Memoirs of an Elf by Devin Scillian

Spark Elf provides a first hand account of Santa's big night through his journal.  Trying to keep Santa on schedule, especially when there are cookies and dogs involved, is not easy.  When they finally arrive back home after all the deliveries, they discover they have brought along a stowaway, a dog named Tugboat. Together a plan must be put into action to get Tugboat home with his family.  In order to carry out the plan they must break some rules before Tugboat's family has a very unhappy Christmas.  

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

*Same author and illustrator team of Memoirs of a Goldfish (one of my favorites) and Memoirs of a Hamster.  

Santa Clauses: Short Poems from the North Pole by Bob Raczka

December has arrived and the activity level at the North Pole is picking up.  Each day Santa himself writes a short poem about his day and activities, offering outsiders a small glimpse into life at the North Pole during his busiest time of year.  Short, simple, and some quite amusing, can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Students could be challenged to write a poem themselves as someone else, perhaps even Santa.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

A Chick n Pug Christmas by Jennifer Sattler

Let me begin by saying, I have been known to sit alone cracking up at these books....these two crack me up!  Chick has learned about the holiday season and wants to share JOY with everyone around him.  Sometimes in his quest to share joy, it does not always work out how he intends.  Fun holiday book to share with all ages.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Turkey Claus by Wendi Silvano

 Thanksgiving has come and gone and Turkey has lived to tell about it.  Just when Turkey thinks he can relax he overhears dinner plans for Christmas.  How can Turkey escape becoming Christmas dinner?  Turkey decides that the only person that can help him is Santa Claus.  Turkey heads to the North Pole to meet with Santa and quickly learns that the elves will not let him see Santa.  He tries various disguises to get into see Santa, none of which tricks the elves.  Will Turkey ever get in to see Santa?  Will Santa be able to help?  Hilarious Christmas book that kids of all ages will enjoy!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Deck the Walls: A Wacky Christmas Carol by Erin Dealey

A new twist to the widely known Christmas carol, Deck the Halls.  When cousins are together to celebrate the Christmas holiday, all things can happen.  The kids provide a new spin on the celebration from mashed pototoes flying, snowmen made from tomatoes, sneaking cookies, and fun in the snow.  Kids will enjoy, but hopefully not attempt themselves, this new twist on the classic.  Can't wait to share this with thing 1 and 2 at home....thought I am hoping they do not get any ideas!!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves (adroable!)
 

The Birds of Bethlehem by Tomie dePaola

Yes, a little late.....but this one was a big hit, a somewhat surprising hit given that the choice of "literature" by the 4 1/2 year old these days seems to focus on Star Wars.  This is a very inventive look at the nativity story.  A group of birds gather to discuss a recent event in Bethlehem.  Each different color bird seems to have witnessed some different aspect of the same event.  Told without too much text, the reader quickly realizes what all the birds saw was the same event, the birth of Jesus.  This is definitely one of my favorites for the Christmas season that we will be purchasing before next Christmas season to add to our 25 days x 2 kids books of Christmas.

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves
Text:  5 Buckeye leaves

The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Companion to The Quiet Book and The Loud Book, Underwood's newest book The Christmas Quiet Book focuses on those quiet moments of the holiday season.

"Snow angel quiet.  Knocking with mittens quiet"

I love the choices she author has made and the illustrations always blows me a way!  Challenge students to create their own pages for The Quiet Book!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin and James Dean

Pete the Cat is back and ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas.  I will admit I was a little skeptical about another Pete the Cat book.  And I will also admit that it is probably my most FAVORITE Pete the Cat book!  I love it!  I can't wait to see my kids bopping and grooving to this one!  How does Pete end up standing in for Santa?  Santa is sick and  calls upon Pete to take over for him.  Using the reindeer to help pull his mini bus, Pete takes off on this very important adventure to make sure all the kiddos will be surprised with gifts Christmas morning.  A great fun book for all ages.  This one will be a new holiday favorite for many families!

To see the book trailer (and groove with Pete) click HERE!

Text:  5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Never too early to start thinking about the most wonderful time of the year....

The team of Jane Yolen and Mark Teague have been working again with the dinosaurs!  This time the dinosaurs are learning how to "act" at Christmas!  As with the other books, the dinosaurs are seen doing all the things they should NOT do....and then correct their behavior!

"Does he pick out the best gifts so he will have more?

No...a dinosaur doesn't.  He carols with care."

Kids will love the newest dinosaur book(s) and is a great springboard for discussing appropriate behavior with kids!

Also look for the other new book from this team (our library did not have it in):  How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?

Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came To Be by John Harris

Can't wait to read this to my students.....in 10 months. It is the Summer of John Lord Pierpont was living in Savannah, Georgia, working as a choir director for a Unitarian church under attack for their willingness to welcome former slaves into their congregation. John has been trying to come up with a song for the Thanksgiving program but the heat, homesickness for New England, and the violence from those in favor of slavery is hindering his ability to do so.

Great story the kids will love about a song that every child seems to know.

LOVE the endpages! Took me a minute to realize what it was....

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Snowed Under and Other Christmas Confusions by Serge Bloch

It is the day before Christmas and the preparations for the big day are in full swing. Everyone is showing their Christmas spirit, or are they? As in his other books (which I love for older elementary kids), Bloch creates a story using common sayings and idioms to describe the confusion for the big day. Great fun and opportunity for discussion. Wonderful springboard for challenging older students to write a similar story.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Home For Christmas by Jan Brett

Rollo a little troll, who still has his tail since he has not performed good deeds required for it to fall off, decides he will run away rather than help his parents and sister. Rollo lives with an owl family, family of bears, some otters, a lynx and finally a family of moose before he decides he misses his family and needs to return home. On Christmas Eve, the family gathers to enjoy the holiday and realize Rollo has finally lost his tail. Another enjoyable story with incredible illustrations, that you really must look at more than once. Great story that falls in the categories of family and responsibility.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Jeanette Claus Saves Christmas by Douglas Rees

Apparently Santa has a daughter named Jeanette....who knew!?!? But thank goodness he does because on Christmas Eve Santa comes down with a nasty cold and Jeanette must step in to drive the sleigh and deliver toys. Of course Santa is very worried, especially since those reindeer of his can some times be a little difficult to deal with, especially Dasher. Jeanette is up to the challenge and takes off with the reluctant reindeer. Jeanette is feeling pretty good and thinking her job may be finished early when the pin connecting the harness to the sleigh fell out and the reindeer take off, leaving Jeanette stranded. Jeanette does not know what to do. Luckily she soon makes some new friends, animal friends, and is able to return to the North Pole. Santa is quite happy with her performance as well as the new friends she brought home. A new spin on Christmas. Not sure how some reindeer fans may take the reindeer not being so easy to get along with. The illustrations are very cute, bright and cheery. Warning: There is a word on my list of words not approved to be spoken by the younger crowd in our house used in the book - "stupid" - so be forewarned.

Text: 3 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

The Christmas Song:Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Mel Torme and Robert Wells famous Christmas Song is adorably illustrated in this book published in 2007. We enjoy "reading" song books at our house...mainly because I rarely know the REAL words. I will admit that I have been told to "stop" singing....and apparently the 3 1/2 year old has some high standards!! I love the pictures - very cute and compliment the words perfectly. Great book to follow along while listening to one of the most popular Christmas songs!

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves

Sana's Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene

I had great intentions BUT a 3 1/2 year old that continues to fight going to sleep and a little thing call Pinterest has gotten in the way of my good intentions to blog more this week. BUT this book I actually found off a website that I came across thanks to Pinterest. Unfortunately now I can't find the link to the activity for this book. As you might guess from the title, Santa is out doing this job one Christmas Eve, doing as he always does, when he gets stuck in the chimney. The family dog comes to help him but he is not successful. Next the cat and her kittens try to help out. Soon the mouse joins the task and of course POP out comes Santa. The book is older but I think kids will enjoy it for the rhyming as well as the funny content with matching illustrations!

Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

The Great Reindeer Rebellion by Lisa Trumbauer

Found this one on the bargain table at Barnes and Noble today! 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with a new spin! Santa's reindeer have decided they have some demands that need to be met.

They said, "We are finished!

We've had quite enough

of pulling your sleigh with

such big, heavy stuff!"

Being under a time crunch, Santa decides to interview other animals for the job. The dogs did a great job until they started sniffing and smelling. The cats were on a roll until a sneaky mouse runs in front of the team of cats and the felines shake out of the harness. Seems no animals can replace the reindeer. In an effort to bring the reindeer back Santa agrees to

"A whirlpool and sauna

would make us quite able.

And real beds, not grass, AND

a heater - and cable."

Santa agrees, the contract is signed, and Santa heads off with his trusty eight. A great addition to any Christmas collection of books. Fun pictures and fun text = enjoyable reading for Christmas time!

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

When Santa Lost His Ho! Ho! Ho! by Laura Rader

Christmas is just a few days away and the North Pole is a busy place with final preparations being made for the big day. Oh no...there is a problem!! Santa has lost his HO HO HO!!! Everyone is eager to help but even the funniest jokes, pies in the face, reindeer kick line, and cocoa do not work to bring back Santa's HO HO HO!! Soon news spreads throughout the world (as is often the case with the media) and ever one is quite concerned. Letters start pouring in from people all over the globe trying to bring back Santa's HO HO HO. Mrs. Claus and the elves find one that they all agree will do the trick....will it work? I thought this was a cute, fun book. Adam and I really enjoyed it BUT....on the back end page there is a picture of the drawing that apparently brought back Santa's HO HO HO.....and the first thing Adam said was, "That is scary not funny." And honestly, I agree with him. I really wish the picture was funny....it is not. WHY?? I would love to hear other kid's reaction to "Holly's picture" because my kid does not honestly scare real easily.....BUT other than that....ADORABLE and FUN book!!

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves

Front Endpages: 5 Buckeye Leaves - LOVE!!.....

Back endpages: 1 Buckeye leaves

December 1st.....

December 1st brings....

...the 25 days of books. I saw this idea in a magazine years ago - pre-Adam - probably 6 or 7 years ago and was determined that some day I would start this tradition with my child. Adam's first Christmas we brought him home on December 14th, with some jet lag, remains of food poisoning, and an 8 month old that had just gone through over 32 hours of travel and a 12 hour time change, so I did not do it that first year. Each year a bag of 25 holiday/Christmas books arrive at our house, wrapped, and numbered. Each day Adam unwraps one. Where do the books come from? Same ones each year but for the other 11 months of the year the books are hidden away in a crate in the basement. So far, he has not caught on that they are his books and we read them the year before and when he does, that is ok. The excitement of unwrapping a "new" book each day is fun for both of us! I even wrapped them this year and it is always exciting to see which book is unwrapped each day! There are a few new ones sprinkled in each year. His reaction to some of the books are hysterical. Surely worth the 3 packages of Dollar Store tissue paper I used to wrap the books each year!!

Merry Christmas, Mr. Snowman! by Wolfram Hanel

Pip and Squeak (how cute are those names?) are anxiously waiting for the time when they can open their gifts. Since neither can sit still, they decide to go outside and build a snowman. When Mommy Mouse calls them inside, neither feel right leaving Mr. Snowman outside.

"We can't leave Mr. Snowman out here all alone. He'll be sad if he doesn't have anyone to celebrate Christmas with."

"He might catch cold, too." said Pip.

Pip and Squeak then devise a plan so that Mr. Snowman does not have to stay outside alone. After much work Pip and Squeak have moved Mr. Snowman into the house. Before long Mommy and Daddy have discovered a puddle of water by the tree. Mr. Snowman is moved outside where he can still see in to the house through the window. Pip and Squeak still do not feel right excluding Mr. Snowman and devise a NEW plan to include Mr. Snowman in their Christmas celebration. A super sweet story about the spirit of Christmas and the different meaning of "Christmas".

Text: 4 Buckeye Leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (ADORABLE!!)

Merry Christmas, Curious George

George and the man with the yellow hat are at a Christmas tree farm picking out a Christmas tree. George can not seem to decide which tree he likes the best and swings from one tree to the next. He decides to climb the tallest one and before he knows it, the tree is being cut down and taken away in a big truck. George soon realizes he is at a children's hospital. In true Curious George fashion, George goes "exploring" and leaves no part of the hospital untouched. When George comes upon "his" tree, he decides to decorate it. A nurse discovers George's "creativity" and is not too pleased with the final product. The children in the hospital are able to convince the nurse to allow George to stay, and decorate the tree again, with real Christmas tree decorations. Fans of Curious George will enjoy this fun Christmas adventure with George.