It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . . . 2019 #4

Two words, Christmas spirit, can have multiple meanings depending on the context in which they are used.  If we are speaking of the classic Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, ghostly visits figure into the discussion.  There are those who express their enthusiasm for the season by decorating their homes, places of work and even their vehicles.  They are apt to wear clothing and jewelry in keeping with celebrations.  People will play, sing or hum music or songs to convey their holiday happiness.

Another indication of the Christmas spirit, which many reveal throughout the year, are acts of kindness and giving without any expectation of acknowledgement. Little Robin's Christmas (Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press, September 10, 2019) written and illustrated by Jan Fearnley is indeed a tale representative of this holiday and its true meaning.  Readers, especially readers residing in the state of Michigan, will instantly realize this as an origin story, too.

Once upon a time, there was a little brown bird.  His name was Little Robin, and this is his story.

Little Robin had seven different vests to keep him cozy and comfy.  It was seven days before Christmas.  He intended to wear one each day.

On the first day he put on his white vest.  Arriving at the pond to skate, Frog was found shivering with cold.  Little Robin gave him his vest.  Little Robin thought about the six remaining vests he had to protect him from the winter weather.

On each of the six remaining days Little Robin put on his green, pink, yellow, blue, purple and orange vests.  Each time he donned these vests to keep him warm, he met a forest friend.  Hedgehog, Mole, Squirrel, Rabbit, Otter's baby and a little mouse needed those vest more than he did.  By the time Christmas Eve arrived Little Robin was far from home and he had no more vests.

Chilled with cold and huddled on a roof covered with snow, Little Robin fell sound asleep.  He did not hear sounds only heard on Christmas Eve.  Soon he found himself in the company of two people known to embody the Christmas spirit.  One of them using thread from a special coat made Little Robin one final vest.  He is still wearing it to this day.


When you read an origin story like Little Robin's Christmas, you can't help but wonder how author Jan Fearnley initially had the idea for this tale.  What prompted her to write how robins have red breasts and link it to the giving associated with Christmas?  To begin, her use of once upon a time sets a tone of storytelling magic.

She continues with establishing and maintaining a rhythm in the donning of the vests each day, having Little Robin wander to another part of the forest and of his generosity in giving away his vests to those who are cold.  Each time another number, smaller, enters Little Robin's thoughts the pattern is reinforced.  The mix of narrative and conversation invites us deeper into the story.  Here are several passages. 

"Brrrrrrr! The ground's too hard to dig,
and I'm chilly!" Mole complained.

So Little Robin gave his pink vest to Mole.

It was a little tight, but Mole didn't mind.
He was nice and warm.

Four vests left, thought Little Robin.


Even though the two scenes shown on the open and matching dust jacket and book case look like a winter wonderland, they radiate warmth.  The warmth is found in the red vest Little Robin is wearing and in the tiny heart acting as a dot for the "i" in Christmas.  On the front all the intricate lines are embossed in silver foil.  It glistens like sunlight on snow. 

To the left, on the back, an interior image is shown.  The little mouse, now wearing Little Robin's orange and last vest, is embracing the compassionate bird.  This illustration is more panoramic with rolling hills, topped with evergreens, in the distance.

On the opening and closing endpapers, the red shade seen on the spine patterned with snowflakes is repeated. On the initial title page, Little Robin wearing his red vest is flying to the right.  On the formal title page, a double-page picture places Little Robin on a tree branch on the right side.  He is singing without any vest and overlooking people and the forest animals engaged in winter activities. 

Rendered in mixed media the illustrations joyfully depict each element of the story.  Jan Fearnley changes the size of the pictures and their perspective to accentuate the pacing.  The warmhearted nature of Little Robin is always visible as is the joy the other animals have for him when they are wearing his vests.  And there is no doubt as to the cold each animal is experiencing before Little Robin gives them his vest.  In each image the eyes of the characters truly shine with emotion.  Readers will appreciate all the extra details Jan Fearnley includes in her visuals.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is on a single page.  There is a liberal amount of white space surrounding a loose circular image.  It is the inside of Squirrel's home.  Squirrel, now wearing Little Robin's yellow vest, is sound asleep on a nest of autumn leaves.  Acorns are scattered among the leaves.  Little Robin is perched on top of Squirrel reaching out a wing in comfort.  Behind Little Robin in the opening to the nest is a wash of blue hues with white snowflakes falling.


I have read Little Robin's Christmas written and illustrated by Jan Fearnley repeatedly.  Each time I study the illustrations and discover some new tiny detail.  I booktalked it to a friend today during a phone conversation and they loved it.  This book opens the possibility of a variety of discussions and activities.  I highly recommend it for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Jan Fearnley and her other work, please follow the links attached to her name to access her website and blog.  In reading her blog, you will discover this book, in another form, was published twenty years ago.  In the UK it is titled Little Robin Red Vest.  Jan Fearnley has accounts on Facebook and Twitter.  You can view interior images at Nosy Crow and Penguin Random House.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . . . 2019 #2

Parents, caregivers and educators have sure knowledge of the passion and persistence children employ when they are in pursuit of a plan.  Once they get an idea in their minds, it usually takes an epic force to impede any progress.  Their desire for success is so strong, that if at first they don't succeed, they will most definitely try again.

Defeat is not an option.  Brainstorming a new scheme to obtain a desired goal is the only course of action.  The Great Santa Stakeout (Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., September 3, 2019) written by Betsy Bird with illustrations by Dan Santat is a light-hearted, humorous look at a boy who lives and dreams 24/7 all things Santa Claus. This year he is on a very specific quest.

Freddy Melcher was Santa's #1 Fan.

Every celebration throughout the year was an opportunity to dress up as Santa spreading Christmas cheer.  In his immense collection of Santa memorabilia which did include Santa underwear, Freddy Melcher lacked one thing, one very important thing.  He didn't have a picture with Santa after he came down the chimney.  He must have this photograph.  Nothing else would suffice to fill this gap in his gathered items.

In order to accomplish this mission, Freddy had to use every ounce of stealth and cunning he possessed.  This would be no easy task because Santa knows everything.  There were four steps to Freddy's objective.  He plotted and practiced all year long.

On Christmas Eve, no one knew about the four portions of his project he had in place.  What Freddy did not anticipate was failing with the final step.  He fell asleep.

CRASH!

Freddy was horrified by what he saw outside his window.  He could not get through the front door fast enough.  In the pile of what was left of step one of his master scheme was a note.  A range of emotions pulsed through Freddy's heart and mind.  The last line of the story sums up exactly what Freddy (and any other child chasing a dream) feels.  Hooray for those of indomitable spirit!


With a skill born of years working with children and children's literature, master librarian Betsy Bird pens a tale in tribute of children and their joyful spirit in pursing an adventure.  After the first statement, subsequent sentences offer support but it's her descriptions which elevate every portion of this story.  Freddy just doesn't want a picture with Santa, he wants one

with Santa, fresh out of the chimney.

Known phrases of this holiday are adeptly woven into the narrative.  Only someone with the heart of a child could conjure up the four steps of Freddy's undertaking. Reader's will sense the gentle rhythm with the use of alliteration and the technique of storytelling three supplied when Freddy is trying to reach a conclusion.  Here is a passage.

Freddy was vigilant.  It was almost midnight, and Santa
should be here any second, yeah . . . any . . . any . . .

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z . . .


When you unfold the dust jacket, the happiness of a snow-covered Christmas scene unfolds before your eyes.  Placing the decorated homes at night in the background provides the intended focus to shift to Freddy, in his Santa clothes, gazing with wonder into the Santa snow globe.  Readers will be entranced by the silhouette of Santa and his reindeer crossing the full moon.  (I really like the corresponding circle of the snow globe and the moon.) Illustrator artist Dan Santat already reveals his attention to detail in this setting with the word NOEL on one of the roofs and candy canes along the peak, glittering strings of lights, Santa on another roof and a smiling snowman in another yard.  Spot varnish on the lights gives the appearance of twinkling when the jacket is moved in the light.  Santa, his sleigh and reindeer and his magical dust along with the snow globe and text are varnished.  The title text is in red foil.

The book case is covered in green plaid wrapping paper.  Rows of Santa faces provide an additional pattern.  Crossed wide red ribbon is shown on the front and back.

On the opening and closing endpapers readers are given a close-up glimpse of OPERATION SANTA SELFIE-01 and OPERATION SANTA SELFIE-02 (next year) blueprints on Freddy's desk with a desk lamp providing illumination.  His drawings are labeled with the steps and speech bubbles.  In the lower, right-hand corner as if it's genuine, the caption reads

FREDDY MELCHER
OFFICIAL BLUEPRINT OF MELCHER INC.

Dan Santat's pictorial vision begins on the title page with a double-page image of Freddy, in his Santa clothing, working at his desk.  A Santa mug holds his drawing supplies.  The only light comes from the lamp.  The next double-page picture crosses the gutter into the verso and dedication pages on the left and we read the first sentence on the right.  It's a close-up of a grinning Freddy in his Santa attire.

Each illustration rendered

with ink, watercolor, and Adobe Photoshop

spans two pages or a full page to enhance the pacing.  Readers will pause at every page turn to notice the Santa elements in each scene, especially in Freddy's bedroom with his collection.  They will burst out laughing at the bus stop when Freddy appears in full Santa dress with a beard and green backpack on Talk Like a Pirate Day.  All the other students are dressed like a captain and crew straight off a pirate ship.  Without a doubt it's the expressions on the faces of Freddy and the other characters which heighten the emotional impact of the story.  Dan Santat uses light and shadow and shifts in perspective to great effect.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations, in addition to those previously mentioned, is a two-page picture.  It is Christmas Eve.  The only light in the setting comes from the open doorway to Freddy's bedroom.  His smiling parents are standing there looking at him.  In the darkness to the left and right of the doorway we can faintly see portions of Freddy's collection of Santa items.  In the front and larger than life is Freddy lying with his back to his parents and facing readers.  His eyes are wide open.  There is a faint smile on his face.  He is wearing green snowflake pajamas and a red snowflake blanket covers him.  This image is overflowing with anticipation . . . and something else, too.


You'll want to add The Great Santa Stakeout written by Betsy Bird with illustrations by Dan Santat to your professional and personal collections as fast as possible.  It's a hilarious look at the love of a child for Santa.  You'll find yourself cheering for Freddy Melcher and his efforts.  This is pure Christmas merriment.

To discover more about Betsy Bird and Dan Santat and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access the respective websites.  Betsy Bird has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Dan Santat has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  The cover reveal and interview and book trailer premiere are found on Betsy Bird's blog at School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production.  Interior images and activities can be found at the publisher's website.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . . . 2019

Children are most excellent observers.  No detail escapes their attention.  Most educators can attest to the fact their students notice if they get a haircut, are wearing different glasses, switch out their style of shoes or if they alter their everyday watch or jewelry.  Even the smallest change in the classroom or library setting will prompt a question.  That's another wonderful quality of children; their curiosity is rarely satisfied.

They want answers when something out of the ordinary happens.  Santa's Secret (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2019) written by Denise Brennan-Nelson with illustrations by Deborah Melmon addresses a suspicious situation a little girl sees.  She is determined to discover the truth.

My parents had planned an adventure one day.
We loaded the car and went on our way.

From their home to the center of the city, the girl, her parents and grandmother sing Christmas carols.  (The family dog looks happy, too.)  Perched on her father's shoulders, the child has a perfect view of the festive parade.  Soon a red sleigh, carrying Santa, passes them.  The crowd roars with delight.

As the family walks along the city streets, the girl notices another Santa.  He is not the same Santa as she saw in the sleigh.  After announcing this out loud, her mother tells her Santa needs helpers to complete all his work.  Who is the real Santa?  Her grandmother tells her it's Santa's secret.  Only he knows who the real Santa is.  If Santa knows, this little girl wants to know, too.

Later, approaching Santa in his chair, the girl, armed with a pad of paper, pencil and questions, is ready to reveal the truth.  She asks question after question from simply wanting his name to the reindeer's favorite food and then to who helps him decide what presents to give. Does he ever take a vacation?  When she asks him if he is the real Santa, he answers without words.

When this Santa asks her a question, she complies and then goes with her family to a cozy coffee spot.  Sipping on her hot chocolate, she ponders her notes.  She then sees a startling sight.  Without hesitation, she moves to the quiet corner.  Before she can utter more than an

Excuse me

spoken words have her suddenly turning toward her mother.  When she looks again, her surprise turns to satisfaction.  Sometimes being a secret keeper is more important than being a secret solver.


With her opening sentences author Denise Brennan-Nelson promptly brings the joy, the secrecy and the magic of the season to readers.  This story in rhyme, each two lines conclude with rhyming words, creates an inviting cadence. A lively mix of text and conversation keeps us eagerly turning the pages.  Readers find themselves as anxious as the little girl to solve the puzzle.  Not only, through the narrative, do we come to understand the character, but we know her family to be supportive, loving and wise.  Here is a passage.

I had questions for Santa.  I would see what he knew---
About reindeer and elves and the rest of the crew.

I got out my notebook.  I would crack this case wide!
From a good detective, the truth cannot hide.


The wintry background in pale teal, with swirling snowflakes above the snowy ground, spreads from the left, back, across the spine, to the right, the front, on the matching dust jacket and book case.  The smiling faces of the three Santa Clauses, their clothing, glasses and body postures radiate happiness.  By placing the girl, full of curiosity, with her pencil and notepad full of questions, in the foreground, our curiosity is piqued also.  What exactly is Santa's secret?

To the left, on the back, a portion of the interior text, is placed beneath the child and her grandmother.  Her grandmother is whispering to her.  This makes us more excited to uncover the truth.

The opening and closing endpapers are as white as new-fallen snow.  With a page turn we see the family dog, tail wagging, sniffing the notebook and nearby pencil.  On the title page, the girl is seated on Santa's lap.  She and Santa are looking at each other with questioning eyes.

Illustrator Deborah Melmon has chosen a full-color palette with vibrant hues exuding warmth and cheer.  She alternates her image sizes from double-page pictures to full-page illustrations.  For emphasis on pacing several smaller visuals are grouped together on single pages or as part of a double-page image.  Perspectives are similarly shifted to accentuate emotions or moods in a moment.

One of my many favorite illustrations is the first double-page picture.  On the left from a few homes among rolling hills in the country, the road stretches into a bustling city.  With stones walls on either side of the road, the family's bright red car travels.  A Christmas wreath hangs on the front.  Everyone inside the car is singing, wearing their winter clothing.  The right side shows the city buildings festooned in greenery and lights.  Large evergreens are glowing with lights and shiny ornaments.  A large happy snowman watches everything and everyone from a rooftop.  When you look at this page (and all the following pages), it's like holding happiness in your hands.


For inquisitive readers with a thirst for the truth, Santa's Secret written by Denise Brennan-Nelson with illustrations by Deborah Melmon is a scrumptious holiday delight.  The playful, rhythmic words with the vivid, merry images will fully engage readers.  You'll want to add this title to your holiday collections to keep the spirit of Santa Claus strong in readers' hearts.

To discover more about Denise Brennan-Nelson and Deborah Melmon and their other work, please visit their respective websites by following the links attached to their names.  Denise Brennan-Nelson has an account on Twitter.  Deborah Melmon has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  To view interior pages, visit the publisher's website.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . . It's Here!

Outside early this morning, it's like the whole world is holding its breath.  The dark and silence wrap around you like a comforting blanket.  You wait.  Anticipation is building.  (For some it's been mounting for months.)  

As the sky lightens, chickadees burst into song, flitting from branch to branch. For most days of the year, this is what these feathered friends do but today, Christmas Day 2018, their notes seem a bit higher and louder.  They know.  I Got the Christmas Spirit (Bloomsbury Children's Books, September 4, 2018) written by Connie Schofield-Morrison with illustrations by her husband, Frank Morrison, follows a little girl we met in I Got the Rhythm.  (I Got the Rhythm was selected by the State of Michigan for it's Ready To Read Michigan program 2018.)  In the new companion book, this little gal embraces all the elements of the season realizing something wonderful.

I woke up to the

spirit of the season.

RISE

   AND

       SHINE!

As she and her mother walk through their community, she listens and hears the spirit in the ringing of bells.  It continues when she approaches the Santa making the sound and puts her carefully saved money in his red collection bucket.  Joining a group of carolers, she sings out the spirit.

Oh!  She's tasting it now as she munches on roasted nuts sold by a street vendor.  A gust of wind pushes the chill of the spirit down the sidewalk among shoppers.  As snow drifts down, the girl and her mother glide among other skaters sharing all the sensations of moving across ice.

As it grows darker, lights twinkle.  The sight of a mother and child, homeless, and asking for help, stirs something precious and essential within this child.  She moves with purpose and speed toward Santa.  Sitting on his lap she has a lot to say.

Quicker than you can say, Ho Ho Ho, with a smile on her face and determination in her step, holding a package she leads a group out of the store.  Where they go will spread a glow from the top of your head to the tip of your toes and from deep inside your heart to all those around you.  Later, as the girl and her mother meet her father, final words disclose a truth for everyone

every day of the year.

For eleven of the fifteen declarative sentences author Connie Schofield-Morrison follows with words we hear, say, taste, see, smell and believe.  This technique of call and response supplies us with a pleasing rhythm.  While she draws our attention to all the layers of the Christmas spirit through the experiences of the girl, she is building toward a larger idea.  This discovery, this reminder at the conclusion, is one to hold close to our hearts. Here is a single call and response.

I tasted the sweet

spirit crunch!

YUM

   YUM  

When you open the matching dust jacket and book case, you are in for two treats.  First, how can you resist smiling, at the very least, when looking at the front.  That girl, carrying a gift and marching through the snow, is wearing a truly infectious smile.  She IS the Christmas spirit.

To the left, on the back, she is walking in front of her parents with arms spread wide to welcome the spirit into her soul or as readers will discover to release it into the world.  I love the way the parents are leaning into each other as they walk behind her.  Even though it's snowing in both scenes, they radiate warmth.  In these first two images readers discover the exquisite details found in the work of Frank Morrison.  Colored lights are entwined around lamp posts.  Snowflakes are meticulously positioned at the top of each pole.  Footprints in the snow, light and shadow add depth to each painting.

The opening and closing endpapers are covered in a rich teal.  Beneath the text on the title page the girl and her mother, arms out at their sides, are skating.  Opposite the verso a snowy setting gives us a view of the building where the family (and others) lives.  Lights glow in all the windows.  A welcoming wreath hangs on the door.

Each double page illustration is painted with oil on canvas.  Each one is vibrant with color and literally alive on the paper.  You want to walk inside each visual and join in the sensory perceptions.  Frank Morrison shifts his perspective in each picture bringing us close to the girl or expanding the view to include other people and the buildings around them.  You get a realistic representation of the city which increases your involvement as a reader.

One of my many favorite illustrations is for the words

I sang the spirit from my heart.

Across the pages from left to right are ten carolers dressed in winter wear and wearing Santa hats.  Open songbooks in teal and red are held in front of them.  Behind them city buildings stretch toward the sky.  On the far left the girl's mother is singing and clapping her hands.  On the right, head lifted to the sky and mouth open in song, is the girl.  She and her mother are wearing puffer coats; her mom in red and she in purple with a white fur collar.  Snow is falling.  FA LA LA LA LA is placed on the songbooks.

There is an abundance of joy in I Got the Christmas Spirit written by Connie Schofield-Morrison with illustrations by her husband, Frank Morrison.  This girl's outlook with send your spirits soaring not only during this holiday but throughout the year.  This is a wonderful addition to your personal and professional Christmas collections.

To learn more about Connie Schofield-Morrison please visit her page at Painted Words.  You can discover more about Frank Morrison by following the link attached to his name to access his website and also at Painted Words.  I believe you will enjoy this post by Connie Schofield-Morrison at The Brown Bookshelf. 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . . #6

On December 19, 1843 the world was introduced to Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.  Scrooge, a penny-pinching, irritable man, over the course of visits by four spirits, his old business partner, Jacob Marley, The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present and The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is completely transformed.  For the rest of his life he honors the true meaning of Christmas with generosity.

Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) published How The Grinch Stole Christmas! in May of 1957.  This creature and his dog, Max, attempt to stop Christmas from coming to the Whos in Whoville.  On Christmas Day from the top of Mt. Crumpit, Grinch is shocked to hear singing instead of sobbing down in Whoville.  They say

that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day! 

A bear whose grumpiness has made readers laugh in Mother Goose Bruce, Hotel Bruce, and Bruce's Big Move is back in a fourth companion title.  He is as cranky as ever in Santa Claus Bruce (Disney Hyperion, September 4, 2018) written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins.  Will Bruce's peevish personality surrender to seasonal cheer?

Bruce was a bear
who did not like the holidays.

Being a bear, Bruce preferred to slumber through the winter but his acquired family, four geese and three mice, had other ideas.  They wanted to have an old fashioned, shared Christmas.  The house was decorated courtesy of the geese and the mice made an enormous batch of eggnog.  Bruce was not happy about this; not happy at all.

To keep warm (he detested being cold) Bruce wore red, long underwear and a red hat when he was outside.  In a blink of an eye, a young raccoon mistook him for Santa.  Despite Bruce's denials, the youngster left announcing to the woods he had met Santa.  In another blink of an eye, multiple animals were gathered outside Bruce's home.  To his unending sense of dismay, one of the members of his family let everyone inside.

Bruce slumped in a car as critter after critter shared their secret Christmas wishes with him.  To make it worse, the parents arrived to thank Bruce for his. . . er. . . joy with their children.  While Bruce was trying to process yet another case of mistaken identity, Thistle (a mouse) announced

Santa Bruce is going to deliver presents to all of your kids tonight!

Bruce stalked toward his bed.  The mice had other ideas.  For every objection he made, the mice had a solution.  Reluctantly Bruce agreed to go out as Santa Bruce.  His crabby self was getting crabbier with every tug on the "sleigh" he ends up pulling and every complicated delivery.  All Bruce wanted to do as dawn breaks was sleep but he had no such luck.

HONK!


The comedic pacing Ryan T. Higgins supplies readers with his impeccable blend of narrative and conversational commentary by the characters is like opening a gift full of laughter with every page turn.  The other characters are oblivious to Bruce's sulking, gruffness and declarations which continuously heightens the hilarity.  Ryan cleverly and carefully leaves spaces in the text for his illustrations to complete a humorous moment.  Here is a passage.

Tell them I'm not Santa.

Everyone, listen up!
Single file!  No pushing!
Santa Bruce has time
to see all of you!
Who wants cocoa? 


You cannot look at the opened dust jacket, especially the front without laughing.  The contrast between the expression on Bruce's face and the faces of the young animals around him is funnier than funny.  Ryan T. Higgins includes the three mice who continually push Bruce into uncomfortable situations.  Notice the third mouse with the pencil in his hand at the top of the image.

To the left, on the back, a Christmas red provides a canvas for a loosely framed white oval.  One of the geese is walking with the three mice.  Two of them are carrying a large evergreen wreath with a big red bow.  This illustration is varnished as is the sign on the front.  Santa Claus Bruce is in red foil.

The book case, front and back, is one of Bruce's gifts wrapped in green paper with a red bow.  On the far left and far right the paper is ripped.  It reveals the gift.

The opening and closing endpapers are a scene in the woods.  It's serene with Bruce's house on the right.  In the first one, colored Christmas lights outline windows, the roof and door.  A wreath hangs between the front window and the door.  For the closing everything is now dark except for the starry sky.  Smoke still comes out the chimney.

As soon as you see the mice on the title page, you know something wild and wonderful is going to happen.  On the next page (verso) they are dragging a Christmas tree toward Bruce who is standing, arms folded, on the first page.  (The verso background is bright red.)

The illustrations created using scans of treated clayboard for texture, graphite, ink, and Photoshop are on full pages with large areas of white space for framing, full pages, edge to edge, and large double-page pictures, edge to edge.  For purposes of the passage of time, smaller images are grouped three times.  The body postures and facial expressions of the characters send the laughter factor sky high.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a close-up of Santa Bruce hunched over in his chair.  He is not happy at all.  The parents have left after the announcement was made that gifts will be delivered.  One of the mice wearing an elf hat is giving the disgruntled bear a thumbs-up.  The other in a baseball cap with hands raised in the air cries out:

It's a Christmas miracle!


Santa Claus Bruce written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins is going to be a favorite in any setting, story times in schools and public libraries and for family read aloud gatherings.  You are going to get requests for repeat readings.  You might want to stock up on crackers.  I highly recommend this title for your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Ryan T. Higgins and his other work, follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  Ryan has accounts on Twitter and Instagram.  At the publisher's website there are several pages of activities.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . . #5

Sometimes we need to explore and discover (or rediscover) the true spirit of Christmas.  This is the commemoration of the birth of a child who became a man asking us, again and again, to love one another.  It is about giving with no thought of receiving. 


One children's literature character who continually shines as a beacon of friendship is Little Elliot.  In each of their stories, Little Elliot, Big City, Little Elliot, Big Family, Little Elliot, Big Fun and Little Elliot, Fall Friends, this white elephant with blue and pink polka-dots and his friend, Mouse, with one notched ear, spread goodwill consistently. Merry Christmas, Little Elliot (Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, September 11, 2018) written and illustrated by Mike Curato is about a search for a seasonal feeling.  Sometimes it's already within us but it takes the winds of fate to set it free.

Little Elliot was not excited
about Christmas.

"Let's go see Santa," said Mouse. 

As they waited in line to see the jolly old elf, Elliot knew what he wanted.  When he asked Santa about receiving the Christmas spirit, Santa replied it was not his to give.  Elliot needed to find it himself.

He and Mouse decided to look for it.  It was not at a classic Christmas ballet presentation, at the city center showcasing an enormous decorated tree, or at the park's sledding hill.  When the duo stopped for a hot chocolate break, Elliot told Mouse he could not find the Christmas spirit.

Suddenly a gust of wind delivered a bright red envelope right into Elliot's face.  It was addressed to Santa at the North Pole.  When Elliot and Mouse arrived back at the department store it was closed and St. Nick was gone.  This was indeed a dilemma. 

After deciding to read the letter, Elliot wondered how he could help make this request a reality.  In a few moments he had a plan. He and Mouse took a trip driving hours at night.  At their destination a greeting of great joy announced their presence.  A gift is given and received.


When Mike Curato begins with our pachyderm pal having a problem, we are ready to read and listen.  We, like Elliot's friend Mouse, want to help.  Through a concise, deliberate combination of narrative and conversations the story unfolds with marvelous pacing and pleasing surprises. Here is a passage.

"How do I find the 
Christmas spirit?" asked Elliot.

"I don't know," said Mouse, "but I will help you look!"


It is said not to judge a book by its cover but looking at this opened dust jacket is going to send everyone's holiday spirit into high gear.  There is much to love about the merriment seen on the face of Elliot.  Look at Mouse riding in his Santa's hat!  The sack full of Christmas goodies on the back of the sled and the small ribboned wreath on the front add to the overall happiness.  The bright red canvas with the elegant green ribbon script and child-like writing is pure perfection. 

On the spine Christmas lights bookend the title text.  To the left, on the back, Little Elliot and Mouse are calling out a greeting as Elliot holds the letter.  The characters and text are varnished.  The book case is also red with darker outlines to distinguish the portions of an envelope.  On the front is the return address of the sender which is a delightful play on words.  On the back we can see it's addressed to Santa.  The stamp is a one cent stamp in green featuring a historic United States figure.

Mike Curato uses his opening and closing endpapers to wordlessly begin and conclude the story.  On the former a girl bundled in winter clothing is carrying the red envelope in one hand and opening the rural mailbox in her right hand.  With a page turn on the verso and title pages a single image shows a gust of wind carrying the letter away.  It swirls through white title text on darkened blue and purple sky among snowflakes.  Standing by the mailbox the child has her hands outstretched in probable dismay. 

Through a series of utterly charming double-page and full page, with and without borders, illustrations, rendered with pencil on paper and digital color in Adobe Photoshop, Mike Curato lifts and enhances his text.  Many of the pictures are wordless but as with all beautifully created images, they speak volumes.  In all the scenes Mike's use of light and shadow is wonderful!

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when Elliot and Mouse are leaving the city (New York City of a bygone era).  They are riding in a large yellow car.  Elliot is leaning out the rear window having donned the Santa cap borrowed from the Macy's snowman.  He is grinning with glee.  Mouse is carefully peering out the front window, hanging on to the edge.  His tail and ears are perked up.  Behind the car and through the car windows lighted windows in buildings and Christmas lights shine.  It's as if Elliot and Mouse are going to drive right into our space; they are that close to us.


It simply wouldn't be a complete collection of Christmas titles without a copy of Merry Christmas, Little Elliot written and illustrated by Mike Curato.  Exquisite care has been taken with the entire creation of every portion of this book.  It's guaranteed you will smile and sigh when you view the closing endpapers.  I highly recommend this title.  Giving is the spirit of Christmas which lasts forever.

To learn more about Mike Curato and his other work, please follow the links attached to his name to access his website and blog.  On his website he has a link to activities for this title. On his blog he talks about the making of this book and the Easter eggs hidden in his illustrations.  At Mike's website and the publisher's website you can view interior images.  Little Elliot has a website dedicated to all things Little Elliot.  Mike Curato has an account on Twitter and Instagram.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like .. #4

They date back to the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.  She had a special baker to fashion men shaped like foreign dignitaries and people in her court. They were made of gingerbread.  Gingerbread men (and women) have become an important feature of Christmas food presentations.  They have also been a part of the folktale realm for more than 150 years.  To our delight tellers of stories have given readers and listeners numerous variations.

The one constant in most of the stories is the tasty treat is usually running as fast as they can.  Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story (Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company, September 11, 2018) written and illustrated by Edward Hemingway offers readers an appetizing twist.  A brand-new tradition is about to race into your repertoire of holiday tales.

Once upon a time, while Fox

was visiting Christmastown,

in the Land of Holiday Treats . . .

A cookie, fresh from the oven, ran to the bakery door and declared how delicious he was.  Fox could hardly wait to catch this little rascal and savor his sweetness.  The cookie taunted him 

Run, run, as fast as you can!

You can't catch me---

I'm the Sugar Cookie Man!

Fox was fast, faster than the cookie.  He reached out, grabbed him and bit that cookie's head.  YUCK!  He tasted horrible.  He was the worst sugar cookie Fox had ever tasted.

Well, let me tell you; cookie was mad on two accounts.  He had a bite mark on his head and no sugar cookie wants to be told they taste disgusting.  In addition, Fox told him he was so hard, he broke one of his teeth.  Cookie, Tough Cookie, burst into tears.

Fox decided to befriend the little guy attempting to help him be sweeter and faster.  A trip to Christmastown Spa, including a dip in scrumptious eggnog with other luscious choices, running in the Sweet Treat Christmas Race and building a gingerbread home in Cookie Cutter did nothing to improve Cookie's circumstances. He was more depressed than ever.  Always the optimist, Fox was sure something good would happen.  And it did!

Suddenly a chorus of voices pointed out the truth to Cookie and Fox.  How had they missed this tiny but important detail?  Now everything was tree-mendous for Cookie; toughness can be an asset for cookies and their foxy friends.

When Edward Hemingway begins with once upon a time you know you're in for a treat.  The words Christmastown and Land of Holiday Treats conjure marvelous visions.  The blend of crisp, descriptive dialogue and concise, natural narrative create a captivating flow.  Edward uses repetition and clever wordplay to cook up a storytelling cadence with ample seasonings of humor.  Here is a passage.

And that's when Cookie crumbled.

I'm not sweet.

I'm not fast.

I can't even make a

gingerbread house.

Everything I do 

is half-baked!  

It's impossible not to smile when looking at the matching, opened dust jacket and book case.  Wide-eyed Cookie and all his confection companions are grinning with happiness.  Even Fox is joining in the merriment.  On the front Edward Hemingway introduces us to the color palette used in this book.  Snow drifts gather on the title text or maybe it's frosting.  It's Christmastown, after all.

To the left, on the back, Cookie, featured in a circle of white on a pale mint green background, is running and chanting his familiar phrase.  The opening and closing endpapers are patterned in rows of rectangles in a variety of colors.  They are canvases for seventy-five treats (plus Christmas decorations and gifts) with one more for Fox who is leaning over and sipping one of those mouthwatering goodies.  Cookie is shining in the near center.  The eyes, positions of arms and legs and exquisite details in these portraits are wonderful.  

Rendered with oils on board sprinkled with Adobe Photoshop the illustrations throughout this title spanning double pages, single pages and partial pages contribute to stellar pacing.  The speech bubbles and narrative placement are pleasing.  The background elements with the previously mentioned intricate details present a setting readers will be eager to visit.  

One of my many favorite illustrations is the first double-page picture.  We are given a bird's-eye view of a crossroads in Christmastown.  The brick buildings are enchanting.  Peeking out of most of the windows are wide-eyed treats.  A bluebird (of happiness) sings above the Christmastown Bakery sign. The word bakery looks to be fashioned from bread; like the bread displayed in the window.  Bright candy-shaped lights hang along the roof edge.  Fox, standing in front of the bakery, is dreaming of sweet treats.  A candy cane is riding a bike down Sugar Street with a peppermint passenger.  A whip-cream topped drink, cupcake and candied apple are running down Spice Avenue.  A Santa Claus mural on a building faces Spice Avenue.  In the town square a decorated tree is glowing.  It's snowing. 

When you read the title text on the front of the jacket and case you wonder why a gingerbread man, front and center, is smiling.  Why would a tough cookie be smiling?  When you read Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story written and illustrated by Edward Hemingway you'll be smiling too.  It's entertaining from beginning to end.  It's gives us a fabulous new beginning and ending on a traditional tale.  It inspires us to keep seeking our rightful place in the scheme of things.  It also encourages us to start baking because we are craving sweet treats.  With that end in mind Edward includes two separate recipes at the close of the book.  I know you'll want to add this title to your personal and professional book collections.  

To learn more about Edward Hemingway and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  You can view interior images at Edward's site and at the publisher's website.  Edward maintains accounts on Twitter and Instagram.  You'll enjoy this article published about the book in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . . #2

After hundreds of stories the magic of the lamp remains.  As the flame is blown out, three wishes are cast into the air, one for anyone in the world, known or unknown, one for someone you love, including a pet and one for yourself.  You are indeed a very important person.  Over the years, countless children have asked if the wishes come true.  An affirmative reply followed by another story fashions an understanding of wishes made with the storytelling lamp.

Even today another opportunity presented itself to add further veracity to the power of wishing and wishes coming true.  The original wish in question involved people without homes.  The Christmas Eve Tree (Candlewick Press, September 18, 2018) written by Delia Huddy with illustrations by Emily Sutton brings two lost beings together. 

A

forest of

Christmas trees

stretching over the hills.

That's where the story begins.  

A fir tree, not planted correctly, grows crookedly into another neighboring tree.  It's unable to increase its size.  One year in December the trees around the small fir are harvested as Christmas trees.  Still woven into the branches of the other tree, the small evergreen makes an unplanned trip to the city.  

One by one all the trees disappear into large venues and homes until only one tree is left; the tree with the tiny fir wrapped in its branches.  An eager shopper wants the last tree and the clerk removes the unwanted fir.  About to toss it with the other rubbish, a small child still in the store makes a request.  The tiny fir is now his tree. 

Rescuing a cardboard box from the trash, the boy scoops up mud along a shore and plants the fir inside the paper container.  Locating another larger cardboard box under a railroad bridge, the boy settles in for the night in his makeshift home.  The tiny fir nearby believes its luck is shifting.

I belong to someone now, it thought to itself.

Fortunately, someone walking by the boy tosses a coin to him.  Rather than use it for food, he buys candles and a box of matches.  Soon the candles fastened on the tree cast a glow to others arriving to spend the night in their cardboard boxes.  One of them begins to play his accordion.  A Christmas tune serenades people on their way home or to events or simply enjoying the sights.  A policeman is unable to control the happy crowd which brings traffic to a standstill.

Now you might think after this night filled with the wonder of the Christmas season, things would be different for those living under the railroad bridge.  The child leaves the area and the tiny fir tree.  Oh, dear readers, this is not the end.  Real Christmas magic lasts for more than a season, it goes on and on and on.

Thirteen years ago, author Delia Huddy worked on the text for this story at the end of her life.  She ties every seemingly unconnected incident together beautifully.  It is a descriptive flow of what-if-this had not happened.  Inserting the thoughts of the fir tree into the narrative adds an intimate touch.  Here is a passage.

The candles burned steadily

and the old man played, and still the people sang.

The little fir tree felt it would burst with happiness,

because clearly the boy had forgotten

that tonight he would be sleeping in a cardboard box

under the railway arch, and that tomorrow

he would eat not turkey but soup in a soup kitchen,

if he was lucky.

The smaller trim size (5 5/16" x 6 1/8") of this edition is perfect to hold in younger readers' hands, tuck under a pillow or to bring children close for a cozy read aloud.  The scene on the front (right) of the opened book case extends to the left on the back.  The buildings' windows are glowing with light and many of them have special Christmas light outlines on their walls.  Looking at the boy we know he's on a mission and he seems to have a homeless furry friend keeping him company.  The title text is in silver foil.

The opening and closing endpapers in shades of pale blue and white feature the cityscape above the railroad's arched bridge.  Beneath the text on the initial title page is the fir tree alone except for a bird.  A rabbit joins the bird, now on a branch, on the formal title page.

Emily Sutton's delicate watercolor illustrations on double pages, full pages or gathered together on a single page display a world window brimming with intricate details.  The name on the store where the boy gets the tree is D. Huddy & Son Department Store.  The store window is a vision in Christmas toys and decorations.  The scenes along the railroad arches are realistic and poignant.  We feel as though we can step into the story and hear the singing.

A stunning fold-out, double page picture surely will have readers gasping.  Several layers move from the path along the arches, to the bridge above and the buildings beyond both.  A star-studded night sky provides the background.

One of my many favorite pictures is on a single page.  We are close to one of the bridge arches.  The boy is standing outside his cardboard box.  The fir tree in its box is being adorned in small red candles.  Two of the homeless residents are watching; the elder is seated on an upturned box playing his accordion.  The small black dog watches.  Three passersby have stopped to listen or sing.

This new edition of The Christmas Eve Tree written by Delia Huddy with illustrations by Emily Sutton is a gem.  Without a doubt this story will prompt discussions about homeless persons, the interconnectedness of moments in all our lives and the spirit of Christmas.  Whether you have this title in your professional and personal collections already or not, you will want this edition.  It's utterly lovely.

To learn more about Emily Sutton and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  At the publisher's website you can view the interior image matching the above-quoted text.  Emily maintains an account on Instagram.  At The Guardian Emily shows readers how to draw a Christmas Eve tree.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like . .

There's no denying the magic of the Christmas season is in the air.  If you stop and step aside from all the hustle and bustle and look around you, you will see it.  It's there in the person holding the door for someone whose arms are full of packages.  You can hear it in the carol being whistled softly by a shopper.  The aroma of fresh cut evergreens fills local nurseries.  Sipping a cup of peppermint hot chocolate brings forth memories of past holiday gatherings.  As some ornaments, decades old, are hung on the tree, you can close your eyes and recall the exact moment you first saw them, simply by touch.

There are stories attached to Christmas tree ornaments; a gift from a student, a symbol of a beloved book, or in memory of a cherished companion. The Broken Ornament (Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, September 18, 2018) written and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi is about the search for a special Christmas.  You never know where you will find it or who will help you.

JACK WANTED THIS TO BE THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER.
"I want more decorations," he said. "That way Santa will see our house first."

Jack is a firm believer in more and bigger equals better than best.  Despite everything in his household ready to celebrate Christmas Eve, Jack still feels there is one more thing to do.  He leaves the decorated tree and races back into the room holding a box with a single ornament inside.  His mother calls out.  Jack's determination causes a lapse in hearing.

The ornament drops to the floor shattering.  Heartbroken his mother runs upstairs crying.  His father follows with a box of tissues. Peering into the pieces Jack sees a shadow emerge. It's a fairy named Tinsel.  Asked what he desires, Jack says

"I want the best Christmas ever!"

Tinsel springs into action.  Tossed glitter becomes snowflakes.  Mistletoe berries falling to the floor sprout into huge evergreens.  Jack's living room is now a winter wonderland. Whenever the sprite's bells jingle more Christmas cheer enters Jack's house.  It's still not enough.  Jack has one more wish.

Tinsel cannot grant this request.  She cannot repair the broken ornament.

Given a gingerbread house glowing with an inner light, Jack gazes through a miniature window.  The scene he sees fills his mind and heart with understanding.  There is only one person who can make this the best Christmas ever.  It needs to be made with and for love.


As Jack and his parents are introduced to us, it's easy to catch his excitement for making this Christmas one to remember.    With each one of his expressed desires Tony DiTerlizzi is indeed leading readers toward the disaster but also toward a far larger discovery.  Each sentence and each verbal exchange between the characters is a careful blend providing excellent pacing.  Readers will smile at the terms of endearment Tinsel uses when addressing Jack.  Here is a passage.

"Are you my fairy godmother?" Jack asked.
A bubbly voice replied, "Godmother?  Oh, no, they don't trust me with a wand.
Call me Tinsel."
"So . . . do you grant wishes?" Jack leaned in close.


Framed in red foil the front (right) and back (left) of the opened dust jacket gives readers a glimpse of Jack's Christmas extravaganza inside his home.  Tinsel zips from the broken ornament as Jack watches in wonder.  The title text is raised and varnished.  Tinsel's frozen trail is also varnished.  On the back we move closer to the Christmas tree heavily covered in snow.  Two lines from the story are varnished in white.

The book case is a shimmer of white on the front and the back with a dusting of pale blue on the edges.  Five specific ornaments hang on the back.  On the front the broken ornament lays beneath the title text.  Tinsel is flying off the image in the upper, right-hand corner.

The opening and closing endpapers look like green wrapping paper patterned in an array of various ornaments colored in red, yellow, blue, white and green.  On the title page five houses covered in snow and ice line the street and create a peaceful scene under the text.

Rendered in

colored pencil and Acryla gouache on Bristol board with additional effects (were) achieved through fairy magic,

the illustrations supply warmth and a bit of nostalgia.  Tony DiTerlizzi alters their size to coincide with his masterful pacing.  Some are full page, small insets with text or marvelous, wordless double-page pictures.  Several of the visuals extend over the gutter providing a column for text.  For a very specific depiction the entire background is white.

The point of view provides emphasis on moments in the story, bringing us near to the characters or giving us a breathtaking view of the action.  Humor is found in many of the images; the looks on the snowmen's faces and a reindeer enjoying a candy cane.  The tag on Jack's pajama top is outside.  And the extra snowman in one of the pictures looks familiar.  The final illustration on the dedication page will have readers cheering.

One of my many favorite pictures is when we meet Tinsel.  A full page is dedicated to her.  We move in close to within the branches of the Christmas tree.  Colorful ornaments and lights surround her.  She stands on a red ornament.  Her larger, pointed ears stick out from her red hair.  A crown with snowflakes adorns her head.  Around the bottom of her dress is a layer of white.  Her tights are candy-cane stripped.  Bells are attached to her ankles.  She is beauty and joy all rolled into a single being.


The Broken Ornament with words and pictures by Tony DiTerlizzi is certain to be a Christmas classic.  Readers will ask for it to be read repeatedly.  It's guaranteed everyone who reads this story will be looking for a Christmas fairy every time an ornament is broken.  I know you will want a copy of this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Tony DiTerlizzi please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  Tony maintains an account on Twitter and Instagram. You'll enjoy seeing a lot of his process artwork.  The cover of this book is revealed at Watch. Connect. Read., the site of Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher.  You can view interior images at the publisher's website.

Season's Readings

During the month of December holidays are observed around the world.  At National Geographic Kids they list and discuss the Winter Celebrations of Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day, Three Kings Day, and the Chinese New Year. At Education World those festivities listed are a little more extensive.  Saint Nicholas Day, Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucia Day, Hanukkah, Christmas Day, Three Kings Day, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Omisoka, Yule and Saturnalia are included.

Over the years I have honored some of these with the students in my school libraries.  In that time my own personal collection of books specifically for December festivities has grown.  It looks as though next year a new book case is necessary.

In this short video the shelves are scanned to give you an idea of the titles in the collection.  The Padlet is a gathering of all the blog posts on particular books.  It's my Christmas wish for you to find a new title to use next year or perhaps to remember a special book.

The link to the Tidings Of Great Joy Padlet is here.

If you prefer to access the Padlet using a QR Code, please use this.

You can also click on the tiny square with an arrow in the center in the upper right-hand corner to go straight to the site.

A Dream . . . A Gift Given

Christmas Eve is two days away.  Today after playing with my canine companion outside, I found thirty-six white bags and thirty-six white candles on my doorstep.  Our neighborhood is the only one in the area to line luminaries along the streets on Christmas Eve.  They have been doing it for fifty-three years.  My home sits on a corner lot, so I have the honor of placing the lights on two sides.  It is going to be a wonderful sight.

Each year this time brings to mind welcome memories of past celebrations and traditions.  In The Nutcracker in Harlem (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, September 26, 2018), debut picture book by author T. E. McMorrow with illustrations by James Ransome, a story set in the 1920s era gives readers a glimpse into a marvelous time in African American cultural history.  The art, music, dance, theater and literature in Harlem in New York City, New York, were spectacular, singular and made a lasting impact on world culture.

It was snowing in Harlem on Christmas Eve.

There is a party at a young girl's home.  A symphony of sound swirls around the room as Marie listens.  Her Uncle Cab, playing the piano, asks her to join the festivities.  Oh, how she wishes she could sing like her uncle or the melodious Miss Addie.

When it is time for the gift-giving Uncle Cab usually gives her brother Fritz toy soldiers and Marie a doll.  He claims the wood used for them is magic.  He says this every year.  On this Christmas Eve he gives Marie a nutcracker, a drummer boy.  The room again fills with music. Marie stands silently holding the drummer boy and shaking her head when Miss Addie requests she sing along with her.

After dinner Marie takes a piece of sweet potato pie and sits near the Christmas tree.  She falls asleep holding Uncle Cab's present.  In her dream she wakes up as her mother's favorite glass birds on the tree come to life and begin to sing.  Everything comes to life and grows larger and larger.  The drummer boy plays in a steady beat.

A sudden smash announces the presence of an enemy.  A battle starts, stops and starts again.  Marie knows she needs to help the nutcracker.  She searches and finds that which she never knew she possessed.  On Christmas Day the enchantment of a dream and a nutcracker continues.

Dum diddy dum dum, dum-dee-dum.


T. E. McMorrow through research and using a past experience takes us back in time to a remarkable era.  Music is the link between the E. T. A. Hoffman tale, the Harlem Renaissance setting and Marie's deep desire.  The blend of narrative and dialogue moves us from reality to the dream and back with ease.  In McMorrow's words a gentle story of finding one's gift through other gifts received is revealed.  Here is a passage.

Marie opened her eyes.  The
house had gone silent.
Outside, it had stopped snowing.
A full moon glowed in the sky, and
the living room was filled with a
ghostly white light. 


Opening the matching dust jacket and book case is the first of numerous moments when you feel like gasping at the beauty spread before you.  The artwork of James Ransome rendered in watercolor glows from the pages.  This glow spreads to you, warming your reader's heart and soul.  When you see Marie on the front holding her nutcracker drummer boy with the other figures come to life in front of Harlem's buildings, the essence of the story is there waiting for you.  It's inviting you to join in the magic.

To the left, on the back, an interior scene is framed in a deep blue hue.  It's the moment Uncle Cab gives Marie her gift.  The opening and closing endpapers are covered in a deeper, darker blue.

On the title page James Ransome begins his visual story.  Guests adorned in their best clothes are walking down the sidewalk to Marie's home.  Windows are golden with warm light.  A Christmas tree stands tall in one window.  Snow covers the ground and landscaping.  Flakes drift on the air.  Period cars line the street.  You can almost hear the excited chatter of the people, anticipation filling their minds and bodies.  It's Christmas Eve.

A page turn gives readers a stunning bird's eye view of Harlem on Christmas Eve in the 1920s.  A huge white moon hangs in the upper right-hand corner of the two-page picture.  The text for the verso and dedication pages is in small white print in the night sky. (I could stare at this painting for hours.)

Each illustration spans two pages or one and one half pages, creating a column for text and a place for a smaller picture.  Rich shades of blue are predominant in the full-color visuals.  The shift in perspectives are exquisite, taking us into the story.  It wraps us in its charm and warmth.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when the glass birds are coming to life.  We are brought close to the tree in a picture spanning one and one half pages.  On the left we are looking through the tree branches, close to the ornaments and lights.  One of the birds is in flight on the right barely beneath the huge moon shining through the window.  On thefar right in a column of rich red is the text.  Under it, in a smaller image, we can see the other birds coming to life and flying from the branches.


What readers will remember the most about The Nutcracker in Harlem written by T. E. McMorrow with illustrations by James Ransome is how this Christmas Eve changes one little girl.  The magic remains.  It makes us wonder if we too can find our heart's desire.  James Ransome's eloquent paintings send the narrative soaring.  You'll want this book in both your professional and personal collections.  I know I will be reading it every Christmas Eve.  In an Author's Note T. E. McMorrow further explains why he wrote this book.  I would pair it with  The Nutcracker Comes To America: How Three Ballet-Loving Brothers Created A Holiday Tradition (Millbrook Press, September 1, 2015) written by Chris Barton with illustrations by Cathy Gendron and Waltz Of The Snowflakes (Running Press Kids, an imprint of Perseus Books, LLC, a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group. Inc., October 17, 2017, conceived and illustrated by Elly Mackay.

To learn more about James Ransome and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  T. E. McMorrow reads The Nutcracker in Harlem aloud at KidLit TV.   James Ransome hosts Young At Art on KidLit TV.  Both videos are lovely.

Epic Elf Ingenuity

Usually speculation increases around the date of the winter solstice.  In a few days a trip (defying most scientific evidence) around the world takes place in a single evening.  The speed at which the vehicle needs to move is said to be 5,083,000 mph.  Over decades individuals have compiled mind-boggling statistics on the number of cookies consumed, the glasses of milk drank, and the number of homes visited by Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.  For most children (and true believers), these theories are answered with a single word . . . magic.

It also seems Kris Kringle's driving record is flawless.  Surely we would know if there were ever any mishaps over the centuries.  Right?  Maybe the inhabitants of the North Pole have kept them a closely guarded secret.  The 12 Sleighs of Christmas (Chronicle Books, October 24, 2017) written by Sherri Duskey Rinker with illustrations by Jake Parker gives readers a look at a wonderfully funny and inventive scenario.  

Two weeks before Christmas,

and every elf

is building, rushing, racing, busy---

every elf is in a tizzy!

One major task is to inspect Santa's sleigh making sure everything is A-Okay.  When Tim, Crew Chief and Head Mechanic, with his group of elves see the sleigh, they discover it's in shambles.  It looks as if Santa raced around the world a bit recklessly.

As each elf voices an opinion on the necessary changes, it's decided, out of necessity and to keep the peace, a competition will determine the design of a new sleigh.  Santa will pick the winner.  Oh, the elves are busier than ever; hustling and bustling to build their idea of a marvelous vehicle.  The clamor they raise echoes across the North Pole.

The first team, on the first day, develops a dragster able to glide on the ground and zoom above the clouds.  No reindeer are necessary.  As each day comes and goes the modes of transportation shift from an enormous big rig, to a ship with fifty sails using air like water, to an unstable rocket and blimp combination, to a super-duper plow truck on tank treads, and to a motorcycle sleigh with a side car to hold the toys.

Days whiz by with travel by water, land, air and space all options for St. Nick.  On the twelfth day, Christmas Eve, the jolly man in red commends his elf teams.  Their astounding accomplishments are wonderful but he longs for what is familiar and comfortable and classic.  A voice from the smallest elf, working alone, shouts out what Santa has been waiting to hear.  It's the first of three revelations.

The true spirit of the workmanship, as readers imagine it, of the elves sounds off the pages with a joy from doing what is loved.  These lively individuals take a disaster and turn it into a spectacular display of creativity.  The rhymes written by Sherri Duskey Rinker roll off your tongue in a delightful cadence.  The blend of narrative and conversational comments provides upbeat pacing. Here is a passage.

Welders spark in the dark;

hammers bang, tools clang . . .

all night long,

going strong.

Grinding, buzzing, clanking,

whirling, twirling, cranking . . .

a squeal, a bonk,

A BONK!

A splat?  A quack?

Goodness gracious!

What was that?!

As soon as readers catch a glimpse of the opened, matching dust jacket and book case, they know this is no ordinary variant on the classic Christmas carol as Santa Claus roars above the evergreen tops through a snowy sky on the dragster sleigh.  To the left, on the back, he is followed by other sleighs built by the elves.  They are driving a locomotive, the rocket and blimp combination, a spaceship and the fifty-sail ship.  By the looks on all their faces, they are determined in their desire to be the best.  Can you imagine looking up and seeing this on Christmas Eve?  On the dust jacket the title text is in red foil.  Placing the letters in the folded ribbon gives this book timeless appeal.  

On the opening and closing endpapers in green and white are the blueprints for most of the sleighs.  They overlap each other as if spread on a work table.  On the title page, cans of magic fuel, a wheel, gears, hammers and wrenches are placed among holly, ribbons and a wreath.

The thicker, matte-finished paper is ideal for the color palette of mostly red, green, cream, yellow, blue, some white and a dash of pink and orange.  Jake Parker rendered these images in brush pen coloring them digitally.  He alternates between two-page pictures, single page illustrations and a collection of images on one page.  Once, two pictures appear vertically in panels like a comic.

His elves, with varied skin tones, are garbed in pointed hats, jackets with a big round button at the top, pants and mittens.  Their ears, noses and different colored tufts of hair help to distinguish one from the other.  They are so animated you would hardly be surprised to hear them talking.

One of my many favorite illustrations is for the quoted text.  It's a panoramic view of the northern landscape spread across two pages.  On the left are billowy clouds along the horizon.  Evergreen trees frosted in snow dot the hilly vista.  A road curves from the bottom left into the village at the North Pole.  Smoke rises from chimneys.  A sign reading 

ELVES AT WORK

is in the snow on the right page.  Behind it their workshop, several stories high, is glowing with lights.  Stars, the result of their efforts, are shooting from the building's walls.  A crescent moon hangs in the sky.  This workshop is on the edge of a cliff. 

Reading this book, The 12 Sleighs of Christmas written by Sherri Duskey Rinker with illustrations by Jake Parker, silently to yourself is truly a pleasure but when you read it aloud, it's a whole fresh experience.  Through the words and art you become a part of the story.  Your readers who gravitate toward the vehicle sections of your libraries will love this book.  Others will enjoy it too for the cleverness of the elves.  You will want to make this a part of your collections.

To learn more about Sherri Duskey Rinker and Jake Parker and their other work, please follow the links embedded in their names to access their respective websites.  Sherri Duskey Rinker is featured at KidLit 411 and HenryHerz.com. Jake has accounts showing his art at Instagram, Tumblr and on YouTube.  Sherri and Jake are on Twitter.  Jake Parker is highlighted at Smash Pages and byutv. His process for the cover is discussed in a post on the publisher's blog.  There is loads of artwork.  Several activities can be found in links at the publisher's website to extend the experience of reading this title.  Enjoy the videos.

Once Upon A Christmas Eve

In 1816 E. T. A. Hoffmann published a book titled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.  Since that time the story has been somewhat altered from the original version.  Now as a traditional and renowned ballet, on a magical Christmas Eve a child's favorite toy, a nutcracker in the form of a soldier comes to life.  He battles the rodent ruler and his army of mice.  After conquering the evil Mouse King, the girl is amazed to discover this victory releases a spell on her beloved Nutcracker.  Before her stands a prince.

As the curtain closes on the first act, the prince and girl find themselves in a snowy fairyland. Waltz Of The Snowflakes (Running Press Kids, an imprint of Perseus Books, LLC, a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group. Inc., October 17, 2017, conceived and illustrated by Elly Mackay gets its title from this particular portion of the ballet.  In this wordless book, on this particular day, changes, many changes, are in the air.

A bleak and rainy night provides the atmosphere in which a granddaughter is taken to visit her grandmother.  After her arrival her grandmother surprises the child with theater tickets.  Not happy to be going outside in the weather or wearing an uncomfortable dress, the girl plods along umbrella in hand.

As they are making their way to their seats inside the theater, a boy teases the girl.  Imagine both their surprises when they are seated next to each other.  Neither is excited about being taken to a ballet, The Nutcracker.  As the music starts a hush falls over the crowded theater.  A change is happening.

As the tale in The Nutcracker unfolds the children and the adults with them react emotionally to the scenes on the stage. When the nutcracker soldier shifts into a prince and the snowflakes' waltz begins in the forest, the children are completely rethinking their perceptions of this ballet. There are two transformations taking place in the theater.

As the prince and girl reach their destination in another realm the boy and the girl are struck by the wonder being revealed.  Their spirits shift as one dance moves into another dance.  They can hardly contain their laughter when children come from the skirts of Mother Ginger.  As the final splendor and memorable music begins, a gift is offered and received.  The prince and the girl are not the only ones bound by a new friendship.

When the grandmother and her granddaughter exist the theater Mother Nature offers up the final fresh change.  A new dance begins.  And then a new day dawns on the playful celebration of an unexpected evening's events.


The effect of blending The Nutcracker ballet within an evening's adventure is enchanting, satisfying and beautiful.  Author illustrator Elly Mackay flawlessly takes readers from the reality of the girl, her grandmother and the boy seated next to her to the wonder of the theatrical production.  Page by page we view, like the audience watching The Nutcracker, the similarities between the prince and Clara (Marie or Maria) and the girl and the boy in the audience.  It's brilliant.


The invitation for us to be participants in the story begins on the matching, unfolded dust jacket and book case.  In the first image the granddaughter is reaching forward for a snowflake, her spirit lifted in dance after seeing The Nutcracker.  In this illustration we are also introduced to the singular artwork of Elly Mackay. Her pictures begin as sketches, are then colored and cut out and set in a paper theater.  Once the elements are placed as she desires, they are photographed.

To the left, on the back of the jacket and case, framed by red curtains, the prince is placing the crown on Clara's head as the snowflake fairies dance in the background.  The ethereal settings envelope us in the magic we are about to receive from reading this title.  Elly Mackay uses every bit of space to tell us this story.  On the opening endpapers, rain falls from dark clouds overhead.  A car climbs a hill from the city to a more rural setting, a small community.  The closing endpapers offer a continuation of the book's tale.

On the title page a circular image shows the girl waving as the car drives away.  She is climbing the steps to her grandmother's home. Elly Mackay continues this story in a series of illustrations framed in white with the exception of the double-page pictures.  These extend page edge to page edge.

As the tale is told at times one illustration covers two pages or a single page.  Elly includes pages with more than one picture on them to provide pacing.  The theater scenes are in color.  In contrast the images of the girl, her grandmother and the boy are in browns and blues with a little pale color.  On five occasions the boy and girl are shown together with faces mirroring a specific emotion.  These are circular insets within a large picture of moments during The Nutcracker.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is when the very tall Mother Ginger is onstage.  Three of her eight children emerge from her tiered, multicolored skirt.  Each one is wearing a patterned costume, bright and cheerful, as they leap on the stage.  Above them in a circular picture are the boy and girl.  They are facing each other laughing.


In her Waltz Of The Snowflakes Elly Mackay captures the joy of experiencing The Nutcracker for the first time.  Not only does she portray this magical Christmas tradition with luminous illustrations but she allows us to see how a shared evening can change lives by fashioning friendships and strengthening family ties.  This title is a welcome perspective deserving a place on your professional and personal bookshelves.

To learn more about Elly Mackay and her other work, please follow the links embedded in her name to access her two websites.  Interviews at Ruth Ellen Parlour The Water Dragons, Owl Kids, Canadian Children's Book Week, at author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, and Happy Birthday Author tell us more about Elly Mackay and her work.  A detailed interview specifically about this title with Elly Mackay is at Let's Talk Picture Books.  You will enjoy the illustrations of the process.  Take a few moments to watch the two videos below, the first of Elly's Process in making a previous title and the other of the Waltz of the Snowflakes from The Nutcracker.