Christmas Books from Candlewick Press

Christmas and Winter-Themed Books from Candlewick Press

Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke

Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus!
by Atinuke, Lauren Tobia (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Anna Hibiscus has always wished to see snow, and now she is going to Canada to visit her grandmother! But Anna worries that she will miss her family too much. She worries that she will have to eat strange food. She worries that there might be a mangy dog in the house who will bite her. When Anna arrives in Canada, her Granny welcomes her with open arms and a whole new outfit of warm clothing to stay warm in the snow. Anna meets a dog and makes some new friends. She tries to ice skate and goes sledding in the snow. She makes snow angels and learns about her Canadian family.

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Book Review: Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas

Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas by Nora Surojegin

Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas
by Nora Surojegin, Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin (Illustrator), Jill Timbers (Translator)

5 out of 5 stars

Little Otto the elf hears about the ” light of Christmas”, and he takes a journey into the north to see if he can find the source of that mysterious light. Along the way he meets many animals and mythical creatures who assist him on his journey. From each creature he meets, he learns more about Father Yule and the special light. But once he reaches the end of his journey, the light itself is not quite what he expected.

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Book Review: The Christmas Doll

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

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

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

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!

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

The Robin and the Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen

The Robin and the Fir Tree
by Hans Christian AndersenJason 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

Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

Twas the Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. MooreP.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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