Category: Book Reviews

25 Days – Book 16: Christmas Is Together-Time

Continuing on our Christmas picture book countdown, it is time for some vintage. And who better than Charlie Brown for sentimental, nostalgic, tongue-in-cheek, festive reading? This is one of the small gift books from the 60s and it is hysterical, charming, thought-provoking, smile-inducing, and chock full of Peanuts characters. Add in one color, black ink on bright red and green paper, and I am sold! Here is Christmas is Together-Time by Charles M. Schulz, 1964.

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25 Days – Book 15: Miracle on 133rd Street

Ten days until Christmas! As we truck on in our picture book countdown, I am delighted to bring yet another new book this year. I am beginning to realize I have a small obsession with this illustrator. It comes as a complete surprise to me as I don’t actively seek out her books; but every time I come across one, I fall madly in love. But it isn’t just the images here; this story is beautiful, heartwarming, familial, and a little tear-jerking. Come delight in another Christmas miracle that changes an apartment building and a whole community, all thanks to a special Puerto Rican Christmas roast. Here is Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, 2015.

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25 Days – Book 14: The Reindeer Wish

Day 14 and I bring to you a brand new book from the creators of a couple of bestsellers. I honestly haven’t looked through the earlier books in this pseudo-series, but I grabbed this one after hearing about it and I have to say, we are captivated by it. It is the story of a young girl living in the far, far north who discovers an abandoned reindeer, cares for it, loves it, and then must do everything she can to grant its biggest wish. This is The Reindeer Wish by Lori Evert, photographs by Per Breiehagen, 2015.

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25 Days – Book 13: What Is Christmas?

We are now officially halfway through the 25 Days of Christmas Books for 2015! While this makes me a bit stressed out as I still have so much to do in preparation for the holiday; I find a sweet, simple book like this one helps me take a deep breath and refocus myself and our family’s hurried schedule. My copy of this is a board book, which is proving helpful for my less-than-gentle younger daughter who loves to look through it multiple times a day. It contains all the aspects of Christmas she finds exciting: dogs, popcorn, Christmas trees, babies, Santa, candy canes, cookies, reindeer, ducks, donkeys, Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. Whew! Yes, it is all here in this very short, very sweet, rhyming message about the true celebration for Christmas. Here is What Is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Amy Wummer, 2006.

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25 Days – Book 12: The Perfect Christmas

Day 12 has arrived which means we are almost halfway through our countdown to Christmas! Today I bring a humorous book about families and the holiday. It is the story of two girls who are neighbors and how their families celebrate Christmas in their own unique way. It’s The Perfect Christmas by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi, 2011.

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25 Days – Book 11: The Night Before Christmas Illustrated by Duvoisin

Day 11 of our Advent countdown and it is time to add another book to “The Night Before Christmas” tag. I just cannot resist. And honestly, no offense Mr. Moore, but it isn’t because of the poem. Yes, I appreciate the lovely wording and beautiful imagery he penned; but most fascinating to me in each of these many duplicate-named books is the interpretation by the different illustrators. I especially love when a well-known and beloved illustrator takes their turn with the text. So let’s take a look at the gorgeous, classic, and recently reissued version of that famous poem, The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin, 1954.

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