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The holiday season is upon us, and with it, the annual flood of holiday book titles. We’ve chosen a wide variety, from Sarah Ferguson’s doll-like Little Red to a quirky take on the season from a New Yorker editor and artist, to traditional Jewish folk tales. All have their own unique take on the holidays, and are perfect to share with the children in your life. For ages 3-7 Little Red’s Christmas Story Written by Sarah Ferguson; illustrated by Sam Williams (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) Little Red, a character created by Sarah Ferguson, is back in a Christmas tale that finds her and her friends traveling from Buttercup Cottage to Christmas Tree Wood to get their favorite fir tree. Along the way, they deliver gifts to friends. But when they get to the woods, they discover a grounded Santa Claus with a very big problem: A sick reindeer has left him with only seven to pull his sleigh. But thanks to Little Red’s Sack of Smiles and a little extra effort from Roany the Pony, Christmas is saved. The tale is charming, and the watercolor and pencil illustrations are sweet and colorful. The Christmas Bell Written by Rolf Krenzer; illustrated by Maja Dusikova (McGraw-Hill, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) In this sweet and simple tale, a little girl named Rachel, the daughter of a shepherd, finds a silver bell in the streets of Bethlehem. She knows in her heart that it means that something special will happen. And she is right. Baby Jesus is born in a stable that night, and her father insists that they bring a baby lamb as a gift. Rachel rushes to get the bell to tie around the lamb’s neck and presents it to Mary as a gift for her newborn baby. The bell, with its gentle jingle, becomes a sign of Christmas that endures today. The illustrations are done in soft watercolors. Santa’s Secrets Revealed! Written by James Solheim; illustrated by Barry Gott (Lerner Publishing Group, hardcover, 40 pages, $15.95) Young Stevie is a cynic. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus anymore. How is it that Santa can make deliveries of gifts all around the world in one night? And how is it that a chubby guy can fit down a skinny chimney? And he tells all of this to a TV reporter on Christmas Eve. But a funny thing happens: Santa pays a personal visit to Stevie, and they embark on a magical journey. Stevie learns top-secret info from Santa about how the fat man and his entourage pull off this Christmas thing every year. And he becomes a believer again. This funny story has lots of clever touches, and the brightly colored illustrations capture the mood perfectly. My Grandmother’s Stories: A Collection of Jewish Folk Tales Written by Adele Geras; illustrated by Anita Lobel (Alfred A. Knopf, hardcover, 96 pages, $19.95) A young girl likes nothing better than to spend the day with her grandmother, helping her cook or looking at the buttons kept in a tin box. And the grandmother tells stories, sparked by the ordinary treasures in the apartment; stories rooted in her Russian Jewish heritage. They are morality tales, ranging from ancient Jerusalem, where King Solomon teaches a miser to be generous, to the Russian countryside, where a clever peasant outsmarts the czar. Originally published in 1990, the stories are now accompanied by Anita Lobel’s Impressionist-like paintings, which enhance the stories immeasurably. The Donkey and the Golden Light Written by Gill Speirs; illustrated by John Speirs (Harry N. Abrams Inc., hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95) The life of Jesus is interwoven with the tale of a donkey, Bethlehem, in this elegantly illustrated book. The donkey is present for Jesus’ birth, and is there throughout various stages of his life. Bethlehem is even the donkey that carries Jesus into Jerusalem, where he is hailed as king, and he is there at the crucifixion and resurrection. The illustrations are magnificent; illustrator John Speirs credits Flemish painter Bruegel as his inspiration, and in the back of the book notes the individual Bruegel paintings that served as models for the 14 pictures in this book. Snowman in Paradise Written and illustrated by Michael Roberts (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 34 pages, $16.95) It’s the week after Christmas, and Manhattan is filled with mounds of slush and piles of trash. One pale snowman wishes to get out of town more than anything, and a bluebird of happiness is pleased to oblige. Snowman travels to a tropical paradise; he learns to surf and grow flowers. He hangs out on a hammock and eats bananas in bunches. But as the holiday season approaches, Snowman begins to feel that something isn’t right. Should he go back to New York or stay in paradise? Or is paradise someplace else altogether? This story, written by a New Yorker editor and artist, is droll and charming, and probably best suited to a slightly older child. The illustrations were rendered in cut paper, and have a sophisticated graphic look. For all ages Classic Christmas Stories Edited by Julia Livshin (The Lyons Press, paperback, 384 pages, $9.95) Christmas tales come in many shapes and sizes, and this volume contains a wide variety of writers and stories. Some are expected, such as O. Henry’s classic “The Gift of the Magi.” Others are more of a surprise, such as Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Blue Carbunkle.” Other writers include Anton Chekov, Bret Harte, Louisa May Alcott, and Damon Runyon. All contain their own pleasures and their own unique insights on the holiday and the people who celebrate it. - By Craig Reem |
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