CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 8, 2012
"The Christmas season is full of magical surprises, and Jay's absorbing creation conveys that sense of magic, from the tiny sleeping mouse on the first page to the snowman peeking in the window on Christmas morning. (Picture book. 2-7)"
Jay's signature style of painting with muted, antique colors and a crackled-varnish effect is showcased exquisitely in this deceptively simple tour de force filled with tiny, hidden surprises to delight inquisitive readers.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 6, 2012
"Children in New York City who have seen the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will enjoy the atmospheric story; others may be puzzled by all the geographical references. (author's note, illustrator's note) (Picture book. 4-8)"
A girl joins her tugboat-captain dad (along with her mom) on a family trip as they tow a barge with a gigantic Christmas tree and some immense ornaments into New York City for the holiday display at Rockefeller Center.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 6, 2012
"Not a complete turkey, but close. (Picture book. 4-8)"
In this sequel to
Turkey Trouble (2009), a comical turkey again avoids being the main dish at a holiday dinner.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 1, 2012
"This innovative Nutcracker has a magical appeal all its own. (Picture book. 4-8)"
The enduring magic of E.T.A. Hoffman's holiday story is captured in this innovative interpretation, which offers enchanting illustrations and a skillfully retold story.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 30, 2012
"Many other Nativity stories, such as Hurry! Hurry! Have You Heard? by Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrated by Jane Dyer (2008), more effectively convey the excitement of animal characters journeying to the stable. (Picture book/religion. 3-7)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 22, 2012
"Children with parents serving in the armed forces will be especially fond of this version of the beloved poem. (Picture book. 4-8)"
Santa and his reindeer get lost in a blizzard, but the U.S. military comes to the rescue in this ingenious parody of "The Night Before Christmas."
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 16, 2012
"The wombat hopes those strange carrot-attracting creatures will be back soon, and young readers will hope the lovable wombat returns for more cleverly constructed carrot quests. (Picture book. 2-7)"
In this holiday-themed entry in their successful series, French and Whatley introduce their lovable wombat character to Santa and his reindeer.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 16, 2012
"The case-bound volume is intended as a family resource and would also be suitable for large public-library collections or church libraries. (author's note) (Religion. 9 & up)"
Biblical selections from the King James version of the Christian Bible are taken from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew and arranged for reading aloud during the Christmas season.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 9, 2012
"An appealing story that will interest many families. (Picture book/religion.4-7)"
A little girl celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah at her house, combining holiday traditions from the two sides of her family.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 2, 2012
"The moving-picture feature, while gimmicky, can seem quite magical to young children, and this one has better text, illustrations and mechanism than most of this kind. (Picture book. 2-6)"
A shiny red cover with a see-through panel shows Santa ready to take off with his reindeer in this changeable picture book featuring panels that shift smoothly with the pull of a tab from one holiday scene to another, closely related one.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 2, 2012
"Brilliant. (Picture book. 4-8)"
Bryan's Christmas offering combines a poignant poem about a shepherd boy who builds his own stable with exuberant paintings in a masterful melding of rhythmic text and dazzling art.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 2, 2012
"These overworked elves don't crack any new ice, but their story is entertaining enough for holiday reading in those busy days before Santa's arrival. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Another story in a long string of similar tales about difficulties with the elf staff at the North Pole.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 2, 2012
"The droll, understated wit of the text and the delightfully comical, skillfully planned illustrations make this a story that will delight both children and adult readers. (Picture book. 4-8)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 2, 2012
"Boynton's buoyant text and comical characters march to their own inimitable drummer. (Picture book. 2-5)"
Boynton's droll animal characters march through this small volume with their usual deadpan humor, set off by her minimalist rhyming text.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"For fans of basset hounds and the Pioneer Woman. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Drummond, the cookbook author and blogger known as the Pioneer Woman, offers a holiday-themed sequel to her previous story about the pets on her ranch,
Charlie the Ranch Dog (2011).
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Now, some will find these devilishly delinquent developments positively beyond the bounds of good taste. But many others will say, "Naughty. But nice." (Picture book. 5-9)"
A beady-eyed brat sits in a red, thronelike chair, glaring out of the cover in this hilarious, bizarre holiday story. What's that machinery behind him, and what is that kid up to?
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Cheerful and cozy. (Picture book.4-7)"
In this Scottish import, a little girl named Catriona and her cat, Mac, celebrate Christmas together at home in Edinburgh, with Catriona learning an important lesson about Christmas gifts.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Vainio is a talented illustrator who needs to polish his texts to match his attractive paintings. (Picture book. 3-6)"
In yet another story about stowaways in Santa's sleigh, a young elf and his dog have an adventure together on Christmas Eve.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"A lovely introduction for children preparing to see a performance of the classic holiday ballet. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Sweet Ella Bella returns for her fourth appearance in a story based on a famous ballet, this time in a dreamlike interaction with the cast of
The Nutcracker.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Though there aren't many family holiday books of this sort available, this version is suitable only for large library collections with heavy demand for Christmas activity books. (Nonfiction. 5-9, adults)"
This compendium of old-fashioned craft projects, recipes and stories was written by a Waldorf kindergarten teacher in Germany and translated for English-speaking countries, though the focus remains European and is not well-suited to the U.S. market.
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