Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor by Yin - OPTIONAL

Yin Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet.  Puffin, 2011.  PICTURE BOOK $7.99 Content: G. Willy and Carlos are best friends in a hard neighborhood.  Both boys are convinced that Santa won’t come to their scary neighborhood, especially because their apartment doesn’t have a chimney.  Willy writes a note telling Santa that he will stay up on Christmas Eve so that he can show Santa how to get to their apartment.  On Christmas Eve, Santa does show up, but the elevator doesn’t work, so he has to take the stairs to the 19th floor, just when it doesn’t seem that he will make it, he does.  Santa brings a present for both boys.  

This is a different take on Christmas Eve than the more traditional Night Before Christmas fare, but it could hit a target of students who find themselves wondering if Santa can make it into an apartment building.  EL (K-3)-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

10 Valentine Friends by Janet Schulman - OPTIONAL

Schulman, Janet. 10 Valentine Friends. Alfred A, Knopf, 2011 $8.99. Content G-PICTURE BOOK.. This counting book is bases on the valentine/love theme. It shows how not just lovers can celebrate the holiday, but the entire neighborhood. The pictures are bright and colorful. OPTIONAL for HOME/FAMILY use.  Shauna, reading teacher.

The Magical Christmas Horse by Mary Higgins Clark - ADVISABLE

Clark, Mary Higgins  The Magical Christmas Horse.  Illustrated by Wendell Minor.  Simon and Shuster, 2011.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  Johnny lives in Arizona with his family, but as they get ready to visit his grandparents in Connecticut he starts to remember the wooden horse that he played on when he was little.  Johnny is excited to let his little brother Liam play with the horse when they get to his grandparents.   However, when he gets there the horse is missing.  Johnny later finds the horse in his grandparents attic, but it is broken.  Magically for Christmas morning his grandpa and father restore the horse to surprise Johnny and Liam.  

The illustrations are beautiful and the story has a sweet Christmas message.  EL (K-3)-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Strega Nona’s Gift by Tomie dePaola - OPTIONAL

dePaola, Tomie  Strega Nona’s Gift  PICTURE BOOK Penguin Young Reader’s Group, 2011. $17.99  Content: G.  The beloved characters of Tomie dePaola’s books celebrate the Christmas season in Italy.  Each of the feasts of the month of December is included and one feast is for the animals.  When Strega Nona asks Big Anthony to go out and feed the goat the special turnips that she made for the goat, they smell so good that Big Anthony can’t resist and finds himself eating the whole bowl.  As revenge the goat eats Big Anthony’s blanket.  At another feast Big Anthony is able to pick any meal that he would like, so he asks Strega Nona for the turnips that she had made earlier and then Big Anothony offered the turnips to the goat as a truce.  The last page in the book summarizes the different feasts.  The book has fun illustrations and a good moral, but it would help to give the reader some background on the celebrations.  EL (K-3), EL (3-6)-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long - ESSENTIAL

Long, Laurel. The Twelve Days of Christmas. Dial Books, 2011 $16.99. Content G-PICTURE BOOK. The popular Christmas story and song comes alive in this beautiful book. The illustrations are amazing and finely detailed and just like the song repeats, Long has repeated each gift over and over hidden within the artwork of the new gift. This book truly is a keepsake. It’s beautiful enough to display, but has the hidden element that any age will enjoy reading over and over. GIFT - ESSENTIAL.  Shauna, reading teacher.

A Christmas Tree for Pyn by Olivier Dunrea - ADVISABLE

Dunrea, Olivier  A Christmas Tree for Pyn  PICTURE BOOK Philomel Books, 2011.  $16.99  Content: G.  Pyn lives in the mountains with her father, Oother.  Pyn is a small little girl and her father is a large mountain man.  Pyn takes care of her dad by feeding him and cleaning up the house, and her father goes out into the woods and works.  When it comes close to Christmas time, Pyn wants a Christmas tree and when her dad doesn’t respond, she takes matters into her own hands.  As she is walking into the woods a snowstorm almost buries little Pyn, but her father comes and gets her and together they find a tree.  The two bond over decorating their Christmas tree.  It’s a cute story about relationships and the illustrations are great.  EL-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Jingle Bells by John Harris - OPTIONAL

Harris, John Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be, illustrated by Adam Gustavson.  Peachtree, 2011.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  This is not a historical tale of  what did happen, but an imagining of what might have been the inspiration and timeline of Pierpont’s penning of this winter favorite.  It is still cute and a nice fantasy that isn’t so improbable.  PRE-K, EL(K-3) – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Listen to the Silent Night by Dandi Mackall - ADVISABLE

Mackall, Dandi Daley Listen to the Silent Night, paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.  Dutton (Penguin), 2011.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK.  Mackall brings to life the sounds that broke through on the not-so-silent night when Jesus was born in a barn – sounds which are given form by Johnson and Fancher’s illustrations.  If you know anyone who teaches religious classes for small children, this would be excellent, too.  GIFT, EL(K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Chilly Milly Moo by Fiona Ross - ADVISABLE

Ross, Fiona Chilly Milly Moo.  Candlewick, 2011.  $16.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  Milly Moo is way too hot to produce any milk.  Farmer threatens to send her away if she won’t produce.  When the temperature drops significantly overnight, Milly’s special talent for chilly concoctions becomes apparent.  Ross’ book is silly fun that will make young children chuckle.  I think this would be great for story time.  Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The Story of Christmas illustrated by Pamela Dalton - ADVISABLE

The Story of Christmas (from the King James Bible), illustrated by Pamela Dalton.  Handprint Books (Chronicle), 2011.  Dalton uses a Pennsylvania-German folkart cut-paper technique, scherenschnitte, to illustrate the Christmas Story from the King James Bible.  She is a master of the craft and for anyone looking a version of this hallowed story will be delighted to receive and read this book.  GIFT, EL – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite by Anna Calenza - ADVISABLE

Calenza, Anna Harwell Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, illustrated by Don Tate.  Charlesbridge, 2011.  $20.  PICTURE BOOK with CD.  Content: G.  Celenza uses history, liner notes and a little imagination to recount how Duke Ellington and his orchestra ended up reimagining Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite for the jazz era.  I have to say, instead of the classic ballet or the Nutty Nutcracker, I would much rather see Ellington’s piece as the backing for a ballet or modern dance performance during Christmas.  A great inspiration for a band, orchestra, dance troupe.  And a refreshing change from an over-performed “Christmas” piece.  EL, MS, HS – ADVISABLE. 

The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Eric Puybaret - ESSENTIAL

Moore, Clement C. The Night Before Christmas, paintings by Eric Puybaret, performed by Peter, Paul and Mary.  Imagine Books (Charlesbride), 2011. ISBN-13: 978-1936140060.  $20.  PICTURE BOOK with CD.  Content: G.  Puybaret has illustrated another classic – Moore’s iconic Christmas poem – with gorgeous illustrations that are perfection.  Don’t worry about the CD going missing – the illustrations are the star.  GIFT, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Home for Christmas by Jan Brett - ADVISABLE

Brett, Jan Home for Christmas.  Putnam’s (Penguin), 2011.  $18.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  Rollo Troll is out of control.  He has no desire to use his troll tail by working hard and being kind.  Instead, he would live with owls, bears, otters, a lynx and moose, in order to avoid being helpful.  Until one day, that is, that he smells the aroma of home and realizes that with his family is where he belongs.  Who doesn’t love Jan Brett’s illustrations and stories?  And as a bonus, you can sneak in a secret lesson about the importance of family and kindness.  EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Red Sled by Lita Judge - ESSENTIAL

Judge, Lita Red Sled.  Atheneum (Simon), 2011.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK.  A little child leaves a red sled outside and the wide arrange of creatures who borrow it overnight leave behind a tempting array of tracks after their moonlit joyride.  So tempting that the child watches the next night to see who it is that is borrowing the sled.  If you read this book to a child who has never seen snow, you’d better be prepared to take them sledding – it is that infectious.  Ms. Judges’ illustrations are full of wonder and delight and even I wonder how much fun would it be to sled with a bear!  EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Twelve Haunted Rooms of Halloween--ADVISABLE

Twelve Haunted Rooms of Halloween, illustrated by Macky Pamintuan.  Sterling Children’s Books, 2011.  $14.95. PICTURE BOOK.  A Halloween version of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song, a bear peaks into twelve haunted rooms and sees “a bat hanging from a bare tree,” monsters, zombies, goblins, etc.  The cartoon illustrations capture the Halloween spirit of spooky fun without being too creepy.  Illustrator Macky Pamintuan adds to the fun by adding 5 additional characters and items that are hidden throughout the book.  A great book for a storytime at home or at the library.  EL– ADVISABLE.  Samantha, Public Librarian.

Tacky’s Christmas by Helen Lester - OPTIONAL

Lester, Helen. Tacky’s Christmas. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children 2010, $16.99. Content G-picture book. Tacky the penguin is at it again. Not only does this fun-loving penguin enjoy life to the fullest, he always manages to somehow save the day. In this latest installment of the Tacky series, Tacky dresses as Santa Claus and a tree at the same time to distract and win over the hearts of evil hunters. I’m not sure how many of you are Tacky fans, but this being the first one I have read I was not impressed. I had a hard time getting over the incorrect grammar would not be wanting to have young readers read this because of that reason. EL - OPTIONAL if you are a Tacky fan. Shauna, reading teacher.

The Carpenter’s Gift by David Rubel - ADVISABLE

Rubel, David The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree, illustrated by Jim LaMarche.  Andom House, 2011.  $18.  PICTURE BOOK.  Henry and his father are headed to New York in order to make a little bit of money selling Christmas trees from their woods to the City folk.  They give the last of their trees to the workmen building the new Rockefeller Center, who in turn do Henry’s family a great service.  from the pinecone that Henry plants that day, comes a huge tree that many decades later becomes a tree for New York’s famous celebration. While the story itself is not true, it is a beautiful idea – and since 2007, the old tree from each year is milled into lumber that is given to Habitat for Humanity.  It is a wonderful Christmas story to read and presents a great opportunity to talk about the Great Depression and about Habitat for Humanity.  EL – ADVISABLE.   Cindy, Library Teacher