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: 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: 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
"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. 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. 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
"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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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Suitable for the holiday story shelves in larger library collections and families with very young children. (Picture book. 2-5)"
This version of the traditional holiday carol features a restrained, streamlined interpretation intended for younger children who may not be familiar with the song's complicated cast of characters.
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