Book Reviews: Books for a Quiet Holiday

For the most of us, the holidays are a season of hustle and bustle. There are endless weeks of shopping, preparing, and partying. Yet these two books celebrate the quiet moments.

The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood- Fans of Underwood's The Quiet Book  and The Loud Book will love the holiday companion that celebrates Christmas's quiet moments.  In digitally colored pencil artwork by Renata Liswka ( plus simple text from Underwood), bunnies, bears, and other animals quietly make snow angels,  drink cocoa, and try to stay up for Santa.  A perfect read to calm little ones to bed.

 





Noel by Tony Johnston- On Christmas Eve, the sounds of bells from "an icicle-pointed steeple" call a community to gather and sing " Noel".  Beloved children's author Johnston's lyrical and haunting words celebrates the beauty and calm of the season, matched wonderfully with watercolor artwork by Cheng-Khee Chee. Using a watercolor method called "saturated wet-paper technique" ( which is described in the back of the book), Chee's images of snow-covered carolers and twinkling street lights seem to glow from the pages.  A warm and wonderful holiday read.


The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
Age Range: 3-7

Noel by Tony Johntson
Age Range: 5-8
Lexile: 500

Both books: ***** ( 5 stars)

Looking to create a quiet holiday? Here are a few CD recommendations ( Please note that most of theses will be up in the regular AV department):

• Noel-Josh Groban
• December-Kenny Loggins
• Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album-Various artists
• A Smooth Jazz Christmas-Dave Koz
• Wintersong-Sarah McLachlan
• My Christmas by Andrea Bocelli

Book Reviews- A Cheerful New Character and The Pigeon is Back!!

Last Friday and this Tuesday, I was over at two of the local schools talking about Fizz Boom Read!, our upcoming summer reading program ( June 9-August 2.) I also brought a few books to share. Here are reviews for two of the books I "performed" ( I also had The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root and What Does the Fox Say?. Click on title for the reviews).

Lily the Unicorn by Dallas Clayton- Meet Lily the Unicorn. She loves making things, like music and messes. She also loves making friends. Today she met Roger the Penguin. Roger.... doesn't get out much. And he's really not into games or adventures, or even looking at the clouds. What will a unicorn do?

This is a really cute colorful book ( and I love unicorns!!!) I  really  loved the catalog of items featured on each page ( especially the cloud page and everything Roger loves, like empty pages and resting). Hopefully we'll see more of these two in the future.






 

Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems- Yay, the Pigeon who loves buses, late nites, hot dogs and puppies, is back! But he needs a bath! Even the flies don't like the grime and growing smell drifting from his body. Perhaps he's going to need a lot of convincing ( or cookies, I forget he likes cookies).

Obviously this is a great read aloud! I think this was the book I read the most for both visits (and it might be making an appearance at our open house). The kids were laughing, even telling the Pigeon " Dude, just take a bath!" They even enjoyed the 29 panels of him adjusting but still delaying the bath ( which includes adding toys that look like Knuffle and Piggie) and the surprise happy ending. Another joyful read from Willems.

Lily the Unicorn by Dallas Clayon
Age Range: 5 and up



Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems
Age Range: 5 and up
Lexile: 125

Both: ***** ( 5 stars)

Book Review(s): Three Books for a Winter's Night

As the snow begins to fall and the nights begin to get colder and blustery, here are three books that celebrate winter with royal chickens, beautiful snowflakes, and everyone's favorite snowman.

Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett- The tale  Cinderella has been told in many different ways ( even in stage plays and film, from Disney to Cinderfella with Jerry Lewis). In this version, author-illustrator Jan Brett brings in chickens, silver eggs, and a snowy Russian landscape. I especially love the big fold out page toward the middle a fairy Silkie watches  chickens and other fowl-feathered creatures dance in a moonlit ice palace.

Snowflakes Fall by Patricia Maclachlan- Children are like snowflakes, no two the same but all beautiful. Maclachan's simple tale, along with Steven Kellog's whimsical illustrations, portray a winter season that celebrates nature's joys, sorrows, and beauties. Also worth noting is that this book was written as a tribute to the communities of Newton and Sandy Hook, Connecticut (it's mentioned in the author's and illustrator's notes at the beginning of the book) and that Random House has made a donation to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund with the publication of this book.

 Frosty the Snowman by Steven Nelson and Jack Rollins- Most of us know the song " Frosty the Snowman" ( or seen the 1969 cartoon with " Happy Birthday" or read the 1950 Little Golden Book by Ann Bedford). For the 2013 book, illustrator Wade Zahares ( Red are the Apples and Window Music) illustrates Frosty's blue and white world with reds, yellows, and an orange sunset. Great for storytime,especially if you can get the kids to join you in on the " Thumpy,thump,thump." It also comes with a 3 song CD from Kenny Loggins ( he performs " Frosty" plus two other songs that are catchy and toe-tapping but not really Christmasy.)



Cinders: a Chicken Cinderlla by Jan Brett
Age  Range: 3-7


Snowflakes Fall by Patricia Maclachlan
Age Range: 3-6

 Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson
Age Range: 3-6
Lexile: 770

All: ***** ( 5 stars)

I mentioned the new Frosty comes with a 3 song CD from Kenny Loggins ( known best for the 80s' movie soundtracks of Footloose and Top Gun). In 1998, he released his own Christmas CD, December, which features a mix of classic and new songs for the holidays(It's one of my favorite holidays albums I like to put on each November-December). Here is one of the tracks, " Bells of Christmas". Enjoy!