christmas book

Book Review: The Christmas Doll

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The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff

The Christmas Doll
by Elvira Woodruff

4 out of 5 stars

Lucy is terrified that her little sister, Glory, will die of the sickness that is infecting everyone at the orphan’s home. After several children die, Lucy decides that they have to escape. It would be better to live penniless and hungry on the streets than be exposed to the sickness. In the midst of the winter cold, Lucy cheers her little sister with stories of a beautiful doll, Morning Glory, until one day they find an old doll among the trash of the river.

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Book Review: Clarice Bean Think Like An Elf

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Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf
by Lauren Child

4 out of 5 stars

Clarice Bean is worried that her family is losing their Christmas spirit. Her grandmother tells her to think like an elf, and find ways to help the people around her. She finds little things to do to serve others, and discovers that the Christmas spirit is not in the gifts you receive, but in showing others you care.

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Christmas Picture Books from Candlewick Press

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Maisy's Snowy Day by Lucy Cousins

Maisy’s Snowy Day: A Maisy First Experiences Book
by Lucy Cousins

5 out of 5 stars

Maisy wakes up to see that it is snowing outside! She bundles up warm and ventures out into the cold to meet her friends at the park. They throw snowballs, build a snowman, make a snow fort, and go sledding down the big hill. When they get too cold, they all go inside for some hot cocoa.

This book is so cute and sweet! Maisy and her friends are adorable!

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Christmas Picture Book Reviews

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Little Fairy's Christmas by Daniela Drescher

Little Fairy’s Christmas
by Daniela Drescher

4 out of 5 stars

Faith the fairy is lost out in the snow and can’t find her way home. She is cold and hungry, but some of the animals help her. She meets an elf child who is also lost. They see a mysterious light in the forest, and discover that it is Father Christmas travelling to deliver gifts!

This story is so cute and enchanting! I loved the magic of the story and the way Faith meets each of the animals and creatures and they help her, or sometimes she is able to help them.

The illustrations are very dreamy and sweet. There are little animals in the background, hiding behind branches and drifts of snow in the forest. I love the delicate lines and misty colors in the art style!

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Picture Book Review: Christmas, Here I Come!

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Christmas, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg

Christmas, Here I Come!
by  D.J. Steinberg, Laurie Stansfield 

5 out of 5 stars

This cute book has a different poem on each page celebrating Christmas traditions and wintery activities. Depending on where you are in the world, you can go sledding in the snow or sun bathe at the beach. No matter what language you speak, “Pere Noel” or “Sinterklaus” or “Kanakaloka” is sure to come down the chimney with toys and gifts.

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Picture Book Review: The Robin and the Fir Tree

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The Robin and the Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen

The Robin and the Fir Tree
by Hans Christian Andersen, Jason Jameson (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars

A fir tree hears from the robin about the wide world of men, and wishes that he could go on an adventure, but his roots keep in him in the forest. One day men with axes come to take the fir tree into town, and the fir tree is decorated for Christmas. After the Christmas festivities are over, the little robin looks for his friend and finally finds him cast aside for firewood. However the fir tree is content to have had his great adventure at last. The robin plants a pine cone from his friend, and a new little fir tree grows up in the forest.

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Picture Book Review: Twas the Night Before Christmas

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Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

Twas the Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. Moore, P.J. Lynch (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars

This Christmas classic is beautifully illustrated in a new edition with artwork by P.J. Lynch. The well-known poetry about St. Nick comes alive once more when accompanied with such lovely illustrations!

I just adore this sweet poem! It’s never quite Christmas until someone says Santa has “a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.” This poem makes “visions of sugar plums danced in their heads” the rallying cry of all Christmas joy.

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Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas to all my bookish friends! I’m drinking Abuelita brand hot chocolate to bring back the Mexican Navidad of my childhood.

I’ve had a wonderful Christmas Eve with my family, eating, laughing, talking, and singing carols together, with me playing on the piano and my brother and Dad on their guitars.

I’ve been reading Christmas stories to my little nieces and nephew, especially from this Christmas compilation book. My favorite short story in here is “Christmas Every Day” by William Dean Howells. What is your favorite Christmas story to read at this time of year?

Picture Book Review: The Three Wishes

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The Three Wishes by Alan Snow

The Three Wishes
by Alan Snow
5 out of 5 stars

A young man living in the far North stumbles into a hidden land of summer where time stands still. He is only allowed to return to visit his family in the dead of winter each year, and he leaves gifts for them so that they know he is alive and well. He is given a magic feather that allows his deer to fly.

I loved this myth of the origins of Santa Claus told in an old-fashioned style. The story is so imaginative and charming! The plot is sort of strange, until you start to realize that all the components of the plot are adding up to the red suit and the flying reindeer and the gifts. Then it all begins to make sense, and it’s like a wonderful discovery.

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