Santa from Cincinnati, written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster. 2012. $19.99 ages 4 and up

"So, I came up with a clever plan. I would deliver one of my toys to every child in Cincinnati on Christmas Eve. My mom and dad helped me load them onto some sleds I'd tied together. Just as I was about to leave, I found more toys under my bed. So, I stuffed those into my pillowcase, flung it over my shoulder, and I was off!"

Gosh! It is a neverending wonder to me that there are so many stories to tell. In  a prior post I told you that I loved learning about Anne's early life in Budge Wilson's brilliant Before Green Gables (Viking, 2008) and was charmed when learning about a young Sherlock Holmes in Shane Peacock's The Young Sherlock Holmes Cases 1-Final (Tundra 2009-2012). Admittedly, I have never really wondered about Santa's early life.

Luckily for each one of us, Judi Barrett did and, using her many storytelling skills, she regales us with each of the events that led to Santa living the life that has such meaning today for children everywhere in the world. He was born just after midnight, and his start was a harbinger of things to come:

Even at birth, he is destined to fancy the color red and wear a big smile! His name is
serendipitously spelled out for  his Claus parents in a bowl of alphabet soup soon after his birth. His crib mobile sports a reindeer, a snowman, a Christmas tree and a penguin, and he is fascinated by each one of them. Being the first and only Claus child, there are many photos taken to chronicle each of his life's major events.

He is obsessed with toys as a toddler, and carries them with him wherever his little feet take him. He sports a beard in kindergarten, emulating his father and amusing his classmates. His father, a toymaker has a basement workplace where father and son work endlessly...until one day, when the toys appear to have taken over. Not a single space left for the next invention. It calls for action.

Santa, being a benevolent and generous young man starts in Cincinnati. Successful beyond any dreams he might have had, the event becomes an annual one and moves beyond Cincinnati's border to encompass all of Ohio. The rest of his life is humming along as well.. success in school, a driver's licence, senior prom, college dreams. Oh, and his life's work...what might it be?

He finds a college that is unusual and allows him to 'major in toys and minor in business'. His future is sealed. The task takes on epic proportions and Santa decides he needs a plan to cope with the job  ahead:

"I was able to shorten my list of toy recipients by finding out who was naughty and who was nice and making two separate lists. That cut down a bit on the number of toys I needed."

The rest, as they say, is the stuff of stories and dreams. His workshop continues to fashion toys that are coveted by children all over the world. While he has gotten older, a bit heftier and perhaps a bit slower, he has a new sleigh...and it does a great job!

The voice is so clear and original, you would swear you are hearing it 'right from the horse's mouth'. It makes me want to sit down and do a quick interview regarding some of his most memorable Christmas Eves. Kevin Hawkes adds his formidable talent to the telling using acrylics and colored pencils and offering clues to Santa's life from the front cover to the back. The colors are bright and inviting, the captioned photographs give the audience a chance to see the many times in Santa's life that portend his future calling. What Judi Barrett doesn't include in the text, Kevin Hawkes provides to keep us thinking. His humorous, well-designed artwork adds to the magic and should have every child in Cincinnati checking for this wonderful new book under their Christmas tree...this year, or next, or in years to come. Then, they can tell others, who will tell others...and on it goes!

It is destined to be a 'keeper'!

Christmas Parade, written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton. Little Simon, Simon & Schuster, 2012. $16.99 ages 2 and up

"One Santa Claus rhino!

Two cow saxophones!

Three piccolo mice!

And four ducks with trombones!"

If you can't picture it, you will need to get your hands on this new Christmas book from the adept and always entertaining pen of Sandra Boynton. She sure does know what little ones love, and here she shares that knowledge in a rollicking, rhyming parade of her signature characters all wishing readers a very Merry Christmas.

The auspicious sounds of a live band get us right in the mood:

"BOOM biddy BOOM biddy
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Biddy BOOM biddy BOOM
biddy BOOM BOOM BOOM!"

The troubled pig at the bottom of the page wonders aloud what the noise is.

She's encouraged to run to the window and get ready for a big surprise! First on the scene is the elephant, focused on his task of beating the big bass drum that keeps the beat and leads the band in stately fashion. The chickens are next, one is perplexed. Maybe she doesn't know the music...she appears distracted, that's for certain. Along come the piggies hoisting balloons and a banner. A host of drumming hipppos and a single cat drummer are next. Then reindeer spread 'holly'day cheer with a confetti of holly leaves (ouch!)...they are followed by more musicians and a wee tiny  bird foisting the largest tuba you've ever seen!

A knock at the door hails the, once again, troubled pig to the door for a final friendly Christmas wish!

The rhythms are strong, and little ones will quickly recognize when the music builds...

It's full of fun, with much to discuss. You are sure to hear that phrase that readers love to hear....again, please!

Saving Lives and Changing Hearts, written by Rob Laidlaw. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012. $19.95 ages 8 and up

"Juno, a beautiful donkey with a white chest and legs, and big brown eyes was one of them. Her abusive owner hit her with a shovel and didn't give her much food. A concerned neighbor purchased the starving donkey and eventually sent her to the DSC. Today, Juno lives with a small group of older donkeys. She's still nervous around people but is getting better all the time."

The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is only one of the many reputable projects that takes the care and rehabilitation of animals very seriously. In his newest book Rob Laidlaw, founder of Zoocheck Canada, takes us to many parts of the world to show us the wonderful work that animal sanctuaries and rescue centers are doing. Of Zoocheck, he says:

"Zoocheck Canada is a wildlife protection charity that was established in 1984 to promote and protect the interests and well-being of wild animals. We pursue our goals through research and investigative projects, public education and awareness campaigns, capacity building initiatives, litigation and legislative campaigning. While our primary focus over the years has been wildlife in captivity, Zoocheck has also been involved in numerous campaigns to help wildlife in the wild, including polar bears in the Arctic, elephants in Africa and wild horses in the Canadian west.'

His voice is strong when it comes to the protection of and love for all animals. Ten of the thirteen chapters in this book deal with a variety of animals and how they are being protected. In his introduction, he talks about the importance of these sanctuaries:

"I also realized that sanctuaries can change human attitudes toward animals. They provide a different, friendlier connection to animals that can change perceptions and beliefs. It's dramatically different from looking at animals caged in a zoo or performing in a circus."

He goes on to give a clear picture of what the best sanctuaries are, how they work, and what animals you might find there. He lists the principles of real refuges, and offers a clear look at what rescued animals need. Then, he moves forward to tell us about some of the best places in the world that he has visited and where he has seen close-up the work these remarkable people do. From donkeys and farmed animals, to elephants, bears and birds, he paints a  picture of some of the animals that find shelter in them. The work is varied, and always places the focus directly on the animals needing help.

"At the centre, a series of separate open pools with dry haul-out areas allow the animals an opportunity to swim, sun themselves, or just relax in a safe and secure environment while they recuperate. Good food and excellent care ensure that when they are released, they are fit and healthy enough to survive."

He then posts a warning about the phony centres that crop up, and tells readers that there is now a global federation that polices and promotes excellence in  management and care for all animals
There are accredited members in North and Central America, and in Europe and Africa. He gives needed advice when considering opening a sanctuary and for those young readers wanting to be an advocate for animals. There is a lot that we can do!

In the back matter, he lists many selected sanctuaries and organizations, adds a useful glossary and index and includes testimonials about Saving Lives and Changing Hearts.

Positive and positively enlightening, this is a book for the animal lovers in your family, or at your school.

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, written by Susin Nielsen. Tundra Books, 2012. $19.99 ages 12 and up

"This was different. I'd only seen him cry like this once before. It was about a week after Jesse's funeral. We'd been washing dishes, and he suddenly sank to the floor and started bawling like a baby, for what felt like hours. My mom and I finally left him on the floor and went upstairs to escape the awful sound."

It is not a difficult task to love and admire Susin Nielsen's work. This is her third novel and I am a huge fan of each one, and every word written. She is VERY good at what she does.

Henry and his Dad have moved from their home in Port Salish to a dingy apartment in Vancouver. It's a new school for Henry and a bit of anonymity for both. His mother is in Ontario, living in an institution near her parents and trying to deal with the fallout from a life-changing event in Port Salish. Henry calls that time IT. Henry is happy that no one knows him at Trafalgar Secondary and he does everything he can to keep it that way. He is seeing a psychologist and not happy about it:

"Cecil has long stringy gray hair, and he uses a scrunchy to pull it back. A scrunchy! Today, at our third session, he was wearing yet another tie-dyed shirt, purple this time. Hey Cecil, I wanted to say,
the '60s called. They want their look back! He says, "How does that make  you feel?" a lot, like we're on a TV show and not real life. He also says,  "Holy Moly" a lot, as in "Holy Moly, you're fifteen minutes late, two weeks in a row!"

I loved Henry from the very first page. He has much to share in his journal, reluctantly written. He ise trying to leave behind the nightmare of his brother's pain filled and irrational decision to kill the bully who has mercilessly tormented him and then committing suicide himself. Henry wants no one to know the trauma their family is facing, and he certainly doesn't want to talk about it all in a journal. But, that is his given task. So, he includes entries about being on the Reach for the Top Team, about his growing friendship with Farley who has issues of his own, and his fascination with Alberta, a beautiful, sometimes scary and always refreshing female classmate.

Susin Nielsen is achingly adept at handling the pain and grieving that Henry faces. She writes with honesty and holds nothing back. At the same time, her book is funny, poignant and eye-opening. It is often humor that hides the hurt and allows some relief from the depth of pain being felt. Henry's voice is powerful, resilient and vulnerable. You will not forget him.

The other characters created to people Henry's new life are very special. Neighbors who have endured their own pain and are trying to come to terms with the ways in which their lives have changed, new school friends who prove to be loyal and compassionate, even old friends who have found peace through healing. Henry learns much in his new school. Bullies always find their targets, good people are everywhere and pain, regret and guilt can be alleviated with support and time.

"We entered the school. I could tell right away from the looks I got that Farley was right. People knew. But I think Farley must have talked to the Reach For The Top kids because, whenever I walked into a classroom, one of them would come and sit beside me right away. Like in Socials, Jerome sits beside me all the time now. He's a man of few words. "Hey," he'll say as he slips into the seat beside me. "Hey," I'll say back."

Henry is a charmer. He will make you laugh, and he will make you cry. If you are embarrassed to cry in public or to laugh out loud while your head is buried in a brilliant book, read it when alone. But do read it, please. It is so worth it!

Each Kindness, written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E. B. Lewis. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin. 2012. $18.00 ages 5 and up

"The weeks passed. Every day, we whispered about Maya, laughing at her clothes, her shoes, the strange food she brought for lunch. Some days, Maya held out her hand to show us what she brought to school - a deck of cards, pick up sticks, a small tattered doll."

This is both a 'mirror' and a 'window' book. I think those who read it, or hear it, will find themselves thinking about their own actions and the actions of others. When they look in the mirror, they might see themselves and consider how their actions (no matter how small they are) have a ripple effect in their world. When they look out the window, they may be able to see exactly what is happening to a child who is being bullied and begin to understand the heartbreak felt.

It is Chloe's voice we hear as we read. She is in her classroom when the new girl arrives. Maya is quiet and unwilling to look up and into the eyes of her new classmates. Her clothing is old, her shoes broken. The only place for her to sit is in the desk next to Chloe's. Chloe is resolute in her refusal to look Maya's way or to interact with her. There is no smiling, no invitation offered to play, no acknowledgement that Maya has feelings. Despite Maya's attempts to make friends, the other girls ignore her.

Then, one day, Maya's seat is empty. A shrewd teacher determines to teach a gentle lesson about kindness by showing her students how a pebble dropped in water causes ripples to form and to spread out from the center. She asks her students to share an act of kindness. When it's Chloe's turn to drop the pebble and share, she has nothing to say.

Chloe's mind fills with the many times she might have been kind to Maya. If only she had a chance to smile back, she would do so. She waits for Maya to return to school so that she can right the wrongs.
When the teacher tells the class that Maya has moved on, Chloe must live with what she has done. Girls are very good at this type of bullying...ignore another student and dismiss them as irrelevant or unacceptable. It is a story that needs to be shared to try to help them understand that their actions do have consequences, sometimes for themselves. Chloe will not get the chance to change how she treated Maya; she may think twice the next time someone new comes to the classroom door.

This pairing of author and artist is a beautiful thing to see for a second time. The Other Side (Putnam, 2002) has a forever place on my 'keeper' shelf and remains a story that I return to often for sharing.
E. B. Lewis fashions a very realistic look at Maya's world as she first arrives and then tries to thrive in a new classroom with new classmates. We are made aware of how isolated she feels every day as she is first ignored, then teased by unfeeling classmates. She is alone at her desk, in the cafeteria, on the playground.  When Maya is gone and the pebbles dropped, it is Chloe who is alone, holding the rock she could not drop.

This is one of the few books for young readers that does not end well, and is sure to spark much discussion in capable hands. We know how Chloe feels, but can only imagine the same for Maya. Stepping into an illustration (putting yourself into that person's place) may offer ideas for sharing the feelings being felt. There is so much truth and emotion in the words and pictures. We are blessed to have such truly brilliant artists making picture books that will long live in our collective memory and that are sure to impact our thinking.

The Seven Tales of Trinket, written by Shelley Moore Thomas. Farrar Straus Giroux, Raincoast. 2012. $18.95 ages 8 and up

"Fear finally caught up with me.
'Twas the wail of a banshee.
I was certain.
I peered around the stone once more, but I caught no glimpse of the pig boy. Naturally. Perhaps knowing that death is close makes you strong. For, indeed, if death is coming for you, what do you really have to lose by being brave? Things could hardly get worse."

This lively story provided a most enjoyable read for seven straight nights! No matter how tired I was, I could not turn out the light until I had completed the next tale. It was absorbing and a distraction from the hoopla that is Christmas. So, each night I anticipated Trinket's next adventure and her sharing it with me (and with you, should you read this wonderful book).

All she has left, once her mother dies, is a less than perfect map and the friendship of Thomas the Pig Boy. Together, they set out to follow the map in search of the tales that will lead to a new and fulfilling life for Trinket. Her father was a noted storyteller, James the Bard. She has no idea what has happened to him. After leaving the family one year to ply his trade, he never returned and it has been years since she last saw him. As they travel Trinket has hopes that she will learn of her father's whereabouts, and discover why he abandoned his family so long ago.

Their adventurous trek has Trinket and Thomas meet a gypsy girl named Feather, rescue a child stolen by the selkies, take on a screeching banshee, listen to a ghost's message concerning her mother, help a girl win in a contest with the Faerie Queen, lose everything to a highwayman and get it back with the help of a pooka, and meet a dog whose loyalty knows no bounds.

Each of the tales would work as a stand-alone readaloud with family, or in a classroom.  The final tale brings each of the stories to new meaning for Trinket and for her listeners. In the seventh tale, she learns what has happened to her father; it is a life-changing event.  Readers will be captivated by each of Trinket's tales. They are unusual, with good doses of tension as well as much appreciated entertainment. Life is not easy for the two young friends but they find friendship along the way and always manage to keep desperate hunger at bay. Their perseverance and their loyalty to each other pays off in the end, despite some obvious arguments and misunderstandings.

Trinket and Thomas are worthy characters and readers will find themselves rooting for their success. Their magical adventures leave us longing for more tales in the future, and to knowing what awaits the young pair as they move forward with their lives.

My NO, NO, NO Day, written and illustrated by Rebecca Patterson. Viking, Penguin. 2012. $18.00 ages 2 and up

"On the way home we met the lady who lives next door and she said that Bob was the sweetest thing she'd seen all day, and they she said, "And how is Bella?" I was a long way behind so I had to shout, I HAVE A HURTING FOOT! And Mommy said I could keep my voice down and could I PLEASE stop lying on the sidewalk."

We've ALL had a day like that! It seems that not one thing goes right, and mostly we just want to screech our frustrations out loud!

I am feeling a little like Bella today...overwhelmed! For a little girl, with a baby brother and other social expectations, it's just too much! She's in a bad mood, and that's that! It begins with her baby brother Bob bothering her while she is still in bed. Following that, things go from bad to worse in her sense of the world. An egg for breakfast has no appeal and leads to her being angry enough to refuse to wear shoes. A trip to the market and a ride in the shopping cart lead to a full blown temper tantrum, much to the distress of everyone near the cart. A broken cookie at lunch results in a refusal to play nicely with Sasha and Bob.

Ballet class, meeting the neighbors, supper, bath, bedtime...all are cause for concern and distress. Throughout Bella's very trying day, Mommy has been calm and pretty accepting. At bedtime, she remains so...offering a favorite story, a warm snuggle and the chance to relax. It has an endearing result:

"I yawned again and I said, very quietly,
"Today was a very bad day, Mommy. Sorry."

It's all a mother needs to hear, really. With hopes that life will brighten tomorrow, Bella closes her eyes and makes her way to dreamland.

Rebecca Patterson's illustrations are perfect for helping little listeners see Bella as she succumbs to the frustrations of her day. We watch it as a scene played right in front of us...seeing the differing reactions of all who come in contact with the relentlessly obstinate little girl, gazing upon the many daily and familiar routines of family, sympathising with the mophead with glaring eyes and an persistently open mouth. There is a lot to see and many of the scenes are sure to inspire discussion. I especially loved searching the faces of those watching the many meltdowns...the smirks, the disdain, the concern, the covered ears, and even the humorous smiles.

If you have, or have lived with a toddler, you might find yourself and your family in some of the situations shared. Bad days aren't uncommon; thankfully, they fade into endearing memories of a family's dynamic. Familiar to all and perfect for sharing on 'one of those days', this may just be a story you turn to again and again.

City Critters, by Nicholas Read. Orca Book Publishers, 2012. $19.95 ages 8 and up

"Crows and gulls are similarly adaptable birds, which is why they are about as familiar on most urban streetscapes as a McDonald's or a bus stop. But unlike the starling, sparrow and pigeon, crows and gulls have been in North America for as long as people can remember - probably longer - because both are native to this continent."

What kids don't love animals? I know only a few. Once again, I pick up a book by Nicholas Read thinking I will skim through it, get the gist of the information being shared and then tell you about it. I KNOW that it will be fascinating and fun to read. But, oh no! I get caught up in all that he has to share and so, it has taken a bit longer to get it posted than I had planned. It is worth the wait!

It took eighteen months to write this book because he, like so many of us, wanted to know more about the wildlife that is making its way into urban areas. He talked with scientists and experts about this rather new phenomenon; wild animals sharing our space in so many places in North America. As we try to understand and react to their presence, the more we know, the better we will deal with it. It is important to understand what is happening, and work to make conditions better for all concerned. To that end, the  author shares much of what he learned while trying to inform himself.

Who hasn't seen wildlife getting closer to the places we live? Since he couldn't find other books that would help him to understand this changing landscape, he decided to write down what he had learned in this lively and conversational book. You've heard the stories, so you know that it is an issue for many. Read your newspaper, talk to people: there are many incidents of animals attacking people and their pets, showing up in suburban areas...even a bear in downtown Vancouver after a garbage truck ride.

Those who are uninformed and don't recognize the dangers of feeding these animals cause concern. Of them, Nicholas Read has this to say:

"I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, meaning that I try to understand that the reason they feed raccoons is that they like animals. But how often do you need to be told that it's a bad idea? Because it is. It's a really bad idea-for humans and raccoons."

We don't want wild animals to be dependent on us, do we? Once dependent, they lose their will to forage on their own, and given the availability of a constant food source, their families grow in response to it and soon we have overpopulation. It's an accident waiting to happen. The author had a lot of prior knowledge concerning wildlife; even he was surprised at the abundance of certain animals in a variety of places. How about your swimming pool in Florida...and alligators? Or crocodiles in the park while you are riding your bike, or walking? Or raccoons crawling through the 'dog's door' while you are sleeping? What mischief might they make while you sleep peacefully unaware?

Studies are just beginning. It will be very interesting to see those results about the changes across the country in terms of the wildlife that is finding refuge and sustenance on our streets and in our backyards. It is an issue that is not likely to go away, so we must find ways to co-exist:

"Perhaps even more important, I'd like people to remember that what little wilderness is left in the world is home, first and foremost, to wild animals. It always drives me crazy to read or hear about people complaining about feeling threatened by animals in the wild and then wanting to do something about it. Well, folks, that's why they call it the wilderness. It's not a theme park where everything behaves according to Disney. It's the wilderness."

If you don't want these wild animals to move into your territory as we have moved into theirs, take responsibility for your actions. In the final chapter of this most readable book, the author offers ideas about what we can do to live with them in our neighborhoods.  A glossary, a list of resources and an index are each helpful and are followed by an acknowledgement for the many scientists and researchers who study urban wildlife and who answered Nicholas Read's many intuitive questions.
 
There is so much here to read, to contemplate and to enjoy! Take the time you need to pore over the stories, the images, the information boxes and the humor infused into the sharing.

Boot and Shoe, written and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster. 2012. $18.99 ages 3 and up

"Boot decided to station himself on the front porch and wait there until Shoe found his way back. And Shoe decided to station himself on the back porch and wait there until Boot found his way back. It was a long, lonely afternoon. When it was dinnertime, Boot's stomach rumbled. But he didn't want to eat dinner without Shoe. Shoe's stomach rumbled, too."

Here are two terriers you are sure to love...they certainly love each other, despite their differences. They each love the lives they lead, and are happy to spend time together as well. In fact, they share their food dish, a particular tree and their blue bed. What they don't share is the direction  they choose to face. Boot finds comfort on the back porch, whole Shoe gravitates to the front one. It's a perfect life.

That is, until an errant squirrel shows up in their yard one day:

"It chattered at Boot.
It chattered at Shoe.
It threw stuff at Boot.
It threw stuff at Shoe.
And then
it got all up
in Boot's business.
And it got
all up in
Shoe's business,
too.
Whoa.
Something had
to be done."

Not ones to be pestered by an ornery, bothersome denizen of a nearby tree, Boot and Shoe give chase. They chase that varmint until he tires of the fun, and walks away!

When the smoke clears, the two dogs find themselves in unfamiliar territory. In the midst of the mayhem, they have traded porch places. Boot cannot find Shoe where Shoe should be. Alternately, Shoe cannot find Boot where Boot should be. The search is on, with no resulting luck. Both are blue. They guard each other's porch in hopes that the errant resident will find his way home. That waiting is endless.

They miss dinner, forego bedtime, wait out a rainstorm and simultaneously stage an around-the-outer-perimeter search for the other. Their luck remains bad. Their night is endless. At daybreak, with no sign of the other's return, they set to sobbing. Luckily, nature calls and both make their way to their favorite tree to relieve themselves where they also make an amazing discovery!

I would share this sure-to-be-a-favorite tale with students while also reading Homer (Elisha Cooper, 2012, Harper). Both are books made special by the storytelling ability of their respective authors. Marla Frazee hand-letters the type to create a picture book that sparkles with friendship and loyalty. The pencil and gouache artwork gives it a softness and poignancy that will appeal to her young audience, and to anyone who has ever been faced with an abrupt change in lifestyle. The repetitive text will have them reading along, and always wanting more, more, more. I think she does a remarkable job with ever-changing perspectives and, although I was determined to find a favorite illustration, I just could not do it. So much to see and savor....

P.S. If you are not sure which brother is which...look more carefully!

The Reader, written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Amazon Children's Publishing. 2012. $14.00 ages 3 and up

"The dog skips off, a bouncing dot, chasing his tail...a bunny...a blue jay...his tail. Then off he goes to the top of the hill to wait. He is good at waiting. The reader comes slowly, pulling his sled across the world. It is hard work, but he is good at working hard. The wind blows. Snow blows. The hill is very, very tall."

Readers will love the many details that Amy Hest makes evident in her telling of this lovely winter story of great friendship. As the reader and his dog pal set out through the snowy landscape, he is carrying 'a sturdy suitcase that is brown'. We know it must be important as he places it on his 'long red sled with a long, loopy rope'. I can just hear them repeating those lovely details when they read it themselves.

As they trudge along, we assume they have a destination in mind. The boy plows on in a straight line while his beloved pal darts in circles and zigzags, always leading with great anticipation. The dog makes it to the appointed spot far ahead and there patiently waits while the boy hauls the sled and suitcase up the incline:

"And then he is there, at the top of the world."

They have great fun in the snow and take great delight in being with each other. Soon, cold creeps in and it's time for 'warm drinks and crunchy toast for two.'  It's a perfect diversion before they get to the real purpose for their trip!

"And now," says the reader to the dog. "It's time."

Once settled upon the sled, boy and dog together share a poignant and charming moment in time:

"And the only sound in the world is
the sound of the reader reading
to the very last page...
the very last word."

There is such invitation in the softness of the ink and watercolor artwork created by Lauren Castillo. She encircles them in the shared love of great friendship, at the beginning and again as their story ends. In between, she creates a soft snow-filled setting meant to entice and invite conversation and memories of similar shared exploits.

The Third Gift, written by Linda Sue Park and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Thomas Allen & Son, 2011. $19.99 ages 6 and up

"My father knows where the good trees are. I walk with him, the basket in one hand, the water gourd slung over my shoulder. We walk a long way. Some of the trees are close together. But most of them are far apart. One tree here. Another tree there. Yet another far beyond. They are not beautiful trees. Their branches are stunted, knotty, spiny."

In following up the previous post about a young boy who knows not the part he plays in the story of Jesus' birth, we meet another such boy in Linda Sue Park's appealing story entitled The Third Gift. In an author's note she shares her fascination with history and the part we play in it:

"As for the young narrator himself, I love thinking about the roles of ordinary people in history's great events. History is happening all around us every day, and stories can help remind us that we are as much a part of it as those whose names dominate the headlines."

This young boy is learning the family trade at his father's side:

"My father collects tears.
That is what they are called, the pearls of
sap that seep out of a tree when the bark
is cut. Maybe they are called tears because
it seems as if the tree is crying."

As they travel over long distances and gather the tears that his father then sells to spice merchants, we learn about a very different way of life. There is reverance and pride in the simplicity of it. The father is patient, kind and happy to be teaching his son an old trade. They travel quietly together across a beautifully designed Arabian landscape, doing their work and unsuspecting of the importance it holds for the Christmas story.

On one such trip, the boy gets his chance to try his hand at harvesting one of the tears...the largest they have seen (as big as a hen's egg) and it becomes the centerpiece for a special sale to three men who are looking for one more gift for a baby. They already have gold and frankincense. Myrrh seems a perfect accompaniement. The boy is happy to have played a role in the gifts that will be given:

"I watch the three men mount their camels.
I watch them leave the marketplace.
I watch as they ride into the desert.
And I wonder about the baby."

Linda Sue Park also wondered as a child, about myrrh. Since no one asked any questions about it, she assumed that everyone knew what it was...except her. She has since learned that many people had no idea. In her story, she makes it clear that it had many uses. Her use of rich, clear language is a gift to all who share her story.

It's hard for me to describe my admiration for Bagram Ibatoulline's artwork. I have mentioned before that books have been described as mirrors or windows. In this case, he creates a window into life as it was lived so long ago. Using acrylic-goucahe he gives texture and depth to his beautifully drawn images of a loving father, his proud and inquisitive son, the desert landscape and the bustle of the marketplace. I just want to them up so that you can ba amazed by each full page spread.

This is a book that I will long treasure.

Who Built the Stable, written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster. 2012. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"He built the wooden stable
For his donkey, ox, and sheep,
A shelter from the weather,
A home at night for sleep.
He watered them at sunrise
Where they'd graze and freely roam.
He called to them at sunset -
"Follow me!" - and led them home."

The question is asked, and Ashley Bryan takes time to provide an answer.

“A child built the stable.
A little shepherd boy
Apprenticed as a carpenter
In his father’s employ.”

When Ashley Bryan was riding from place to place while working with children in Africa, he brought out his sketchbook to work while traveling. He noticed an old entry question...who built the stable? It started the creative juices flowing and before they arrived at their destination he had an idea for this loving, warmhearted nativity poem.

He is a firm believer that all children want to help when they see that help is needed. So, his main character is a young boy following in his father's footsteps, who builds the stable where Mary and Joseph will eventually find comfort and shelter. His love for his many animals is evident in every smile, and warm gesture. His dog is always with him.

As Mary and Joseph approach, he takes note of the glowing star that shines from the night sky. They come nearer and he asks how he can help. They need shelter; he has it. As Joseph leans down to pay attention to the boy's dog, the boy greets Mary with a promise of welcome. He is delighted in the morning when he sees that the baby has been born. He has a strong feeling about him:

"The boy looked in
The infant's eyes and in his heart he knew:
The babe would be a carpenter.
He'd be a shepherd too."

The full poem is reprinted at the end of the book.

You can tell from the cover photo above what a feast for the eyes this new book is. Ashley Bryan uses tempera and acrylic paints in bright and attractive hues to create his artwork. He sets his story in Africa where Mary and Joseph would have traveled and has them look just like any visitor to his father's carpentry shop. Light from the sun, the moon and the stars shine on every brightly colored image, and each will attract much attention as readers and listeners share this truly beautiful book.

Lighthouse Christmas, written by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Dial, Penguin. 2011. $19.50 ages 5 and up

"Her heart thudded. She'd never lit the wick herself. Too soon after he'd left, a blast of wind blew out the light. Her hands shook. A gust blew out her match. Once. Twice. A third time she lit the match and held it to the wick."

I love to read Christmas tales about families and the situations they face when celebrating together. So, I was interested to see a story about a family living in a lighthouse and based on the Flying Santa Service which continues to serve in many areas of the United States today. I had never heard of it, while I have certainly wondered at those who can, and do, live in such isolation. Being city-raised, I cannot imagine the every-day solitude, while I sometimes long for it.

As children everywhere, Frances and Peter are full of joy over the coming of Christmas. Since their mother's death, the family has taken up residence at the Ledge Light, an isolated but very necessary lighthouse. There is little left in their cupboards as stormy weather has kept the supply boat away, and Frances worries that Christmas will be very different for them this year...no cookies, or singing and with a wonder about Santa knowing where they are.

When Papa offers them a chance to go to the mainland to be with family, they are pleased and decide they will go. Then, when a storm blows up and Papa must rescue a drowning man from an overturned boat, Frances tends the light for the first time. What might have happened had she not been there...how could her father be in two places at one time? It helps her make a decision that changes all of their plans. Their Christmas this year may not be the one they were hoping for; but, with a little ingenuity and some help from a very special service, it surely can be memorable.

Nancy Carpenter's illustrations make the setting come alive for readers, and also help us see what life was like for lighthouse keepers in an earlier time. The colors are richly hued, the details nostalgic and the characters created with warmth and tenderness for their sadness and their isolation. If you like stories about family, heartfelt sacrifice and making the best of what you have, you are sure to find this tale fulfilling and it may become a Christmas tradition at your house.

Tony Buzzeo has written two stories about lighthouses. Of this one she says:

"This second historical lighthouse book is about the Flying Santa Service, which carried Christmas gifts to isolated lighthouse families along the coast of New England for many years. The story gave me the chance to continue to explore the history of lighthouse living (this time in the 1920’s) and also the spirit of service and giving that imbued those hardy souls who lived on small islands surrounded by sea."

Scaredy Squirrel prepares for Christmas, written and illustrated by Melanie Watt. Kids Can Press, 2012. $18.95 ages 8 and up

"DRESSING UP
It's important to dress up for your holiday party. When you see loved ones you haven't seen in a while, you have to look your best and make a perfect lasting impression! Option A: the classic Christmas-themed sweater look - a popular choice for those who want to blend in with the Christmas scenery..."

Scaredy's sixth book is also his first chapter book...and I know just how he feels. My days are a constantly changing list, and it never seems to help me see the light at the end of the tunnel. I could use his neurotic list making acumen to help me through the next two weeks.

Because of its length and the many understandings that readers will have to have about Christmas doings and traditions, this book seems geared for an older audience. I can hear the guffawing in both intermediate and middle years classrooms. It is, once more, a safety guide and there are many warnings attached and discussed. There are eight chapters and a preface...Christmas Is Coming, Christmas Decorations, Holiday Sweets, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Characters, Christmas Pet Peeves, Christmas Fun and my particular favorite because it is so in keeping with Scaredy's persona...If All Else Fails. You can imagine!!

There are a multitude of tips that he is willing to share, and please remember that he expects you to take them seriously. There are some red things to avoid when it comes to decorating: dynamite, street signs, chili peppers, dragons, poisonous berries, and fire hydrants. Oh, and green ones, too: Martians, tons of air fresheners, catnip, caterpillars, poison ivy and bullfrogs. There is no end to the advice he is eager to impart.

There`s lots to giggle about even for little listeners, but the laughs will come from the older kids who really understand the many references Scaredy makes. It`s a book about voice, about character, and about making lists as a way to get kids writing. It`s quite unique to tell a whole story using lists, and it makes for a most enjoyable read.

Just one more thing, from my favorite chapter:

Should an Abominable Snowman crash the Christmas celebrations play dead! While doing so, have some fun by making a few graceful moves that will eventually be a snow angel...it just takes some time because you don`t dare let the AS discover your deception!  

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, story by Eric Litwin and created and illustrated by James Dean. Harper, 2012. $19.99 ages 3 and up

"The reindeer were waiting to give Pete a tow, so he packed up the presents and told them to go. Then the minibus flew, just like in a movie. Pete the cat cried,
"This is totally groovy!"
"I can do it!" said Pete, "and although I am small,
at Christmas we give,
so I'll give it my all."

Santa's sick. Who can help? Why, Pete the Cat can...he's first on Santa's list of friends to phone when help is needed. Readers who have met Pete in his other books will know that Pete is a friend extraordinaire and the friend to call on whenever something goes wrong. Should children worry?

"Will Christmas be canceled?
Will it come to that?
"Never!" cried Santa.
"Let's call Pete the Cat!"

Pete is willing to cancel his surfboard vacation to lend a hand with a promise to do his best:

"Give it your all, give it your all.
At Christmas we give,
so give it your all."

Once he arrives at the North Pole, he sets straight to work loading the minibus and arranging for the reindeer to give him a tow. Pete never wavers in his belief that he can get the job done. He gives it his all! His work is very much appreciated by everyone at the North Pole where he is lauded as a hero, despite his diminutive size. Pete proves size doesn't matter when help is needed. Bravo, Pete!

Now, here's the song so you can get it in your head and sing it endlessly as I have been doing all day:

http://youtu.be/a6Qiiksp4sg

Together At Christmas, written by Eileen Spinelli and illusrated by Bin Lee. Albert Whitman and Company, Thomas Alllen & Son. 2012. $17.99 ages 2 and up

"One little mouse
in the bitter sleet,
slushy puddles at her feet.
Soon she gives a
happy clap.
She's found an upturned
mushroom cap.
It cradles her against
the storm..."

Eileen Spinelli has penned a gentle Christmas Eve poem about ten little mice. They begin their evening huddled together against the cold and snow. With good luck, each little one finds a place of warmth and comfort apart from the crowd.

I love the places where they find shelter: a broken branch, a strip of bark, a bird's feather, a clump of moss. They find protection from the elements and with each new home, the number diminishes from ten down to the last one who uses a mushroom cap to cover herself.

It's funny when they aren't nearly as content apart as they have been together. They are lonely and missing the company of the others:

"Though every mouse is snug alone
on feather bed, in nest, by stone -
somehow it  doesn't feel quite right
to be without one's friends this night."

That soon changes.

Bin Lee's radiant artwork sparkles with moonlight on every page. No matter where we look we can see it bathing the mice, their shelters and the landscape in beauty. It bounces off the ground, the tiny creatures and gives a kind of magic to each turn of the page. The darkness of the night is there in the background, but we never feel its ominous presence. When we finally see the mice in their various shelters, it is evident to all that they are much too distant from each other. They can fix that, and do!

What a lovely and uplifting bedtime story for Christmas Eve!

Zoe's Christmas List, written and illustrated by Chloe and Mick Inkpen. Macmillan Children's Books, Harper. 2011. $19.99 aged 3 and up

"The North Pole was further than it looked. By the time they arrived the wind was sending snowflakes spinning round their ears. It was very tricky sticking something with sticky tape in the middle of a snowstorm wearing mittens. And did you know that when sticky tape gets wet it loses all its stick..."

You may have met Chloe in previous books: Where is Binky Boo?, The Magic Hoop!, and Pants on the Moon. If you have, you know her to be a very feisty and determined child who knows just what she wants in every situation. Do you think it might be different at Christmas? If you do, you don't really know Chloe!

Her Christmas list is very short...Kylie Kurlz. That's it, that's all she wants. She doesn't want any surprises from Father Christmas this year. So, she makes a list of one wish. Then, not sure that regular mail will get it to the right mailbox, she and Beans are off to do it themselves. The trip requirements are:

"Choccy Bears (for Beans)
Some juice
2 ham sandwiches
2 jam sandwiches
A scarf
Mittens
Some sticky tape...
...and her Christmas list..."

They use numerous means of transport. None make the full trip to their destination. Lucky that Beans is her companion, the final leg is his responsibility. They rescue a lost polar bear cub and once they make landfall, they have a glorious time on the slippery, slidey ice. But, they must plod on.

The sticky tape is not strong enough to hold her note to the North Pole with snow falling and the wind blowing. Defeated, they begin the return trek, only to be hampered by a blizzard, crackling ice and fatigue. The morning brings a new problem, and Zoe learns the true meaning of Christmas love and friendship.

Children will be charmed by this story of friends on an adventure. The illustrations add to the appeal of a story well told. The characters are cute and lively, the setting is magical and the pull out page will them gaping with delight.

The Flying Canoe, written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Daniel San Souci and Justin San Souci. Holiday House, Thomas Allen & Son, 2011. $19.95

"The canoe flew on. It passed through a blizzard. Covered in frost, the voyageurs looked like snowmen. Louis peered through a blinding curtain of snow. What was that sound? Etienne listened. It must be the falls of Niagara. They were over Lake Ontario - nearly home! Old Armand brushed snowflakes from his eyes. Home. After so long."

It's going to be a Christmas Extravaganza here today as I want to share what's on the pile from this year and last, just in case you still have some gifts to buy.

I'll start with a Christmas story from Canada. It's Christmas Eve and six French fur traders are trying to find warmth around their campfire in the woods. They have little food, it's very cold and they are missing their families. They have been hunting for a long time. They share fond memories of their lives in Montreal and all have a fervent wish to be home with their loved ones. Even Pere Noel will not find them in the stark woodsy wilderness.

When a mystery man shows up at their campfire, they are made an offer hard to refuse:

"I have been known to do a good deed from time to time, if only to amuse myself. Hear me, mes amis! I will return you to Montreal this night, on one condition: you may not speak until you reach your own homes."

If they fail, he will return them to where they are right now. Nothing to lose, right?

Armand is not sure it is a good plan, but his friends want to go. As the magic canoe takes to the air and they watch the landscape pass below them, the men are engulfed in memories of earlier adventures together. Their ride is quick and soon they are on the way up the St. Lawrence River through a moonlit night. Montreal is in sight!

Paddling ever nearer, they begin to recognize family and friends. Some discoveries are happy ones, others are poignant. For Armand, seeing his daughter walking with an army officer fills him with rage and he cannot contain the words. The mystery man appears and reminds them of their agreement. Armand has other ideas...

In an author's note, Eric Kimmel tells us that this is a variation on an old French folktale, La Chasse-Galerie which was 'commemorated at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., as a canoe with fiddler Colin Maier descended from the ceiling."

The illustrators have a Montreal connection. Daniel San Souci's father was a French Canadian graphic artist who taught his son to draw. Now, Daniel shares illustrating duties with his son Justin for the first time in a picture book. Together, they do an admirable job of creating a long ago setting on a dark December night. The voyageurs are shown as hearty souls, bundled in leather, bearded and determined to be home for Christmas. Each piece of art is infused with moonlight, and snowshine.
The warm glow of the lighted windows in Montreal is just the welcome they need, as their canoe travels closer and closer to their loved ones.

One Starry Night, written by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Margaret K, McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster. 2011. $18.99 ages 1 and up

"One starry night

a sheep watched
over her lamb

I am here

a cow watched
over her calf

always near"

Mother animals watch over their young ones as the stars twinkle from a dark and moonlit sky. There is such peace and love emanating from the pages, and a warm glow to the images created in both words and art. As those who share this quiet little book reverently turn its pages, they will feel awash in the gentle loving scenes and bask in the feelings of security and warmth.

Ultimately, we reach the stable where Mary and Joseph wrap their beloved child in that same warmth and love shared by the creatures we have met to this point. It is lovely as the animals gather round to help celebrate the baby's birth and the great joy felt by his adoring parents.

The author tells readers:

"The wild animals featured in this book could all be found in the Holy Land at the time of the traditional nativity story. They are the untamed cousins of the domesticated animals named in the text."

The theme is love and the mood is quiet celebration. Lauren Thompson makes gentle magic with her words, while Jonathan Bean uses muted, earthy colors shining with moon and star light to evoke the lovely atmospheric feeling created by the repetitive and rhythmic words. Ah, sleep, little baby!

Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty? Written by David Levinthal and illustrated by John Nickle. Schwartz & Wade, Random House. 2012. $20.99 ages 6 and up

"You get all kinds of people coming into a police station. Some are crying, some complaining. But until today I had never seen one come riding in on a broomstick.  "I know my sister is a witch. I'm a witch and our mother is a witch. But she is still a person - well, at least, sort of. And she's been missing for over a week, so I want someone to look for her!"

This is David Levinthal's debut picture book, and it is an auspicious start. He creates such an authentic voice for the plain clothes bullfrog detective Officer Binky. The voice comes out of my past, with memorable television characters from The Naked City and Dragnet popping into my head as I read his cases.

"There are eight million stories in the forest. This is one of them. It was a typical Sunday morning for the Bear family. They had gone out for a walk while their porridge was cooling."

He sets knowledgeable fairy tale fans straight into a familiar story;  then regales them with the doings of a wily and persistent detective who is called to duty whenever anything is amiss. Binky is astute and quickly recognizes past run-ins with various suspects, using all of his experience and abundant knowledge to bring each case to a close.

The cases offer up hilarity and entertainment. A burglary produces clues in the form of a blond hair, an empty porridge bowl, a piece of blue cloth on a broken chair and a confession. A red CASE CLOSED stamp is superimposed on Goldilocks from behind bars where she is promised three meals a day and lots of rest...it is perfect punishment to fit the crime.

Other stories involve Hansel and Gretel, Humpty Dumpty, Snow White and Jack and the Beanstalk. Each investigation results in a closed case, and a lesson learned. They would make great scripts for readers' theatre, with no props needed and use of voice being the way to present each tale. Kids will surely love them, and the performances will assure raves from audience members. They also offer inspiration for students to try their own writing in a new and offbeat way.

 John Nickle does a commendable job of matching Levinthal's sinister and serious mood with richly detailed acrylic illustrations. My eyes were constantly wandering over each strong image, and back to assure myself that I had missed nothing. They match the film noire tone of the writing, while the cast of characters is just quirky enough to give a reader pause.

The Christmas Quiet Book, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Renata Liwska. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Thomas Allen & S0n. 2012. $14.99

"Cocoa quiet

Shattered ornament quiet

Gliding quiet

Forgotten line quiet

Breathing clouds quiet

Luminaria quiet"

I can see you forming pictures in your mind...that is the beauty of this book. We can all of us imagine a  kind of quiet time. As with the first two books by this talented team, they have ways to get youngsters thinking about their world, and the sounds (or the lack of...) that they encounter in it. Their conditions of quiet conjure up feelings previously felt and specific memorable events.

They make quite the team. Deborah Underwood so adroitly puts herself in a young child's head when choosing the beautifully worded scenarios. Her words are an invitation for children to allow their imagination free rein and come up with other such times when 'quiet' is the mood. She moves her readers from peaceful to embarrassed, from sadness to great joy, from entranced to exuberant. Renata Liwska manages to picture each scene with 'quiet' charm and in delightfully soft images. Each one evokes the beauty of the season and the wonder that children feel while immersed in the hustle and bustle of a multitude of activities.

This is their third book; this time the holiday theme allows children who share it a chance to voice their own memories of Christmases past, and revel in the joy felt as the new one approaches. Hopefully, they will be familiar with the format, and eagerly scan each and every page to share the particular type of quiet being described. The engaging animals give a lovely soft feel to the whole. The text is simple, using only a few needed words to incite and entrance. The final image showing two inquisitive bunnies sneaking a peak at the anticipated presents reminds me of just such a scene in our house. No peeking...really????

I love these books for the shared moments they inspire and look forward with anticipation to the next...whatever sound it might be!

The Very Helpful Hedgehog, written and illustrated by Rosie Wellesley. Anova Books, 2012. $9.99 ages 3 and up

"Something had landed on
 his back and he couldn't
get it off.
He tried to see it...
and tried again...
and tried some more...
?
!"

I have never taken my friends for granted! I know what a real blessing they are in my life each and every day. There are times, I will admit when I am just like Isaac. I think if the truth were known, we all crave quiet at one time or another.

Isaac feels like that all the time. He is happy with himself, and likes being on his own. He doesn't need friends. Then, one day an apple falls on him and sticks to his spikes. Isaac uses all his problem solving chops to get unstuck...but, no go! He is so sad.

His tears and heartbreaking sobs prevent him from hearing a new voice:

"Hmmm, an apple. At last an apple has rolled into my paddock.
CRUNCH"

This is a story that will hold great appeal for the preschool crowd. They will very much enjoy the predicament that Isaac finds himself in, as well as the very talkative donkey whose love for apples is apparently boundless. And man, that guy can talk!

Isaac says nothing! Doesn't even faze the big guy. He's on a roll and he just keeps going...like the EverReady Bunny!

"Gala apples,
Granny Smith,
Irish Peach,
Honey Crisp,
Golden Supreme,
Golden Delicious,
Braeburn, Bismarck, Jonalicious."

Are you getting the picture?
Isaac has none of the social amenities that come with friendship. So, he just walks away. He likes being on his own.

But, when the next apple falls, he has a change of heart!

The telling is gentle and funny, with charming illustrations in lovely warm autumn colors. I love the white background that makes Isaac the clear focus for our attention, and the cover is an open
invitation to venture inside and get to know this tiny, delightful creature. Sure to be a huge success in reading circles and at bedtime, too.

hello! hello! Written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell. Disney Hyperion Books, Hachette. 2012. $17.99 ages 3 and up

ZAP
BEEP
POW
GAME OVER
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
NO SIGNAL

Before even laying our eyes on the title page, we have a small inkling for the message this book is about to impart...and an important wake-up call it is!

As the tiny redheaded girl makes her way from bedroom to den, we watch her toss her game console, her laptop and her cell phone...and then she checks out the TV, to find it's showing a rerun. Turn the page and there she stands surrounded by a plethora of unsatisfying technology. Only now is our attention given to the title page, consisting of a whole lot of white space, and the two hellos. It offers an open invitation to come in and see what happens!

As she wanders the house in search of company, she finds her mother at her laptop, her father texting, her brother playing games on a tablet. None pays any attention to her greeting. From afar, she notices a floating leaf at the front door and is inquisitive enough to follow it outside...where there is much to discover.

Matthew Cordell's ability to tell his story through his use of 'a bamboo pen and India ink, a bit of pencil, a Macintosh computer, a large format waterproof inkjet printer, and watercolor on paper' is testament to his formidable talent and his love of story.  Hello is the message, and few other words are needed as he focuses always on the heroine. As she moves to the outdoors, bright color and the senses take her further and further from home. Her imagination runs wild, and she escapes the humdrum for the wild beauty of nature run amok. She talks to bugs, smells flowers, and revels in the wonder she finds there. When the horse she says hello to talks back, we know we are in for a ride. Off they go and are joined by flying fish and whales, apes, chickens, mice and giraffes. Their run comes to an abrupt halt with the interruptive ringing of her cell phone.

Where is she? The family has noticed her absence. Her parents are frantic. She is contrite. She quickly returns to the grey, drab interior of her home, bringing natural gifts to each family member. As she presents these gifts, she gingerly takes and closes down the technology...color returns! Off they go together to discover what lies just beyond their front door.

      

When asked whether the idea for this book was from personal experience, Matthew Cordell had this to say:

"I was being that guy who was glued to the device. At home one day, I was playing with my daughter, Romy, who was around 2 years old at that time—too young to know if I was giving her my complete attention. Or so I thought… In the middle of playing with some toys, I thought I would be fine sneaking over to a nearby laptop computer to check my email (or worse… my Facebook page). After a minute or two of having my face stuck to the screen, I heard Romy say from across the room, “Dada, stop checking email and come play.” She was a very verbal young toddler, and I knew she was putting together sentences, but I had no idea she knew the word “email.” I felt bad, in a way, that, already, she even knew that word, but worse that I was not giving her what she wanted because I chose to be selfish at that moment. Whatever I was doing, work or not, it could’ve waited until later when my wife was going to be taking over toddler duty. Later on, it occurred to me that with the amount of technology we are exposed to these days, this whole scenario must be playing out with parents and kids everywhere and all the time. The movable laptop at home is certainly distraction enough. But it is worse with the omnipresent smart phone that follows you everywhere you go, always beckoning to be looked at. At this point, in our culture, you cannot go anywhere without seeing someone in the company of another who is attending more to a device than to the person sitting at his or her side."

Does it give you pause?

The Brixen Witch, written by Stacy DeKeyser. Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster. 2012. $18.99 ages 8 and up

"From inside, Rudi could hear scuffling and cursing and muffled thwacking. Then the door opened and two black rats scurried out, followed by a large, red-faced woman waving a broom in their wake. The rats vanished under the house, and the woman narrowly avoided smacking Rudi with the broom."

Rudi lives in the small mountain village of Brixen. The people of Brixen know that the mountain that rises up at their back doors is the stomping grounds for an evil and very powerful witch. Or, so the story goes!

In this retelling of the Pied Piper, we come to know Rudi and his family, including the crotchety and unforthcoming Oma, who seems to have knowledge of the Brixen Witch that others do not have. She knows 'it's bad luck to speak of such things' and she ensures that this message is passed along to her grandson.

Finding a golden guilder on the high meadow one day while he is out on the mountain, Rudi has no idea that it belongs to the witch. When his Oma discovers that he has it, she warns him that he must return it immediately or face the witch's wrath:

"All I mean to say," said Oma, as if the conversation had not just ended, "is that if you did visit a witch, I hope you didn't take anything. Anyone who steals from the Brixen Witch's hoard is hounded without mercy until she gets her treasure back. That's all I mean to say."

Haunted by nightmares and scared of the magic power of the witch, Rudi takes Oma's advice and return the coin to where he found it before the snow falls and winter settles on the mountain. While trying to do this, he slips causing a landslide and losing the coin in his tumble toward the tree line.  Rudi spends the winter plagued by troubled sleep.

When spring returns to the village, it brings with it a plague of rats. Rudi is convinced that his actions have caused the bad luck that is engulfing his community. He helps a professional rat catcher trap and drown the rats. The village returns to peace and great joy, until the rats return. It is not long before a strange fiddle-playing man arrives, offering a certain end to the rat problem in exchange for a golden guilder. The villagers cannot pay.He gives them three days to pay him what is due. A search party that includes Rudi comes up empty, and by the time they return to the village, all the children have been lured away.

To save his friends (the village children), Rudi must confront the Brixen Witch. What he discovers in the witch's lair is an unexpected surprise...

This is a smart retelling of an old story. It has much to interest and intrigue young readers, and offers a realistic feel to each of the events, despite the presence of magic and mayhem. It will be a hit with those readers who love their fantasy mixed with realism.

A Christmas Tree for Pyn, written and illustrated by Olivier Dunrea. Philomel Books, Penguin. 2011. $19.50 ages 3 and up

"While he was gone, Pyn cleared away and washed the dishes. She swept the floor, made the beds, and fluffed the pillows. Pyn poked the fire and added more wood. She wanted the cottage to be snug and warm when Oother returned from a cold day's work in the woods."


It appears that father and daughter have nothing in common:

"Oother was a big gruff man. He had a loud, booming voice, large, rough hands, and a bristly black beard. Pyn was a small, soft girl. She had a quiet, gentle voice, tiny, smooth hands,  and two bunches of hair bouncing off either side of her head."

They don' t even see eye-to-eye about a Christmas tree. Pyn wants her first Christmas tree more than anything else. Oother sees no need for one. Pyn has been secretly stashing treasures for decorating a tree, in the event that Oother changes his mind. He seems reluctant. While he works all day in the snowy cold of the woods, Pyn keeps their cottage neat as a 'pin' and prepares robust and invigorating meals for the two. A mother is not mentioned.

Then, one day,  Pyn decides that she must have that tree and she will surprise her father (who insists she call him Oother, not Papa) by cutting one down and bringing it home herself. The snow is deep and dangerous for a tiny girl on a mission, and Pyn does not sense the impending storm. When Oother finds her, he lifts her to his shoulders and agrees to make her Christmas wish come true.

Together, they find the perfect tree and haul it home. Once it is secured in a bucket, Pyn brings out the many natural items that she has gathered in her walks through the forest. She has birds' nests with eggs intact, hornets' nests, acorns and  red berries...everything needed to make their first Christmas tree a visual delight.

Then, it's time for Oother's surprise. He brings forth a small package and tells Pyn it had once belonged to her mother. It is the just-right finish to their glorious tree, and an occasion for happy celebration between father and daughter, despite its inherent sadness.

Olivier Dunrea creates another wintry world, where snow softly falls in every outdoor illustration. Thee illustrations, done in pencil and gouache on watercolor paper, are placed on white-space background interiors and foresty, hilly exteriors. He peoples his pages with dramatically different, yet equally appealing characters, including a tiny mouse that children will love to look for whenever the scenes revert to the warmth of the family home.

This is a book about the real joy of the coming holiday season.

The Carpenter's Gift, written by David Rubel and illustrated Jim LaMarche. Random House, 2011. $19.99 ages 5 and up

"It had been the best day that Henry could remember, and he didn't want it to end. He stood before the decorated tree, enchanted. The streetlamps had just come on, and the tin cans glittered in their light. If ever there was a magic moment, Henry thought, this is it." He decided to make a special Christmas wish."

Henry's wish is for a warm home for his family, and that is the lovely premise of this heartwarming and informative holiday tale. It's the Depression and December 24, 1931. Henry and his father are off to a nearby evergreen grove to cut down the trees, and then to take them to New York where they will sell them to people who have money enough to decorate their homes. When they arrive, they set up their stall near the Rockerfeller Center construction site and garner success at this new venture.

A few trees are left; and so, they give them to Frank and the other construction workers who have offered them a spot to sell their trees and helped them unload them. One of those trees becomes the first Rockerfeller Center tree, decorated with love by the men at the site. 

"Because it was Christmas Eve, the workers were having a little party. Frank and the others took the tallest of the trees that Henry and his father had given them and decorated it with whatever they could cobble together: paper garlands, cranberries threaded onto string, and even a few shiny tin cans. Henry added an ornament of his own, made of newspaper that he folded into a star."

David Rubel gives readers a chance look at the future when Henry picks up a pine cone that has fallen to the ground, and puts it in his pocket. Off they go home, where Henry is tenderly put to bed, with the pine cone on his pillow.

A surprise is in store for the family on Christmas day. Three lumber-laden trucks are pulled up to the house when Henry wakens. They are driven by Frank and the men from the construction site. In quick time, and with the help of gracious and giving neighbors, Henry's Christmas wish comes true. But, that's not the end of the story!

As any attentive listener and watcher will know, we met an older Henry as the story began. Once the house is built and a spring potluck dinner organized to celebrate and thank all those who worked so diligently to build Henry's family a new home, Henry receives another very special gift from Frank.  Being aware of the many blessings in his life, Henry wants to pay the magic forward and he does so.

The rest of the story follows Henry's life from his boyhood, to the older man he has become. After returning to his family home to live out that life, he is able to offer his gift of 'magic' to Rockerfeller Center, and to a little girl who comes to watch the tree lighting ceremony.

David Ruble includes a note in back matter that tells his readers this: since 2007, Tishman Speyer, the company which owns Rockerfeller Center, has donated the tree to Habitat for Humanity to be milled and used to build new and affordable homes.

 http://www.youtube.com/embed/pM4CChWlt5M

If you are as enamored of the beautiful artwork that Jim LaMarche creates time and time again, you will really appreciate seeing him working on it, and hearing what he has to say about this very special book.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/1G1YIXgPJ70"

It is a gift in the most wonderful sense of the word.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/U7g9iXUzS0E

What a Christmas celebration for your family this year!

and Nothing But the Truth, written by Kit Pearson. Harper, 2012. $19.99 ages 12 and up

"Polly sat on the same log where Chester had kissed her. Not a disgusting kiss, like Maud and Robert's, a magical one. She touched her forehead, as if the kiss were still there. The sea air smelled so fresh. There were no whales at this time of year, but a seal bobbed lazily near her. Over head, some gulls attacked a bald eagle, which chittered them away. How could she bear to leave this tomorrow?"

In this second story starring Polly and her sister Maud from The Whole Truth, we learn more about Polly and her life away from the island life she loves so much. She is following in her sister`s footsteps and wanting to make her Noni happy when she is enrols at St. Winnifred`s in Victoria. Polly is sure she won`t like it, but has promised the headmistress that she will try it for a year. She is not keen to leave everyone and everything she has come to love since moving to live with her grandmother.

She`s thirteen and dreams of being an artist. She knows that she will have the opportunity to attend special art classes in Victoria, but it doesn`t ease the concern about being away. There are so many rules and Polly seems always to be in one kind of trouble or another...she is nothing like her sister Maud and that is made plain to her.

While her family seems to have settled after sharing all their earlier difficulties, Polly worries about each of them. Her father is happily settled in Kelowna, where he has met someone to love after being alone for so long. Noni is doing well on the island, with her many activities and family gatherings. Maud is attending university in Vancouver, and happy with Robert. Only Polly seems unsettled.
Then, Maud makes a startling confession to Polly that leaves her to wonder if the family can survive another secret.

The school and personal issues that Polly faces are realistic, and make her an empathetic character. She struggles with new friends while she misses her old ones, she has great difficulty following the many rules that are set for her while she longs for the freedom of island life, and she worries endlessly about her sister, her father and her grandmother as they deal with yet another family crisis.

This is historical fiction and offers a look at life as it might be lived at the time of the Depression for some; for Polly, her grandmother`s wealth affords her some very special circumstances and she is very grateful for her Nonì`s support and guidance. Polly meets Emily Carr through her art teacher, and has aspirations to live her life as an artist in the future. I like that the prologue ties the loose ends for readers, who will find this book and its prequel dramatic and satisfying.

Goblin Secrets, written by William Alexander. Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster. 2012. $18.99 ages 8 and up

"This was strange to him. He always knew exactly how the rest of Graba's household felt, because none of them knew how to hide it. Graba herself never bothered to conceal her moods and wishes - her face was as easily readable as words spelled out in burning oil in the middle of the street. Rownie was used to that. The goblin, however, wore her smile in a language that Rownie didn't know and couldn't read."

When I first read about Goblin Secrets it had been made a finalist for the National Book Awards. Thanks to April at Simon & Schuster Canada I was able to read a copy before it was announced the winner in the Young People's Literature category. So, now I am going to tell you about it from my perspective.

It is Rownie's story about the city where he lives, the witch who controls him, the goblins who shelter him, and the search for his beloved brother. I was taken with William Alexander's setting. The city of Zombay is divided north and south by a turbulent, angry river that seems almost human. The two sides of the city are distinctly different. The Northside has a Mayor and his powerful, robotic guards who protect the rich and influential. The Southside is the 'wrong side of the tracks (well, river). It is controlled by Graba, a Baby Yaga type witch with geared legs, a snarky demeanor and incredible power. She houses orphans and uses them to do her bidding and run her errands. Rownie and his older brother Rowan were taken in by Graba when their parents were lost to the river.

Now, Rowan has disappeared, following his part in an illegal play, and the arrival of the Mayor's guards to arrest everyone involved. Rowan purportedly escaped, and has not been seen since that raid. After watching a goblin performance and taking a small role, Rownie decides to run away from Graba and join the theatre troupe.  He hopes they will have a way to find Rowan, or at least some news of him. He learns that Rowan was to play a part in a ritual that would keep the river from flooding Zombay. Without him, the city is on a collision course of destruction. Can Rownie take his place?

There is magic, a curse, manic pigeons, goblin wisdom, a race against time, an alarming discovery about what has happened to Rowan; all will draw the reader from page to page in a quest to see Rownie find his place in this world. It is a world with an imaginative appeal for middle graders who like fantasy. I loved the characters...each distinct and memorable. I found myself picturing the city, the river, Graba's constantly moving house, the goblins, the Grubs and the tower filled with masks.  It is memorable for all of those things and for William Alexander's ability to write a great story.

"Rownie woke up. He felt the cushioned chair underneath him, expecting to find the straw floor of Graba's shack. He didn't, and he didn't know why - not until he gathered up all the pieces of yesterday and put them back together in his head.Then he remembered how alone he was."

I haven't read what the judges had to say about this book. I am off to do that now!