Hanukah Money

For all our friends who celebrate Hanukkah...

Hanukah Money

Sholem Aleichem

illustrated by Uri Shulevitz 1978

Shulevitz pictures have a certain Maurice Sendak flair to them.  And you gotta love those Yiddish words and mannerisms.

Christmas Is A Time of Giving

This sweet little book adorns our coffee table this time of year. 

Christmas is a Time of Giving

Joan Walsh Anglund

It's Christmas

It's Christmas

Jack Prelutsky

pictures by Marylin Hafner

Plenty of silly, fun Christmas poems to start December with.  I like the last one, "Tomorrow is Christmas", it has a Shel Silverstein feel to it.

Christmas in Noisy Village

Christmas in Noisy Village

Astrid Lindgren

illustrated by Ilon Wikland 1981

Good ol' Astrid Lindgren has done it again. Another charming, Scandinavian story of children living with their families in "Noisy Village". It's Christmas time and we're told about all the traditions and fun the kids have.

The pictures are great and I swear I've seen those red candle holders at IKEA.

Other Books by Astrid Lindgren:

Ronia the Robber's Daughter

The Tomten

Milly and the Macy's Parade

Milly and the Macy's Parade

Shana Corey

illustrated by Brett Helquist 2009

We've actually never watched the Macy's Parade but my in-laws always have it on during Thanksgiving. Brett Helquist did the illustrations for the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books and I really like the ones in this book as well.

Though not entirely historical (there's an interesting author's note at the end) I like that the story is about an immigrant girl and her idea to cure homesickness and celebrate both the old countries and the new.

It looked a little like the old country, and a little like America, and a little like something entirely new. Who would have thought that one marvelous idea could give so many different people something to celebrate together?

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

William Joyce

illustrated by Joe Bluhm 2012

Since the season of gift-giving is at hand, here's one of my recommendations. Madeleine particularly loves this book- which is no surprise since she is my voracious reader! Apparently there was a film short that came first but we've never seen it. Mr. Morris Lessmore ends up surrounded in a world of books (what a dream!). He takes care of them and they become his lifelong friends.

We have many other William Joyce books and have come to realize he is always full of amazing tales. The pictures are nice and even the long rectangular binding make it a little more special. It would certainly make a worthwhile gift.

Close Your Eyes

Close Your Eyes

Jean Marzollo

pictures by Susan Jeffers

For those hard to settle down nights, this is the perfect book when read in a soft soothing way. A father puts his little boy to bed and the rhyming lines blend beautifully with the dreamy pictures by Jeffers. The end result should be a soft, snuggly, sleepy child.

Other books illustrated by Susan Jeffers:

All the Pretty Horses