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 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. 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. 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
"A clever and creative parody of the old holiday chestnut. (Picture book. 4-7)"
An amusing parody of "The Night Before Christmas," set in an underwater world with marine life filling the familiar roles of family members and Santa.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Feeling sad after Christmas is a worthwhile concept for discussion with children, and Santa's transformation to busy and energized provides a subtle lesson for the post-Christmas season. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Poor Santa Claus suffers from post-Christmas letdown in this amusing and unusual look at the motivation behind Santa's drive to make everyone happy with their gifts.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"With elements of magical realism, this story offers a creative, challenging exploration of a Christmas journey. (Picture book. 4-6)"
An adventurous little girl and her younger brother act out the Nativity story with friendly animals in a snow-covered, mysterious land in this intriguing story originally published in Switzerland.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Not particularly hilarious or inventive, but a simple and satisfying enough story for the season. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Santa can't find his hat on Christmas Eve, so he tries on lots of other types of headwear until Mrs. Claus and the elves solve his problem.
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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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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Avast, me hearties! Here be another bonny piratical parody ready for the readin' to the young'uns at the Christmas season. (Picture book. 3-8)"
The pirate cabin boy who narrated
A Pirate's Night Before Christmas (2008) returns with this sequel, another witty parody of a holiday classic.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"While this title may be of interest mainly to children in the New York City area, it is one of a series that takes Santa to other cities and regions in the United States and includes the generic Santa Is Coming to My House. (Picture book. 4-7)"
Santa Claus delivers many presents to the children of New York City in a slight story with too many words and too many changes of type size.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"But hey, it's all good. Keep movin' and groovin', Pete. You're one hip cat. (Picture book. 3-8)"
He's back! That wildly popular cat steps in to save Christmas in the nick of time when Santa Cat gets sick.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Fans of the series might enjoy this; others can keep calm and carry on. (Picture book. 5-8)"
Scaredy Squirrel, star of his own wildly popular series of humorous stories about his neurotic life, offers a tongue-in-cheek guide to getting through the holiday season in a safe, sane and germ-free fashion.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"The verdict? Titles in the I Spy genre with multiple searches on each spread have more to offer. Case closed. (Picture book. 5-8)"
Santa must solve the mysterious disappearance of toys from his workshop through this search-and-find quest with detailed pages full of elves at work and play.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 25, 2012
"Those chipmunks can be annoying to adults, especially with the squeaky songs, but lots of kids adore Alvin and his brothers. Just make sure you're not in the room while they are doing it. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Alvin, Simon and Theodore have been entertaining television viewers for three generations, with more fans garnered from three recent movies starring the singing chipmunk group. This book with song and sound effects is based on the 1981 TV movie,
A Chipmunk Christmas.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 18, 2012
"Wrapped up with some drawing paper and pens, this clever Christmas cartoon construction might spark some creative projects. (Graphic picture book. 5-10)"
This lightweight, mildly humorous story about Santa, his favorite elf and a Christmas knight advises kids to draw their own comic strips, though no practical help is offered in drawing instruction.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
""DINOSAUR WINS!" So will young readers and listeners likewise charged up with dino DNA. (Picture book. 3-5)"
Fresh from roaring out at bedtime (2008), at potty training (2010) and in the library (2011) Shea's prehistoric preschooler takes on Christmas.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
"Peppa Pig and her friends seem destined for further adventures to complement the currently popular TV series. (Picture book. 2-5)"
Peppa Pig moves from her preschool TV series shown on Nick Jr. to the holiday bookshelf with this simple, amusing story about Santa's missing list of toys and their intended recipients.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
"Nevertheless, a congenial, understated choice for reading aloud to excited children to help them settle down for a long winter's night. (Picture book. 3-6)"
In their third collaboration on the numerous nuances of volume, Underwood and Liwska focus on the softer sounds of the Christmas season.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
"Just right. (Picture book. 3-7)"
A king buys a bolt of bright red cloth on the day before Christmas, setting off a chain of gift-making that spreads throughout his kingdom, from his daughter to a tiny mouse.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
"Young buckeroos who like their Christmas stories punchy rather than sweet might just take a likin' to ol' Dwight, Darryl and Dub. (Picture book. 4-7)"
Three lonesome cowboys stuck out on the range face a "low-down and miserable" Christmas without the usual treats and trimmings until a surprise visit from "Santy Claus" brightens their holiday.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
"Well-meant, but not memorable aside from the smoke-free environment. (Picture book. 3-6)"
News flash: Santa quits smoking! This version of the famous Christmas poem has one unique feature: The references to Santa's pipe and the smoke that "encircled his head like a wreath" have been edited out of the text.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"What child wouldn't love to grab all the presents and lick all the candy canes one by one? Those naughty dinosaurs have the most fun, and their fans will be waiting to see what they get up to next. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Yolen and Teague extend their dinosaur franchise with this rollicking romp of rampaging dinosaurs up to their terrible tricks throughout the Christmas season.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"A lyrical, unusual viewpoint for the Nativity story, seamlessly matched with gorgeous illustrations that are unlike other interpretations of the Christ Child's birth. (Picture book/religion. 5 & up)"
Hopkins, the noted poet and anthologizer of children's poetry, offers an original free-verse poem, a Christmas Eve musing about her newborn son in Mary's first-person voice.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Just a bit of applause for this one. (Picture book. 3-6)"
A slight story about Mrs. Claus and her efforts to fill in for Santa when he gets sick on Christmas Eve.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Even Scrooge himself couldn't resist this cheerful Christmas cherub. (Board book. 1-4)"
A cute, diaper-clad baby celebrates his first Christmas with Mommy and Daddy in this latest addition to Patricelli's growing list of distinctively different board books.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Sweet and cheerful, but successful neither as a book nor as an Advent calendar. (Picture book. 3-6)"
A simple eight-page story with heavy, cardboard pages describes friendly forest animals working together to prepare a Christmas Eve feast for a mystery guest, with an Advent-calendar feature on the final pages.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"The group sheltering together against the elements has echoes of Jan Brett's The Mitten (1989), but this time the protective structure has room for all to take cover in safety. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Ten tiny mice find themselves outside in the snow on Christmas Eve, seeking shelter and companionship.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"A charming tale that adults won't mind reading over and over. (Picture book. 3-6)"
A collection of stuffed animals and dolls celebrate Christmas together in a touching way, by wrapping themselves up as presents so that each toy will have a present to open on Christmas morning.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Although didactic and idealized, this broad interpretation of freedom from a Jewish perspective is one not often seen. (Picture book. 5-8)"
A boy's insistence on exercising freedom of religion helps an 18th-century Portuguese-Jewish immigrant community openly practice and observe its faith.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Fans of the original javelina story will welcome this reappearance after two decades. This Christmas treat strikes just the right balance between spicy and sweet. (Picture book. 4-8)"
This Christmas-themed sequel to
The Three Little Javelinas (1992) revisits the three javelina siblings and their nemesis, the coyote trickster character.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Both well-conceived and useful. (index) (Nonfiction. 5-10)"
This child-friendly cookbook features traditional latkes and easy-to-make jelly doughnuts as well as less-traditional, kid-inspired treats.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Younger fans of historical fiction, librarians and rare-book aficionados will enjoy this, but its appeal is limited, and the Christmas connection is minimal. (Picture book. 8-11)"
A 15-year-old boy finds his place in an Irish monastery during the Middle Ages in this long, beautifully illustrated story about illuminated manuscripts.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"A nicely subtle approach to diversity. (Picture book. 5-7)"
A special Hanukkah workshop at the Jewish Community Center gives Jeremy a chance to make a unique dreidel as a surprise gift for his father, who is blind.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Entertaining and loving, though the concepts and legend behind the annual weeklong winter remembrance are missing. (Picture book. 2-5)"
Yolen and Teague's rascally dinosaurs bring their mischief to the titular holiday, illustrating the many ways it is recognized and celebrated by similarly behaving children in American Jewish households.
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