passionately sharing, discussing and admiring children's picture books
It is the thirteenth day of December and we are back again for a quick Advent book journey review. Taking up a traditional text with another illustrator’s interpretation of it, here is Holly Hobbie’s The Night Before Christmas, written by Clement C. Moore and illustrated by Holly Hobbie, 1970.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 13: Holly Hobbie’s The Night Before Christmas”
It’s day 12 in our book journey and that means we are basically halfway there! Christmas is in 12 days. I am so not ready, but the celebration and preparations continue. Today’s books is very unique. I read it cold turkey with our toddler the other day and I was completely surprised by its format and illustrations and story. Even more surprising was that my daughter loved it. It seemed a little slow-paced and not a lot for visual cues, but I was wrong and she was enthralled. This is a beautiful, childish retelling of the Christmas story. A sister and brother play pretend and recreate the Nativity together. Enjoy sneaking into their playtime with Our Very Own Christmas by Annette Langen & Mariji Tolman, 2012.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 12: Our Very Own Christmas”
This eleventh day of December, I bring you somewhat of an oddity of a picture book. It is an old book from 1969 with gorgeous illustrations. While the plot seemingly has nothing to do with all the celebration around Christmas, I guarantee that if you stick around for the entire story, you will be awed and merry and much more ready for Christmas than you were before. This is How Six Found Christmas by Trina Schart Hyman, 1969.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 11: How Six Found Christmas”
Here we are, ten days into our Christmas book countdown. Today’s book is from the 40s, but I finally acquired this copy just last week! I have been searching for this book for over a year, purely based on a few illustrations I’ve seen circulating on the internet. I have to say that I am not disappointed. This is a beauty. A collection of Christmas stories, poems and songs in A Big Golden Book, take a peek at My Christmas Treasury with pictures by Lowell Hess, 1947.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 10: My Christmas Treasury”
Our book for today’s picture book countdown is older and occasionally difficult to find. My treasured book is an ex-library copy with a sad missing jacket cover. The dull gray binding is hiding great beauty beneath, so I will share two spreads in this somewhat quick post. Here is Merry Christmas, Ernest and Celestine by Gabrielle Vincent, 1983.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 9: Merry Christmas, Ernest and Celestine”
I have debated on saving today’s book in our picture book countdown for December 26th, but then I realized that I will be ready for a break from posting daily by then and this book is too good to chance forgetting to post about. Why wait until December 26th? Well, today’s lovely uncoated paper, graphic beauty is a story about what happens after Christmas when all the chaos and planning and hubbub is over for Santa and his North Pole team. Take a look at the plight of the big, not-always-so-jolly guy in Sad Santa by Tad Carpenter, 2012.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 8: Sad Santa”
Three Books a Night 