Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf
by Lauren Child
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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Paint by Sticker Kids: Holly Jolly Christmas
by Workman Publishing
This activity book has 10 beautiful designs, and hundreds of stickers in little mosaic shapes! It’s so easy to put the stickers into place, and the finished product looks wonderful. It’s very relaxing and helped me to get creative. You really feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish!
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Maisy’s Snowy Day: A Maisy First Experiences Book
by Lucy Cousins
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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Little Fairy’s Christmas
by Daniela Drescher
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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Christmas, Here I Come!
by D.J. Steinberg, Laurie Stansfield
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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Puzzle Train Alphabet
by David W. Miles (Artist)
5 out of 5 stars
This adorable puzzle goes through all the letters of the alphabet with beautiful illustrations of animals and items that begin with each letter. The puzzle creates one long train with the alligator conductor at the front driving the engine of the train.
Each letters connects to the next one by some action taken or item shared between them. “Newt naps in the nest for Owl. Owl orders oatmeal for Pig. Pig plays piano for Quail.” I love that this gives the child a clue about which letter of the alphabet should come next, and they can find the correct puzzle piece.
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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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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 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?
Luminous Libro 