at each house along the way whenever she heard a child laughing. The story of Good King Wenceslas who brought happiness to his poor subjects, and the baker who made gingerbread cookies for his friends and neighbors round out the collection. The drawings are simple and have plenty of kid appeal. The closing pages contain a glossary of Christmas words. 2006, Good Books, $14.99. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-56148-531-4
ISBN: 978-1-56148-531-4

The Night Before Christmas
Clement C. Moore
Illustrations by Niroot Puttapipat
   Since Clement C. Moore first published his poem in 1823, the timeless tale of a magical visit from Saint Nick has captivated generations of children. In this stunning presentation, artist Niroot Puttapipat combines exquisite silhouettes with elaborate cut-paper pages to bring the wonder of the holidays to life. The clever opening spread features an exterior view of the elegant house, and with the turn of a small page readers gain a peek inside as though one had opened the structure like a doll house. In the next spread, Papa dashes to the window with open-mouthed surprise to confirm the identity of their late-night visitor, his excitement perfectly captured. Humorous details, such as the famed battling mice and nutcrackers from another traditional Christmas story, are often viewed through windows, giving readers a sense of anticipation and discovery. The final spread, a gloriously intricate pop-up silhouette of Saint Nick and his reindeer-pulled sleigh in flight, will elicit a gasp of delight from children of all ages, and the adults fortunate enough to share in the reading of this ingenious addition to the genre of paper art books. 2007, Candlewick Press, Ages 4 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Keri Collins (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3469-8

The Night Before Christmas
Clement C. Moore
Illustrations by Gyo Fujikawa
   This age-old classic is colorfully portrayed with soft, detailed illustrations. Both text and pictures promise to keep the reader or listener turning pages to learn more. Six young children in the tale are cherubic and fit well with the household setting. The scenes are complete with two dogs and two kittens and "even a mouse." Santa is seen as a round, cheerful little man who can't resist the opportunity to play with some of the toys he is delivering. Especially pleasing are the double spread end pages that feature Santa in the forest in the snow and the children and their pets helping him with the reindeer and riding in the sleigh. Wispy winter trees on those pages stand tall against a bluish-gray wintry sky. Many requests will be made to have this book read for the rhythmic flowing story and for the illustrations that hold something new to see with each read. This is sure to be a holiday favorite. 2007, Sterling Publishing, Ages 4 to 8, $9.95. Reviewer: Nancy Attebury (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4027-5065-6
ISBN: 1-4927-5065-X

The Night Before Christmas (Littlest Pet Shop)
D. Jakobs
Illustrated by Jim Talbot
   Readers who are familiar with the classic poem may be more than a little surprised to read this version, which replaces many of the old phrases and faces with ones from the Littlest Pet Shop! Good old St. Nick remains the same, of course, but even the reindeer are now flying pets! He shouts out, "Now, turtle! Now kitten! Now shih tzu and monkey! On, bluebird! Chinchilla! Iguana and bunny!" Other phrases are mixed up too; the visions of sugarplums are now visions of yummy food, such as a dish of grain or fish food! The illustrations are wildly colorful and close up and will keep even the youngest readers (or those who are not yet reading) interested. This book is part of the Littlest Pet Shop series and is a Level 2 book, which contains vocabulary and sentence length for beginning readers. Includes a page of stickers with many of the characters. Appropriate for the intended age group. 2007, Scholastic Inc, Ages 4 to 8, $3.99. Reviewer: Cindy Carolan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-439-91906-7
ISBN: 0-439-91906-1

The Nutcracker
Susan Jeffers
   Jeffers has chosen to retell only the ballet part of the original Nutcracker fairy tale, in a version for young children. On Christmas Eve at the party at their parents' home, Marie and Fritz Stahlbaum gladly greet Herr Drosselmeier, the toy-maker and Marie's godfather. Among th presents he brings are toy soldiers for Fritz and a wooden Nutcracker for Marie. Fritz breaks the Nutcracker, Marie tends it, Herr Drosselmeier casts "a bit of magic," and Marie finds herself attacked by an army of mice and defended by the soldiers commanded by the Nutcracker. After Marie saves him, the Nutcracker turns into a prince. They go to the Land of Sweets for a celebration. Years later there is the traditional happy ending. Jeffers visualizes a theatrical setting beginning on the front end-papers, where angels watch as horse-drawn carriages arrive at the party. As the story begins, we see scenes of the inside of the Stahlbaum mansion from busy basement kitchen to ballroom to empty bedrooms. The painted illustrations are detailed and naturalistic, almost too pretty for the undergirding magic. Even the mice, except for the King, are more cuddly than evil. The dance scenes are particularly joyous. In a note, Jeffers explains her reasons for her version of the story. 2007, HarperCollins Children's Books, Ages 4 to 8, $17.89. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-074386-7
ISBN: 978-0-06-074386-4
ISBN: 0-06-074387-5
ISBN: 978-0-06-074387-1

Olivia Helps with Christmas
Ian Falconer
   Ah, Olivia entertains us yet again! From the cover, showing Olivia with a cookie sheet of charred gingerbread men to the final scene, we know that this Christmas will be one like no other in the Pig Family's household. Olivia decorates the Christmas Eve dinner table with a tiny tree (readers will be aware that she has chopped off the top of the real Christmas tree); she prevents her father from building a blaze in the fireplace ("Daddy! What could you be thinking? Do you want to cook Santa?"); and spends lots of time with her siblings staring out the window watching for Santa's arrival. Falconer has filled the window with photographic images of a real out door scene. Olivia sets out a snack for Santa (which we know is eaten by the dog) and is hurried off to bed, where she cannot fall asleep. She checks out of her own window when she hears a noise and discovers a raccoon on the roof. Finally morning comes and there is snow on the ground, presents are under the tree, stockings are full, and the family is at breakfast. Of course, breakfast is ignored while Olivia, her brother, and the baby tear into their gifts-all of which are particularly appropriate and not too lavish. During all of the excitement, baby has learned to walk which pleases Mom and Dad greatly. Falconer is not known to cut short Olivia's activities, nor does he do so here. The story line continues with Olivia and her brother using their new skies and sled (respectively) and ending with the tired family gathering around the fire side for cocoa before bedtime. It is nice to see that Olivia has made a present for her parents (a gigantic self-portrait) and helps her brother build a snowpig in the yard-an excellent insight into the Pig family's "real life" and proof that Olivia thinks of others as well as herself. There are several double spreads that also fold out to reveal even more of Falconer's wonderfully creative combinations of lifelike objects juxtaposed with his spare but expressive drawings. Of course, the colors are red and green. This more detailed story of Olivia's antics has lots of visual jokes to be shared with readers and listeners. Fans will clamor for more. 2007, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 up, $18.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-0782-2
ISBN: 1-4169-0786-6

On Angel Wings
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
   Every Christmas, Grandpa gathers the children around the fire and tells an amazing story. Although our narrator loves to listen, he imagines that the story is just a fantasy. When Grandpa was a young shepherd watching over the flocks, he and his fellow shepherds are visited one night by the angel Gabriel. The angel brings astounding news of the birth of a king and bids the shepherds follow a star to find the baby. But someone must stay with the sheep, and Grandpa is left behind. Feeling lonely and disappointed, Grandpa stays with the sheep. To his amazement, the angel Gabriel returns for him and flies him to the manger where the young boy is allowed to see the baby Jesus. Suddenly, as Grandpa finishes his annual retelling of the story, angels appear before our narrator's eyes and his heart is touched by the power of the story. This gentle retelling of the nativity story will appeal to young readers because of its narrator's own young perspective. Through the eyes of a young boy, the story retains all of its magic while personalizing what it might have been like to be there. Quentin Blake's familiar whimsical illustrations add to the magic. 2006, Candlewick Press, Ages 5 up, $8.99. Reviewer: Leah Hanson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3466-7

One Snowy Night
M. Christina Butler
Illustrations by Tina Macnaughton
   A fuzzy red hat, a gift from Father Christmas to Little Hedgehog, falls from the winter sky onto the snow-covered ground to begin this gentle, charming picture book. After Little Hedgehog unwraps his present he puts on his hat, but in his attempts to make it fit over his prickles he stretches it. Though it's now too big for him, he wraps it back up, leaves it on Rabbit's doorstep, and trudges off toward home through the falling snow. When Rabbit tries the hat on, his ears get in the way and the hat again stretches. So Rabbit gives it to Badger. Badger is delighted, but discovers that he can't hear anything when the hat covers his ears. Finally, Badger gives the hat to Fox, who is quite happy with it once he's made two holes in it for his ears. The snow has stopped falling, and Fox walks along a small trail in the moonlight. When he realizes that there is something under the snow, he stops and digs till he finds the small hedgehog who is cold and still. Fox wraps the hedgehog in the warm woolen hat and takes him to Rabbit's house. Inside, Little Hedgehog wakes up briefly and then goes back to sleep in his new blanket while Rabbit, Fox, and Badger all wish him a Merry Christmas. The appealing illustrations contrast the chill of the winter landscape with the warm colors of the animals and the red hat. And in this board book, the hat is always soft to the touch, even on the book's cover. 2007 (orig. 2004), Good Books, Ages 2 to 6, $8.95. Reviewer: Judy DaPolito (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-56148-591-8

Oscar the Short-Legged Reindeer
Sandy Cereghino
   Oscar longs to be a part of Santa's reindeer team but his legs are too short for him to fly. One day, with the help of a friend, he discovers that by attaching wooden stakes to his legs he is able to do so. When Chester, the head reindeer trainer, tells Oscar that he is too short to fly, Oscar remains persistent. With specially made prosthetics, Oscar not only joins Santa's team on Christmas Eve, but he is selected to lead the pack. Upon his return, Oscar decides to turn in his special legs, return home and just be himself again. Just in case you miss the point of this story, the author states it over and over again. Chester, who has a prosthetic foot, hopes that Oscar will "find the courage to accept himself for who he was." Yet it is Chester who arranges for Oscar to meet with the doctors. When Oscar decides to turn in his new legs, Santa comments that "We went to a lot of work to make them for you." Oscar remains firm that he does not want them. Was the pain and hardship of the ride on Christmas Eve too much for Oscar? We are told that "Oscar found what he had been looking for. He had found himself." The text is too wordy and the theme too often repeated resulting in a bland telling. It seems to be a mixed message here. Can you only be true to yourself if you do not use medical or scientific help? If you achieve a goal once, should you give up after that and live on past glory? There does not seem to be convincing turnaround here. 2006, Inkwater Press, Ages 7 to 10, $24.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-59299-248-X
ISBN: 978-1-59299-248-5

Peiling and the Chicken-fried Christmas
Pauline Chen
   Fifth grader, Peiling, wished she could skip the first day of school after Christmas vacation. Everyone would be talking about their presents, and she did not like being different. With some gentle nudging from her Uncle Samson, Peiling asks her Taiwanese parents if they can celebrate Christmas this year. After a heated discussion, they agree. Peiling wants a perfect Christmas. She envisions a tree, relatives eating a turkey and singing Christmas carols together. Then her classmate Laura would no longer be able to make comments about her Chinese food and customs. The reality is far from her dreams, but there are other events that more than make up for it. Peiling gets a starring role in the class play. Her teacher, Ms. Rosenweig, makes a strong attempt to create a more inclusive, multicultural class project that requires Peiling and the creativity of her friend, Grace, to make it a success. Most importantly, Peiling learns that family customs and traditions are important. Chen has created a lively cast of believable characters. Her story of an immigrant child caught between her parents' upbringing and her life in the United States is thoughtfully told. This is a warm family story; a strong school and friendship story, and an enlightening immigrant story that should not be relegated to the "Christmas story shelf." It would be a good classroom read aloud for the beginning of fifth grade. 2007, Bloomsbury, Ages 9 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59990-122-0
ISBN: 1-59990-122-6

Preacher's Night before Christmas
Steven L. Layne
Illustrated by Carol Benioff
   A small mouse and a cat lead the reader through this Christmas romp. Using Clement Moore's "Night before Christmas" poem as a template, the author has created a behind-the-scenes look at church preparations for the annual Christmas program. I suspect that everyone will be able to identify with the difficulties that often beset even the most loving of congregations. The pastor is trying to juggle all of the situations while remembering the reason for the entire event in the first place. The infant cast as Baby Jesus is ill and the director of the play rejects all of the substitutes as unsuitable--the illustration of her is not very flattering as she looks quite strident and aggravated. The choir director wants the singers to wear traditional black robes, but they want to wear colorful costumes. The office copy machine is not working properly and the volunteers are disgusted with trying to print the evening's programs. And to top it all off, the secretary announces that the preacher needs to go to his office immediately to deal with a fellow claiming to be Santa Claus. After all of this unhappy build up, Santa prompts Pastor McDougall to read from the Bible in order to remind everyone that "this night tells a tale for the ages." Magically, Santa is also visiting the cast and choir and has reminded them that they have "lost sight of the reason we all should rejoice in this glorious season." Of course, everyone finds themselves filled with the Christmas spirit and their troubles are forgotten. Some of the rhyme scheme has to really stretch to make the poem work; but, this twist with Santa reminding the people to think of the birth of Jesus will be read aloud frequently. Children will love finding the cat and mouse on each page and determining that they are really playful friends. 2006, Pelican Publishing, $15.95. Ages all. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-58980-321-3
ISBN: 978-1-58980-321-3

The Red Scarf
Richard Mason
   It's Christmas in Arkansas, 1944, and all Richard wants is to buy a red scarf for Rosalie, the girl he wants to be his girlfriend. But with so little money to go around, even with his paper route Richard doesn't know how he's going to ever come up with enough to buy presents for everyone on his list, let alone how he'll manage to buy that expensive, $15 scarf. With a town full of characters, though, there's always something going on, and Richard knows about it all. He's determined that somehow he's going to come up with the money, whether from trapping rabbits or raccoons or from catching the local bandits who robbed the newsstand. Though the dialect is at times grating and hard to read, the end of the story shows a good heart and the effects of kindness. Children who enjoy stories of hunting and old-fashioned living will enjoy Richard's misadventures, while many adults will read the story with nostalgia for a bygone era. 2007, August House, Ages 8 to 12, $14.95. Reviewer: Kathleen Foucart (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-87483-850-3
ISBN: 0-87483-850-9

The Return of Light: A Christmas Tale
Dia Calhoun
   There is great excitement at Liefson's Christmas Tree Farm on Faith Mountain when the Christmas Deer arrives to select the trees that will be cut. It is always the six-year old trees but this year there is something different. Treewing, a five-year-old tree is selected, too. The Christmas Deer tells him, "You have a special destiny." At the Christmas tree lot, Treewing is certain that a happy family will select him and he will be beautifully decorated. As the days pass, however, he begins to lose hope. Calhoun brings together a group of people for whom the holidays hold sadness: a mother who has lost her son to war, a homeless boy whose father died in a car accident, and others. It would take a miracle to bring them together, and to bring light back to their lives. But that is exactly what happens when Treewing discovers his special destiny. This is a thought-provoking, well-paced story with memorable characters. Its message of peace and kindness is joyous, but never unduly sentimental. I recommend making it a tradition as an annual family read-aloud. 2007, Marshall Cavendish, Ages 9 to 12, $12.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5360-4
ISBN: 0-7614-5360-1

Rocky Mountain Night Before Christmas
Joe Gribnau
Illustrated by Salima Alikhan
   This story is a unique view of Christmastime in the Rocky Mountains in a day gone by. The author begins by substituting cattle for reindeer, and giving them new names. Catching Santa on his roof was the last thing the old cowpoke expected when he returned home one "cold winter's night" from his rides on the plains. Mistaking Santa for a cattle thief, the cowboy lassos the jolly old elf and pulls him just close enough to recognize him from his own childhood days. Before the old cowboy knows it, Santa and he are "sipping a nip" and sharing the warm fire. Will the cowboy let Santa go or hang him high as a thief and rustler? Although this unique approach has some appeal, the rhythm, meter and rhyme fall short the level in the original model for this tale (Clement Moore's classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas"). The illustrations, too, leave something to be desired. Seeing Santa illustrated in European garb in the midst of an American tale seems out of place and the details of the animals and man are not comparable to the high quality illustrations we see in many of today's picture books. 2007, Pelican Publishing, Ages 5 to 95, $15.95. Reviewer: Cathy Puett Miller (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 078-15890-317-6

Running the Dogs
Thomas Cochran
   This coming-of-age story is about a ten-year-old boy named Tal who has only one Christmas wish. Tal asks his daddy if he can run the hunting dogs by himself in the nearby woods. Tal's daddy will give him an answer when he returns home on Christmas Eve after working a two-week stint on an oil rig. Two days before Christmas, a rare snowstorm hits Tal's northern Louisiana town. Tal lets the beagles out of their pen that night and they wander off into the darkness. Tal's mama cautions him not to search in the woods but he disregards her warning, gets spooked, and runs back home. The next day, on Christmas Eve, two of the three dogs return home, and Tal learns that the treacherous road conditions have stranded his daddy. Tal goes to bed feeling sad, but he is relieved on Christmas morning when he discovers that his daddy and his favorite beagle are home. When the family opens their presents, Tal's daddy gives him his answer-insulated boots. Cochran's endearing story is sure to touch the heart of all who read it. It will inspire the reader to maintain a positive mindset, even if their situation appears bleak. Although this well-written story contains some predictable material, it remains a worthwhile read. This title is an excellent choice for any library shelf or middle reader's bedside table. 2007, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 8 to 12, $16.00. Reviewer: Mary Jo Edwards (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-374-36360-9
ISBN: 978-0-374-36360-4

Russell's Christmas Magic
Rob Scotton
   Russell, the sheep hero of Russell the Sheep and Russell and the Lost Treasure has a Christmas Eve adventure. He discovers to his dismay that Santa has crashed his sleigh beyond repair and has declared Christmas cancelled. But Russell remembers a rusty old car. He welds, hammers, saws, and produces from it a beautiful vehicle. Santa un-cancels Christmas and invites Russell along for the ride. It proves to be a magical ride to deliver presents to children all over the world. "In the blink of an eye" they are back in Frogsbottom Field, where Santa gives Russell the last present, an ornament shining with a bit of the Christmas spell. The simple story acquires the holiday glow from Scotton's humorous illustrations, particularly of Russell with his absurdly long, striped, pom-pom-topped hat. The opening scene of sleeping sheep, stiff legs pointed up, elongated faces and ping-pong-ball eyes, sets the stage for fun. Vignettes and double-page scenes add more characters, lots of action, and a "wondrous magnificent" red auto/sled. 2007, HarperCollins Children's Books, Ages 3 to 6, $17.89. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
   Russell, that very quirky sheep with the long, striped stocking cap, is back. This time, he encounters a stranded Santa Claus whose sleigh crash-landed. Santa announces that "Christmas is canceled." What's a wooly sheep to do? "An idea bounced around in Russell's hat and settled on his head." He grabbed his tool chest and transformed a rusty old car into a sleek red "thing of beauty, a work of genius." Santa hitched the reindeer up to the car, and uncanceled Christmas. And as if that were not enough, there is still more Christmas magic to come in this droll fantasy. Just looking at Russell's expressions is enough to make one giggle. Therefore, be forewarned: the text and the illustrations, which work together so well, will elicit hearty laughter. There are marvelous little touches, such as Russell wearing protective eyewear as he uses his saw, his frog friend helping to dig in the snow, and the reindeer hood ornament on the snazzy red car. This humorous visit to Frogsbottom Field, through the Northern Lights and all around the world is indeed Christmas magic for with it will come the sound of children laughing, and what is more magical than that? 2007, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7, $16.99, $17.89. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-059854-9
ISBN: 978-0-06-059854-9
ISBN: 0-06-059855-7
ISBN: 978-0-06-059855-7

Santa Claus Is On a Diet
Nancy Scott-Cameron
Illustrated by Craig Conlan
   This lesson on maintaining a proper weight through diet and exercise is disguised as a Christmas story. Who knows? For some children this just might strike the right chord, but I suspect for most that they will be less than impressed with this book. Mrs. Claus proclaims that Santa is too fat and must go on a diet. He agrees, and the elves and reindeer are there to cheer him on and eat his sweets. With lots of exercise and nutritional food, Santa gets down to a healthy weight. He is ready for his Christmas Eve ride, only to discover that his reindeer are too fat to pull his sled, and the elves too fat to load the toys. Mrs. Claus has the answer, however. She suggests they use the booster rockets. Santa delivers the toys, and the reindeer and elves get back into shape for the next year. The joke is on the elves and reindeer, and it will elicit a little chuckle from the reader. Santa is lively and expressive in these cartoon-style illustrations. Is the message here to do away with Christmas cookies and sweets? Are we supposed to feel guilty about eating a Christmas treat? Forget the tradition of leaving cookies for Santa. The newly-svelte fella wants carrots. 2007, Mogzilla, Ages 5 to 8, $19.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-9546576-9-7
ISBN: 0-9546576-9-1

Santa's Eleven Months Off
Mike Reiss
Illustrated by Michael G. Montgomery
   What does Santa do when it isn't Christmas? This book lays out Santa's month-by-month itinerary. December, of course, is spent making toys. As the verse tells us, "All that month, he worked his rear off. Then he took the whole next year off!" In January, Santa tried a diet and going to the gym, but it wasn't for him. In March, he can be seen strolling in a disguise that isn't too successful. In other months, Santa tries sushi in California, Sumo wrestling in Japan, and presides over the Summer Reindeer Games. (Rudolph wins, by the way.) In September, like all good boys and girls, Santa returns to school for coursework such as Advanced Toy Making. For Halloween, he dresses as the Easter Bunny. By November, he's back at home, snoozing away to save up energy for the big month. Colorful, detailed illustrations can't disguise Santa's rosy cheeks and cherry red nose, no matter how he tries to hide. The author is a writer for "The Simpsons," and his irreverent style extends to this book but without enough cleverness to make this an instant classic. 2007, Peachtree, Ages 6 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-56145-421-4
ISBN: 978-156145-421-1

Santa's Favorite Story: Santa Tells the Story of the First Christmas
Hisako Aoki
Ivan Gantschev
   While walking through the forest one December day, fox discovers Santa Claus resting next to a tree. Concerned that Santa had come early this year, fox runs to tell all the animals of the forest the news. A surprised Santa awakens to discover that he is surrounded by animals. He tells them he isn't there to deliver presents, he is just out for a hike to get in shape for Christmas Eve. He then tells the animals, "Christmas hasn't got anything to do with me. Sit down and I'll tell you all the story of the first Christmas." The animals accompany Santa back to his house and help him get ready for his big ride. There are presents for everyone, but Santa is the happiest because he remembered that the "best present ever is Christmas itself." This European import is just as delightful as it was when it was first published twenty-five years ago. The soft earth tones of the palette complement the gentle text. The friendly-faced Santa and the animals of the forest create a warm invitation into this holiday book. Originally published by Picture Book Studio, and also previously published as an Aladdin paperback. 2007 (orig. 1982), Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $9.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5029-5
ISBN: 1-4169-5029-X

The Santa Secret
Carol Wallace
Illustrated by Steve Björkman
   It's getting close to Christmas, and Mama and Daddy are starting to worry about picking out just the right present for Kari. Whenever they ask what she wants, her answer is "Santa knows." Her brothers, Kevin and Mike, warn her that if she isn't specific she might end up with socks or underwear. Even the family bloodhound, D.B., worries. The parents plan a trip to visit Santa at the mall, hopeful that proximity to the jolly one himself will pry the information out of Kari. Alas, Kari keeps it a secret between her and Santa. Finally the big day arrives, and Kari's unwavering trust in Santa is rewarded. A "Holiday House Reader," this book has 4 short chapters just right for beginning readers. Colorful watercolor and ink illustrations adorn the pages and help inform the text. 2007, Holiday House, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95 and $4.95. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8234-2022-1
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2126-8
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2022-3

The Secret Fairy Christmas
Penny Dann
   It is Christmas Eve and the fairies are busy decorating and cooking for the holiday. There is a mystery afoot as one of the fairies cannot find the fairy-doll for the top of the tree. Nettle is upset because her "old dress is so plain." That problem is solved when two of the fairies give her "their gorgeous gift" which is "magic shimmery glimmer" for her cheeks, which makes Nettle "feel fabulous." The missing fairy-doll is also found. The WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD is on the back of the book and advises people that this is not for children under the age of 3. There are tiny stick-on earrings, body glitter powder and other small items intended for use by the child. The puffy pink cover is designed to look like a journal, complete with a Velcro enclosure. There is a paper advent calendar, and a paper fairy-doll, too, as well as various pop-ups throughout. The pages are overly crowded and busy. This is marketed to the parents who want to indulge their daughters who are in the pink fairy and princess stage. There is no character growth and no development of a storyline. It certainly encourages the materialistic side of Christmas. 2007, Little Simon/ Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-4905-3
ISBN: 1-4169-4905-4

Secret Santa
Sabrina James
   Life at North Ridge High School was confusing enough before Principal Hicks made his big announcement. Noelle and Lily are comparing notes over Charlie, who may or may not even know Noelle exists. Everyone knows Amber exists, but no one knows what she will do next. How does she maintain such a hold on Shawna? And why has she adopted Celia as her new friend? Then there's Froggy, and Ryan, and Connor, and Charlie-all of whom have a way of shifting the balance when they enter the room. And now all the students are participating in a Secret Santa with the hopes that the games and promise of mistletoe will make their wishes come true. Froggy is convinced this will be the perfect way to Celia's heart-if only she didn't think the gifts were from Jake. Noelle has her own theories about her Secret Santa as well. But what will happen at the Christmas dance when the truth is revealed? The writing is light and the plot fairly predictable, but the book is likely to appeal to teen girls who enjoy a romantic read. 2007, Point/Scholastic Inc, Ages 13 up, $6.99. Reviewer: Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-439-02695-6
ISBN: 0-439-02695-4

Sharing Christmas
Kate Westerlund
Pictures by Eve Tharlet
   Clara, a young deer, is warned by her mother that this Christmas may not have the surprises she loves; there may not even be enough to eat. Still, she wishes on a star for Christmas surprises. When she follows the mysterious sound of bells, she is joined by her animal and bird friends. On their way, they collect berries, nuts, and seeds, and decide to share them for a Christmas celebration. Arriving at the top of a hill they find a tree covered with food. The bells are on the bridle of a donkey, who tells them that concerned local children have collected the food for them. This makes their celebration "the best," for, "Sharing is giving, and giving is what Christmas is all about!" Tharlet's double-page watercolors show a snowy landscape with the two deer on a distant hill on the front end-papers; the back landscape has humans and the town. The scenes inside have naturalistic settings and characters, but the warm covers on Clara's ears remind us that this is a kind of fairy tale. A striking cut-out reveals the celebrating animals as seen through the trees by the children. 2007, a minedition book/Penguin Young Readers Group, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-698-40074-0

The Sights Before Christmas
Beni Malone and Marian Frances White
Illustrations by Darka Erdelji
   In this unusual and fantastical Christmas story, Barnaby Doyle is waiting anxiously for Christmas morning. Exuberant Barnaby loves everything about Christmas. He sends his Christmas list up his very own fireplace so the elves can catch the ashes and take them to the North Pole. He is so excited that when he falls asleep, Father Christmas and a troupe of mummers arrive in his dream and present their show, complete with the Turkish Knight and a bumbling Sir George. This kooky cast of characters is followed by Evergreen the Elf who leaves gifts and puts up Barnaby's Christmas tree. Barnaby's manic excitement is echoed in the swirling wildly colorful illustrations. Deep rich blues and reds with touches of gray and lavender provide a dreamlike fantasy world. The dark backgrounds evoke the cold, snowy north of the authors' Newfoundland home. Finally, the dream world changes to dramatic green as the Christmas elf delivers presents as Barnaby sleeps. Barnaby's own little look-alike elf doll provides humor. While the rhyming text is sometimes a bit rough, the overall effect is a delightfully enchanting night-before-Christmas experience. 2005, Tuckamore Books/Creative Book Publishing, Ages 4 to 7, $8.95. Reviewer: Quinby Frank (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-894294-94-7
ISBN: 978-1-894294-94-2

Silent Night
NA
   This die cut board book is shaped like the thatched stable in which we see Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus surrounded by adoring animals under a star lit sky. The star is trailed by a banner of light in which the title is written. The text of the popular song is distributed through the pages as we see the approach of the Wise Men (Magi) and their arrival with some cute, little toddler-like angels. This will make a sweet gift for a baby or toddler to introduce the basic concept of the Nativity. 2007, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Ages 3 mo to 2 years, $5.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-545-00067-3
ISBN: 0-545-00067-X

Sing Glory, Glory! Jesus is Born
Gail Pawlitz
Art by Sehee Jung
   The text of this board book is meant to be sung to the familiar tune of "Jesus Loves Me". The verse appears on the left-hand side, overlaid on a one-color woodblock print of Christmas trees and decorations. The right-hand side contains the refrain, "Sing glory, glory! God's Son has come to us." The text on this side appears on the base of a musical snow globe; the scene depicted inside the snow globe begins with the manger scene, through the shepherds' visit to Jesus' adult ministry. The book is shaped like the snow globe but is still easily handled. Read aloud or sung, the text is a bit awkward, but with a little effort it is a painless way to relate the Christmas story to the youngest family members. 2007, Concordia, Ages 18 months to 3, $6.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7586-1310-5
ISBN: 978-0-7586-1310-3

Small Camel Follows the Star
Rachel W.N. Brown
Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri
   When a new star appears in the sky, Balthazar asks his newest camel to carry a special bundle on his back. He then joins his two friends, Melchior and Gaspar, and they begin a long and difficult crossing of the desert in search of a new baby king. Along the way Small Camel wonders about this baby, whose birth prompted his master to travel so many miles, and asks his mother when they will see the palace. He is quite surprised, then, when the star leads them instead to a very humble dwelling place. Brown's retelling of this traditional tale is cute but lacks depth. The main characters of Small Camel, his mother, and Balthazar are two-dimensional at best, and the only conflict in the story is Small Camel's sore feet. A historic journey through the wilderness is reduced to clichéd complaints of "Are we there yet?" from Small Camel. Ferri's watercolor illustrations are pleasant to look at, with their soft lines and muted colors, but like the text, offer little in the way of insight and complexity. The result is yet another sweet but rather uninspiring Christmas tale. 2007, Albert Whitman & Company, Ages 3 to 6, $16.95. Reviewer: Heather Christensen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8075-7453-9

A Song in Bethlehem
Marni McGee
Illustrated by Jason Cockcroft
   Hoping to see the three men "as rich as kings" Naomi, a beggar girl, goes to a stable near the inn at the crossroads. She is disappointed that the kings have gone. She sees a pile of gold coins and reaches out to take one. Before she can run away, a bearded man catches her. Realizing she is a hungry child he offers her some soup and then leads her over to meet the new baby. Her encounter causes a change inside her. The man gives her a flute and says the baby would want her to have it. From that time on, Naomi's life was changed. This is a strongly symbolic story. Naomi is converted from a thief to an upstanding individual. In true Christian compassion, the bearded man sees to her physical needs (her hunger) and then introduces her to Christ who causes a life transformation. The realistic paintings, done in acrylics on watercolor paper, work well with the story. Especially touching are the pictures of Naomi kissing the baby and the last page where her face is full of hope and joy. There are not many Christmas books that feature Joseph. This one is a particularly poignant tale. 2007, Alfred A Knopf, Ages 5 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-83447-9
ISBN: 978-0-375-93447-6

A Star for Christmas
Trisha Romance
   A seasoned carpenter who had made houses for many of the townsfolk, begins to build a home for himself in the woods. As summer turns to fall, however, he realizes it will be all but impossible for him to finish by Christmas. With the help of the villagers, the house is completed. During this time the carpenter has been working on a special Christmas surprise which he shows them on Christmas Eve. He leads the way into the woods where he had placed a hand carved and hand painted nativity. "Those gathered were filled with 'exceeding great joy.'" The watercolor illustrations draw heavily on the Nordic tradition, from the appearance of the little orphaned reindeer to the traditional style clothing worn by the children and the carpenter. Blues and whites convey the cold of the snowy woods and contrast with the warm golds and reds of the indoor scenes where the people are gathered together in the newly constructed cozy home. There is an old-fashioned look and feel to this timeless, warm, and tender story. It is just right for a family read aloud or for a church Advent program. 2007, Tundra Books, Ages 4 to 9, $21.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
   This old fashioned folk tale in a Nordic tradition tells the story of a local woodsman and his pet reindeer, Little Star. The woodsman, noted for his crafting of local homes, decides to build his own home in the woods to be ready for Christmas, but the task is more than he can manage alone. The villagers arrive to help the woodsman complete his home, and he promises them a Christmas surprise in return for their kindness. On Christmas eve, the woodsman prepares dinner for the kind villagers and afterwards, leads them into the woods to reveal his surprise-a carved wooden crèche with Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. There's an additional surprise for the children. The traditional illustrations and storyline are perfect for a bedtime read during the Christmas season. 2007, Tundra Books, Ages 5 to 8, $21.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-88776-836-1

A Star So Bright: A Christmas Tale
M. Christina Butler
Illustrated by Caroline Pedler
   This Christmas book is full of visual bells and whistles as a die-cuts of a foil star get increasingly larger on each page, until it literally twinkles as the last page is turned. Very young children are likely to be attracted by this feature as well as by the illustrations are done in lush nighttime colors. In many ways, this book is likely to be a comfortable choice for only vaguely religious families, as the text soft-pedals any explicit religious message in its retelling of the first Christmas. The only human to appear is the child in the manger on the last page. A rhyming quatrain is used to express the wonder of the star felt by the brown bear family on the cover to the fox, hare, and deer, owls, geese and finally lambs who actually approach the infant. Originally issued in England, the book has made it this year to the States and once the season is past will probably find a home in bookstores dealing with remainders. 2007, Good Book, Ages 3 to 7, $14.95. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-5648-536-9

Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow
Holly Hobbie
   This is described as the last in the "Toot and Puddle" series that has been quietly winning hearts for the last ten years. It would be a pity to have no more gentle tales of how the two pigs, along with their pal Opal, negotiate what it means to be a good friend. In this case, Christmas is approaching and each tries to figure out what is the best possible present for the best of all possible friends, particularly when, as the text says so well, they "know each other inside out." The solution comes after a glorious skiing expedition, the kind of day that make them both wish they "could take this morning and put it in my pocket and keep it forever." Each of the two ends up making something that uses their individual talents but might help the other get their wish. This book, like the others in the series, can stimulate wonderful conversation at home or in the classroom about what is at the heart of the matter of gift-giving and friendship. 2007, Little Brown, Ages 3 to 7, $16.99. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-316-16686-7
ISBN: 0-316-16686-3

The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Piñata for the Piñon Tree
Philemon Sturges
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
   Welcome to ReeDerville (population 43) where Badger's amigos bring special gifts on each of the twelve days of Christmas, such as ten kachina leapin', nine cowboys yodelin', and eight coyotes yowlin'. Wolff's illustrations take us from a close-up of the friends setting up the Christmas tree to views farther away so we can see the party as it forms. There are two parallel storylines in the illustrations: the friends bringing the gifts and badger making Bizcochitos, the state cookie "found in every New Mexican home at Christmastime." There is certainly lots of joy, fun and laughter going on here with a strong Southwest accent. The recipe for Bizcochitos is included at the end of the book. Get the kids singing the song and baking the cookies. With so much to see in the illustrations you can introduce them to some of the holiday traditions of New Mexico in a way they will long remember. 2007, Little Brown and Company, Ages 3 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-316-82323-4
ISBN: 0-316-82323-6

Under the Kissletoe: Christmas Poems
J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrations by Rob Shepperson
   Sixteen poems offer reflections on the Christmas season. Most are deftly rhymed, and only a few are more lyrical or serious. Lewis plays not only with words, but also with form and content. His subjects range from Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and two of his reindeer to a "brown king" who came to give a gift to a "small King In a small stable," and a winter night "When Moon is pinned to Sky." Humorous ink and watercolor illustrations accompany the playful language and comedic episodes. Santa digs a path through the fresh snow to his mailbox. Mrs. Claus makes a batch of lively gingerbread men. Santa enjoys a dip in the ocean. The characters are almost cartoons in settings that spare unnecessary details while adding visual to the verbal play. 2007, WordSong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 5 to 9, $16.95. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59078-438-9

A Very Merry Christmas
Geoffrey Hayes
   Bella, the youngest mouse in her loving family, has lots of questions about Christmas and Santa. As Bella helps her Papa, Granny, and Mama to mail cards, make cookies, and decorate the Christmas tree, she is curious to know when Christmas is coming and when Santa will be on his way. Very young children will relate to this story and enjoy the excitement of the bright illustrations, brimming with Christmas wreaths, snowmen, and trees strung with tinsel. On the final page of this hard page small book, there is a tab for children to pull down so that they can pop out a picture of Santa's sleigh and his team of reindeer flying through the night sky outside of little Bella's bedroom window. This small sturdy book will be a holiday favorite for the youngest readers and it is a book that they will enjoying looking at over and over again because of the warm, detailed illustrations that make Bella and her mouse family so appealing. 2007, HarperFestival/HarperCollins, Ages 2 to 5, $5.99. Reviewer: Susan Borges (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 978-0-06-1227578

The Visit of the Wise Men
Martha Jander
Illustrated by Ling Wang
   The illustrations are rendered in rich hues, befitting the opulence of the Wise Men. The flyleaf is a rich, cardinal red marbled pattern, which is repeated on some of the text pages. The Wise Men are three distinct personalities, depicted in fine detail. The Madonna and child are reminiscent of Italian grand masters. In contrast, the villagers who come to hear Jesus preach are drawn in a more cartoonish manner, out of keeping with the finely detailed renderings of Herod's court on previous pages. The text is rhymed but unobtrusive, except when describing Herod as "the meanest man around." True, perhaps, but not as poetically stated as other portions of the text. 2007 (orig. 1988), Concordia, Ages 4 to 9, $14.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7586-1345-8
ISBN: 978-0-7586-1345-5

We Three Kings
Illustrated by Gennady Spirin
   Three distinct kings follow a "star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauty bright" and find themselves convening in a stable to offer their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The words to "We Three Kings," a Christmas carol written by John H. Hopkins, Jr. in 1857, have been lushly illustrated in a manner that highlights the refrain and clarifies the text as each of the magi presents his gift to the newborn King. Accompanying the text of the refrain is an illustration in which a choir of angels surrounds the bright star shining in the sky. Below, we see the three wise men coming from three different locations. As the refrain repeats, so does this illustration. The rich tapestry fabric of the trumpeting angels and the faces of the angelic choir are reminiscent of 19th century European art. Each wise man arrives on a different mode of transportation: one is by elephant, one is by horse and one is by camel. This not only makes each distinct but makes the reader see that each discovered the star on his own. The words and musical arrangement are in the back of the book. This is, indeed, a lovely Christmas book to share and to sing. 2007, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Ages 4 and up, $16.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
   The five verses of the traditional carol are the only text, offering Spirin the opportunity to illustrate across double pages. Each verse and its double page is followed by the repeated chorus and its illustration of angels. With watercolors and colored pencils, the artist creates finely detailed, naturalistic landscapes and ornate costumes suggesting those in Renaissance paintings. An exotic caravan with horses, camels, and elephants winds its way across the jacket/cover and around the title page. Each king has his double page as we are led to the mother and child in a stylized manger with six small angels overhead. The music for the carol and the verses appear at the end, but there are no notes on the background. A rich addition to the holiday. 2007, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, Ages 6 to Adult, $16.99. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-82114-1
ISBN: 0-689-82114-X

What Cats Want for Christmas
Kandy Radzinski
   Fourteen exquisitely rendered cats present their Christmas wish lists to Santa. Each note (unfortunately) rhymes, and while some of the rhymes are natural and unforced ("I would like a big silver dish filled with little silver fish"), others serve as an object lesson for why so many children's book editors refuse to look at rhyming picture book texts ("I think I'd look better with a curly perm to cover the effects of ringworm"). Many of the notes highlight the bloodthirstiness of cats (their lust for birds or fish) and their hatred of dogs (though it is doubtful that young readers will recognize the words "Pomeranian" and "Pekinese"). While the final note to Santa ("I'm tired of being all alone. Can you find someone to love me and give me a home?") provides a suitably heartwarming conclusion to the collection, the overall tone of the "gimme" notes is undeniably unpleasant. But, in compensation, Radzinksi's art is a visual feast. Each page has gorgeous Jan-Brett-style borders, festooned with whimsical cat gingerbread cookies, cat snowmen, and ribbons and garlands galore. Every hair and whisker of the preening felines is meticulously depicted. Best is the title page, which features a gingerbread mouse with one foot nibbled off. Overall, the combination of weak text and sumptuous art is likely to appeal more to adult cat fanciers than to children seeking a satisfying holiday read-aloud. 2007, Sleeping Bear, All Ages, $16.95. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-58536-340-5
ISBN: 978-1-58536-340-7

What Happened to Merry Christmas?
Robert C. Baker
Art by Dave Hill
   Tackling a contemporary theme, this book answers a child's confusion when the annual "Christmas" party becomes a "holiday" party instead. Rather than becoming a screed for or against political correctness in today's public schools, the text reminds us that the word "holiday" comes from "holy day," and that all of the season's trappings and symbols point us back to Jesus. Sam's mother is very wise, and helps him see Christmas in the snowflakes he made at school, the tree and its decorations, even the presents. Appropriate, brief Bible verses are sprinkled through the text. The illustrations appear to be watercolor and ink, but the flyleaf indicates that the artist, Dave Hill, creates most of his work digitally. Sam's town is snowbound for the season, and he is appropriately rosy-cheeked and wide-eyed. 2007, Concordia, Ages 5 to 10, $14.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7586-1346-6
ISBN: 978-0-7586-1346-2

Where, Oh Where, Is Santa Claus?
Lisa Wheeler
Illustrations by Ivan Bates
   In this story in rhyme, it's Christmas Eve and Santa is missing. An assortment of animals begin searching for him?the reindeer, bunnies, young seals, foxes, and polar bear cubs. Each of the animals makes different sounds as they search. The reindeer begin with "Clip?clop, clip?clop, two?by?two, Santa! Santa! Where are you?" Soon they find giant paw prints that turn out to be Santa's snowshoes. They find Santa stuck upside down in the snow, and they all help pull him out. Santa thanks his "polar paw" rescuers, checks his watch, and then "whooshes away" in his sleigh. It's a happy ending for a fun book loaded with lyrical words making special sounds that children will enjoy repeating out loud. Lovely illustrations in wax crayons and watercolor show lots of snow and cute animals in warm pastel colors. It's a great book for a young child to enjoy and learn new words and sounds at the same time. 2007, Harcourt, Ages 2 to 6, $16.00. Reviewer: Vicki Foote (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-15-216408-9

Who Will Help Santa This Year?
Jerry Pallotta
Illustrations by David Biedrzycki
   There is too much to do this year at the North Pole, and Santa needs some helpers. But how will he find just the right creatures to make those special gifts for good girls and boys. The dragons cooked the toys. The fairies left a glittery mess everywhere. Bigfoot couldn't even fit into the workshop. Mummies wrapped the toys before finishing them, and leprechauns kept chasing rainbows. Santa keeps trying, but gnomes, mermaids, and aliens just don't have what it takes. Magical creatures aren't quite right either. After the wizards come in, Santa ends up as a frog. Who will provide just the right touch to help Santa do his work? Lively text is sure to engage and amuse young listeners and readers. Biedrzycki's full color illustrations provide a lush vision of the North Pole and a sneak peek into Santa's surfing vacation after Christmas. A refreshing romp through the holidays. 2006, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8, $8.99. Reviewer: Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature).