Summer Inspiration ... Kid Style!

Every so often, they hop off their bikes and scooters, or take a break from playing basketball or flag football, and impress me with their creative side. Whether it's a city of roadways and parking lots made with just chalk and Hot Wheels; a tea party, complete with miniature utensils; a "special breakfast" served on a doll highchair tray; a bouquet of blooms collected from the ground (or, sometimes, from the plant itself! :-)); or a colorful PlayDoh "cake" ... it's a great reminder to me to keep creating characters and writing stories (and not be afraid of NOT creating perfection on the first try!).

When Your Child Gets Published Before You Do...

My son's third grade 'Young Authors' assignment was to write and illustrate an ABC book. He chose 'Vehicles' as his subject ... one for every letter of the alphabet - from Ambulance to Zamboni!

It was a long two months of researching facts about each of the vehicles and creating the final drawings. Somewhere around Ice Cream Truck, my usually eager illustrator was clearly considering the illustrations to be a cumbersome task; and the idea of typing the words on the computer - originally such an exciting prospect - became dreaded. But, he (and I!) made it, and was thrilled with the end product.

One evening, not long after turning it in, I got a call from his teacher. She loved his book, and wondered if she could buy it for her grandson, a fellow admirer of anything with wheels.  I joked with her, "My son's going to be published before I am!"

We created a second copy for her grandson. My son received his very first payment in exchange for his first 'published' book. And - after overhearing my comment to his teacher - he now tells everyone that he published a picture book before his Mom! :-)

Which is just fine with me. I was, after all, one of the people to whom he dedicated the book ... and, really, what more could you ask for?

Read Across America Day & Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Cat in the Hat, by B, 3/2/10

Not only was today the 106th birthday of the phenomenally creative and talented Mr. Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), it was also Read Across America Day!

My son's class celebrated all day with visits from special guests they dubbed 'Reading Royalty', who had the pleasure of reading their favorite picture book(s) to the kids.

As royalty, of course, we got to wear a paper crown while sitting in the Reading Royalty Chair. We weren't the only ones sporting snappy headgear ... the kids were all wearing paper Cat in the Hat hats they had decorated first thing this morning!

I was the very last Royal Reader of the day, so I decided to read some of my favorite fast-paced, silly, crazy picture books ... including the original "SkippyjonJones" by Judy Schachner and "Do Unto Otters" by Laurie Keller. And, what a joy to be asked to read a third (I had brought plenty to choose from! :-)) ... we chose "Bear Feels Sick" by Karma Wilson.

As we drove home, I asked my son if I had done alright as one of the Reading Royalty. "Oh, yes," he said encouragingly, "you did really great. You had good fluency." :-)

He makes me smile. As does Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day!

A Christmas Picture Book Must-Read!

As I've mentioned before, our household is a big fan of Karma Wilson and her 'Bear...' books. And, this is the very book that started the 'Bear...' craze in our household.

In "Bear Stays Up for Christmas", Bear's friends make a valiant effort to keep him awake for Christmas. Their efforts are successful ... but all that hard work keeping Bear awake makes Mouse, Hare, Badger, and the rest of the friends VERY tired. That's OK ... Bear's got them covered, and he works through the night to ensure a special Christmas for all of them.

The rhyming text is perfection, and the illustrations are so warm and cozy, it makes you want to snuggle up with Bear and his friends in his lair.

It's targeted to 4-8 year olds, but the pictures, lively characters, and catchy rhymes make it perfect for younger children as well.

If you're looking for a warm and fun holiday picture book classic for your family, "Bear Stays Up for Christmas" is guaranteed to please ... even when it's not the holidays (this is one we do NOT pack away after Christmas is over!).

Words Optional

If my count is correct, this magnificent children's picture book has exactly 28 words. Twenty-eight!

Not 1,300 ... not 1,000 ... not even 852 ... but, twenty-eight very effective words.

The illustrations carry the story and delight the reader. The talented Nancy Tafuri, who wrote and illustrated this gem, was so very clever when she crafted this Caldecott Honor and ALA Notable Book.

From the words, we know it takes place early in the morning, and that the mother duck is trying to find her missing duckling.

With each turn of the page, the child reader gets to search and point out where the little missing duckling is hiding. It has been tested repeatedly in our house, and consistently results in delightful giggles when the wayward duckling is spotted.

Oh, how I wish I could create such gorgeous pictures. This book is proof that illustrations can truly tell a wonderful story and, sometimes, words are optional.

I Wish I'd Thought of That!

Clever, that Jon J. Muth. I'll admit, I have yet to read the Caldecott Honor-winning Zen Shorts, which came before Zen Ties. But, I suspect it's just as brilliant.

Mr. Muth subtly introduces young children to haiku in this engaging tale. The main character, Stillwater (a rather large talking panda) has a nephew named, Koo. When he meets him at the train station, he says (you can all say it with me if you see where this is going!), "Hi, Koo!" So, so clever. And, Koo only speaks in haiku ... yep, he's got 17 syllables to say his peace. And, I have to say ... he is very artful with those 17 syllables!

Not all may agree with me, given that there is a lot of dialogue in this children's book ... but, I tend to write that way too, and love how well the dialogue works in this book.

Not only does it introduce the concept of haiku in such a clever way, but it has a beautiful message of compassion and respect ... without being overtly didactic.

And the watercolor illustrations ... well, they are simply mesmerizing. Vivid, yet sweet, with a nostalgic feel. They captivated and entertained my almost-4-year old even while I was explaining the Hi Koo / haiku wordplay to her! :-)

I highly recommend Zen Ties ... and am now looking forward to reading Zen Shorts!

A Perfect Walk and Perfectly Charming Children's Board Books

What a wonderful weekend! After weeks of torrential downpours, we had a gloriously sunny day ... perfect for a walk!

What better way to start out Mother's Day weekend, than with the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. This was our 8th year making the trek in honor of my mom (a survivor); in memory of my grandmother; and in honor of a dear friend of mine who just finished a year of grueling treatment. We had a great time breathing in the fresh, cool air ... and watching our son not only walk the 2.5 mile route ... but hop, skip, and jump through most of it!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I've written previously about children's book author, Karma Wilson. I hope to someday have a collection of entertaining published books to my name like the collection she has ... she truly is amazing! Her "Bear..." books, in particular, have been a consistent hit in our house ... always on our list of 'go-to' books.

Recently, I was lucky enough to win three of her children's board books. I was ecstatic! And, they came signed to my kiddos ... so cool!

The first two - "Hello, Calico" and "Uh-oh, Calico!" are absolutely adorable and charming. My 3-year old loves them, and the stories - told in very catchy rhymes - are fun for my 6-year old to read to his little sister. The illustrations (by Buket Erdogan) are a perfect combination of vivid color and sweetness.

The third book, "Beautiful Babies", is a touch-and-feel book that is beyond cute. Being a photography buff, I was excited to learn that Karma 'illustrated' the book herself, using pictures she had taken. What a thrill ... to write a book and illustrate it with your own photos! This book is perfect for babies, toddlers, and animal-loving preschoolers. My daughter flips through it, feeling the little animal noses, feathers, and fur, as she falls asleep at night.

If you have little ones or are looking for the perfect gift to give a preschooler, toddler, or baby ... you might want to check these out! They are sure to bring lots of smiles!

My Young Author!

Imagine my thrill when I opened the envelope from school and pulled out a letter that began with the following wonderful words: "CONGRATULATIONS! Your child is a Young Author's Conference winner!" I was verklempt! When I was just a wee one ... well, in the 6th grade, so not-so-wee ... I was a Young Author's Conference winner, so I was thrilled beyond words to have my son follow in those particular footsteps for his picture book titled, "The Zoo".

It almost made up for that other thing he wrote in school a couple weeks ago ... the one where they were describing each family member's hobbies ... what they 'liked' to do. He wrote that Dad liked basketball and football, little sister liked playing and dolls, he himself enjoyed playing with trucks ... and Mom ... well, he wrote that I liked washing dishes and laundry. Seriously ... I almost cried. Not photography, not gardening, not softball, not exercising ... but washing stuff. Grrrrrr......! Actually, maybe if I looked at it as a hobby I would, in fact, enjoy it more. OK, maybe not. I have to admit, though ... he's a smart one ... I AM a bit obsessed with cleanliness ... and, apparently, it's quite evident to my children! ;-)

Anyway ... back to my Young Author ... he ended up getting 3rd place in his first grade class, made more special by the fact that two of his dearest buddies were the ones who received first and second! A very fun day for all of them ... and their proud parents!!

Listen to the Wind

"Three Cups of Tea", by Greg Mortenson, has been on my reading list for some time now. So what did I purchase this weekend? No. Not "Three Cups of Tea" ... that's still on my list. I purchased "Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea."

Surprising ... I know ... that a picture book writer would end up purchasing the picture book version of the story before the original, adult version! :-)

And, no, it wasn't just that I wanted the abridged version! :-)

The story of Greg Mortenson, who has now helped to build 78 schools (78!!!!!!) in the remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, is over-the-top phenomenal and inspiring. This man sold everything he owned to raise money to build the first school in Korphe, a small, remote village in the mountains of Pakistan. He sent letters to 580 prominent Americans, businesspeople, and celebrities asking them to help. Of those 580 letters, one was returned ... with $100 ... from Tom Brokaw. I've always known there was something about Tom that I liked!

Greg Mortensen has survived an armed kidnapping and endured and persevered despite multiple death threats ... all to promote a very simple and effective concept: Peace through education.

The picture book, "Listen to the Wind" is stunningly gorgeous. The illustrations are collages created by Susan L. Roth. My 6-year old son was overwhelmed by them. He couldn't believe that someone had created the pictures using scraps of paper and material, and kept repeating - with each turn of a page - "Wow, she's good!" (in reference to the artist!).

The story, itself, is quite a concept for a child to wrap their arms around. That these children from Korphe did not have a regular indoor school to attend was a bit worrisome to my son. However, the fact that their lessons were held outside and they wrote with sticks in the dirt initially sounded very appealing ... like the school of his dreams!

The story continues on to explain how that first school was built. First, they had to figure out how to get the supplies from one mountainside, across a river, to the next mountainside. The whole town came together, with Greg, to build a bridge. Once the bridge was complete, they could then transport - by foot - the supplies needed to build the school. A true labor of love.

Men, women, and children all came together to build that first school. This is truly an amazing story of a community coming together for the sake of its children ... to give them an education, so they could grow to be leaders with agendas of peace!

It also was a great prompt for a discussion with my son ... about this particular region of the world; about what many of the children would be learning about if it weren't for these schools; and about the organization - Pennies For Peace - that continues to raise funds to promote education in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A penny may not be much to us ... but there, it can buy one pencil, thereby promoting literacy and learning. And, one dollar ... it can fund one child's education for a whole month. Wow!

A beautiful book with a remarkable message of community, hope, and peace.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

You're doing mighty fine for being 105!!

My son's first grade class is celebrating this very special birthday with a Dr. Seuss Day! Special crafts (yea!) ... writing their own Seuss-like stories (woohoo!) ... and, of course ... dressing-up in a Seuss-ish way! And, with that, we have the part where - as a parent - I think to myself ... 'oh dear ...'.

I could probably be classified as being fairly creative ... but only if a computer is involved. I pretty much enjoy creating anything using this technological wonder. But, challenge me with creating a costume or thinking up a fabulous craft, and I'm hopelessly lost and rather uninterested.

So, when I read the newsletter on Friday, suggesting the kids wear something special in honor of the rhyming wizard's birthday, I did my normal, "Eeeek!" But, then I was saved by a phone call.

See the adorable picture of Thing 1 and Thing 2? My son, Braden, is Thing 2. Thing 1 is his dear friend, Hadden. And, Hadden's mom just happens to be a teacher who - from all indications - is uber creative when it comes to costumes! Her message went something like this ... "Kelly ... I saw that it was Dr. Seuss day on Monday, and I was thinking Hadden and Braden could go as Thing 1 and Thing 2. We've already got two blue wigs, and I'll make the Thing 1 and Thing 2 signs for their shirts. Does Braden have a red shirt he can wear?"

"We do!!!" I exclaimed with glee to the message player! And so, it was settled ... and Thing 1 and Thing 2 looked absolutely adorable this morning! As did the rest of the class, dressed as Cat in the Hat and in all sorts of other shirts and hats that would make Dr. Seuss proud!

Thank you, Mr. Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), for creating a reading phenomenon that continues to touch and influence the lives of so many children (and adults!) ... and, no doubt, will do so for many years to come! Happy Birthday!

Boy + Vehicle Book = Successful Reading

My 6-year old son LOVES vehicles! No matter the variety ... Hot Wheels, Legos, NASCAR, you name it ... if it has wheels, it's the BEST thing ever. And, if it's hauling a trailer ... well, it's just heaven on earth!

He wakes up at 6:30 in the morning and begins playing with his trucks and cars ... he drives them around the console; he carries them in his backpack to school; he carries them in his pockets; he sleeps with them safely parked on the bookcase above his bed.

By the time he was three, he could name nearly every make and model driving by on the road. Even at the tender age of two, he could identify any Chevy and Acura on the road, thrilled that those were the same makes driven by Dad and Mom.

And, don't even get me started on Rescue Vehicles! We stop everything to listen for where the siren is coming from and, oh, to see a fire truck/ambulance/police car whiz by on the way to a rescue ... that's just the epitome of excitement. Thankfully, he also always adds that he hopes the accident isn't bad and everyone is okay! :-)

So ... I shouldn't have been at all surprised by Braden's choice of book at our last school book fair. Here I was, trying to pick out some early readers that might appeal to him ("Henry and Mudge"; "Dinosaur Cove", etc.), and suddenly he had disappeared from my side and I was talking to myself.

I turned to see him being pulled by some invisible force to a bookshelf down the hall. I then saw that another boy was coming from the opposite direction, clearly being pulled by that very same invisible force, with a look of both awe and focus on his face. Even though I could only see the back of his head, I imagined that Braden probably had that very same look.

Then I saw the invisible force ... sitting on display on the top shelf - "MEGA RESCUERS". A book with a large picture of a fire truck on the front, and the caption, "The most exciting rescue vehicles in the world!"

I followed Braden over to the shelf, where he immediately started pleading his case. The mother of the other boy had arrived at about the same time as I, and was hearing a similar storyline.

I wasn't sold at first ... "What about these fun chapter books that will be so good for your reading...?" I tried to reason.

But, as I watched Braden page through the book and listened to his "OH, COOL!!!" and "Look at THIS!" exclamations, I couldn't help but think this book would have the same impact on his reading that those other books would. If he wanted to learn about mountain rescuers, sea rescuers, rescue helicopters, and all the other rescue vehicles in the book, he would have to read what was written about them. So, the book was purchased.

The outcome? We not only read the book during our scheduled daily reading time ... we often find him reading the book voluntarily, on his own ... sometimes during the day, sometimes at night with his little booklight hooked over the book. Yes, he definitely enjoys all the amazing pictures ... but, he's also reading all the captions and paragraphs that go along with those pictures. And, isn't that really the point ... to enjoy reading so much that you do it when you don't have to?!

So, the "Mega Rescuers" book has done its job well. Another lesson learned by the parent of a 6-year old. And I'm just fine with that!

Happy reading (and writing)!

It Appears My Ban is Over

I had a secret plan to not allow them into my house ... you know, the children's books ... written by celebrities.

OK, I admit ... I've stood in the corner at Barnes and Noble once or twice ... maybe five times ... and read a few of them. But, from what I'd heard, I was pretty much not supposed to admit to liking them (even though I kind of sort of DID like them).

After all, how can someone like me compete with the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Madonna, Katie Couric ... and the list goes on ... and on. I mean, really ... it seems like every time you turn around, a celebrity has written a children's book. And, why wouldn't publishers jump all over that?! Their books equate to instantly successful marketing ... just like that! These people can easily land an interview on the Today Show and sell gazillions (OK, maybe a little less) of children's picture books in the blink of an eye. It's quite amazing ... and a bit daunting!

So, I figured I would keep plugging away at my own efforts, and - in the mean time - not contribute to the mass purchasing of said children's books.

Then, it happened ... my children were given two celeb-authored books for Christmas. One by Jamie Lee Curtis ("Big Words for Little People"); and the other by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. "Goodness," I thought to myself as I watched wrapping paper fly across the room, "now I'm competing with celebrities AND a DUCHESS!"

So, I'm here to admit that I like them. The stories are adorable and the illustrations ... well ... they're just phenomenal and bright and cheerful.

My daughter's favorite is "Tea for Ruby" (that's the one by the Duchess!). The story line is very simple and sweet. But, oh my ... the illustrations ... I just stare at them and wonder how long it took Robin Preiss Glasser to complete the intricate, detailed drawings. They're amazing.

So, I guess my ban on celebrity-authored books is officially over. I probably won't purchase any, but I will allow them to enter my house. :-) After all, while their books may have taken some of ours out of the running ... they've also done a huge service to the industry by turning the spotlight on children's picture books. And that's a good thing for everyone ... especially the kids for whom we write!

In the mean time, I'm going to re-read "The Non-Celebrity's Guide to Getting a Children's Book Published" by Jon Bard, Managing Editor of The Children's Book Insider, LLC (http://www.write4kids.com/). It's a refreshingly straightforward look at how to get published when you're only a celebrity in your own small circle of the world!

Happy writing!

Butterfly Olivia's Debut

Last week, I wrote about the imagination and creativity lesson I had learned from my son while we brainstormed ideas for a picture book for his first grade teacher's new baby girl.

In lieu of any announcement that one of my own picture books has been picked up for publication, I'll instead announce that Braden's picture book is a wrap, and was turned in to the homework basket this morning.

Yesterday, as he was finishing the last drawing, I excitedly announced that I was running to get my camera so I could take pictures of his very first picture book.

"Mom," he responded matter-of-factly, "it's not my first one. I've done another book at school." Such a pro, that one.

I might be overly-excited and, apparently, have much to learn about the inner workings of the first grade ... but I was still very proud of him. So, I grabbed my camera and started shooting.

Not bad for a first (excuse me ... second) picture book attempt by a first grader. I love the vivid colors ... and, can you see the butterfly? She looks the same on each page ... not easy when each of her four wings features a different pattern!

Now ... the picture book writer in me is wondering if this can be developed further ... into a 32-pager?!

I think I'll add it to my idea list ... because, as my son says, "You just never know!" (That's a whole other post for another day!).

Hope your day is filled with creativity, imagination, and vivid color!

The Perfect Picture Book for a Cold, Blustery Night

The cover of this book immediately caught my eye as I walked down the school hallway lined with Scholastic Book Fair books. I mean, really ... just look at it. How can you pass by a picture like that without stopping?

"Bedtime for Little Bears!" (written by David Bedford; illustrated by Caroline Pedler) takes the reader on the sweet, nighttime journey of Little Bear and his mother. Little Bear has had a big day and must be exhausted, but is certainly not going to admit to being sleepy. (A nightly occurrence in our household!)

So ... his mother takes him for a walk to see Little Owl, Baby Hare, Little Fox, and Little Whale all in the midst of their bedtime routines. The story is perfectly sweet (not too much; not too little), and the illustrations, like the cover, are stunning ... a perfect fit for this soothing story.

The Twelve Books of Christmas (at least in our house!) - Book 12

I know ... I'm getting this one in just under the wire! It's the middle of the night, and we're in the midst of packing for a trip we will hopefully be taking tomorrow, provided the road we need to drive on to "... be home for Christmas" stays open amidst a gazillion inches of snow and freezing rain!

I couldn't think of a better book to end the Twelve Books of Christmas with than this one ... "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus". I had never even heard of it until about three weeks ago, when my mother-in-law asked if I'd ever read it. On one of her trips here, she brought me her copy ... purchased in 1972. A beautiful, well-preserved book ... with a timeless message.

Today ... this very book arrived in the mail for me. A gift from my mother-in-law. I don't plan to read it to my kids just yet ... maybe not even next year. But, I think this is the one I'll pull out when they finally look me in the eyes and asked me the question, "Mom ... is Santa real?"

"Yes, Virginia..." centers around a little girl (Virginia ... obviously), who asks that question. The older printing of the book provides a bit more back story than the new printing, explaining that Virginia's dad, upon hearing the question, tells his daughter to ask The New York Sun ... because what they say is always true.

So ... she writes to the editor of the New York Sun.

The treasured, timeless response by Mr. Francis Pharcellus Church, in the year 1897, was eventually turned into book form. And, thank goodness for that ... it is a classic and is as wonderfully relevant today as I'm sure it was back then.

Enjoy ... and blessings to you this Christmas!

The Twelve Books of Christmas (at least in our house!) - Books 10 and 11

My family and I love everything about Christmas ... the joyous spirit, the generosity, the kindness that seems to be more abundant this time of year ... and, yes, Santa too! But, we also celebrate Jesus' birth as the reason for everything Christmas!

So, with that in mind, I'm doing a double-book-post today ... about two legends ... that of the Christmas Tree and the Candy Cane.

Have you heard the one about the Candy Cane? Not the joke ... the legend? It's so cool. A stranger comes into town, and sets up a candy shop (you can just hear the children's cheers!), where he introduces a mysterious, oddly-shaped red and white striped confection. The townspeople soon learn that the candy cane is a special Christmas candy because 1) it is shaped like the letter 'J' ... which stands for Jesus, born on Christmas day; 2) if you flip it the opposite direction, it looks like a shepherd's staff ... for the shepherds in the field, watching over their flocks by night; 3) it has red stripes ... representing the blood Jesus shed when he died on the cross; and 4) it has white stripes ... to represent pureness and sins washed away by the blood of Jesus.

In "The Legend of the Christmas Tree", a family in search of the perfect Christmas tree makes their way through thick fog to a tree farm, which seems to appear out of nowhere, and is operated by a kind, grandfatherly man who seems to have been expecting them.

They notice three large, beautiful ... and perfectly identical Christmas trees ... one of which has a lovely, silver box sitting beneath it.

The man explains to the family that the trees and the secret in the silvery box tell the legend of the Christmas tree. And so, we learn that 1) one tree has three corners, representing God in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; 2) trees were first decorated with apples and twists of bread to tell the story of the tree in the Garden of Eden; 3) Martin Luther then put candles on his tree to represent the story of Jesus' (the light of the world) birth; and 4) people in Europe then added beautiful ornaments to their trees, as a way to celebrate Jesus' birth.

After hearing the legend, the family is given the perfect Christmas tree ... and the beautiful silver box, with instructions not to open it until they have finished decorating their tree. Any guesses on what was in the box?

A star ... the Christmas star ... with a note that reads, "Just as the wise men found Jesus under the star of Bethlehem, may all who see the tree that is under this star hear and understand the true meaning of Christmas."

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas!

The Twelve Books of Christmas (at least in our house!) - Book 7

Oh my, do we ever need our mittens these days! Ever since reading "The Snowy Day" ... the snow ... and ice ... haven't stopped!

This adorable book, targeted at the preschool age group, is a delight to read, and the pictures are so wonderfully charming.

On each page, children (and adults too ... go ahead ... feel the mittens) can feel the little boy's velvety red mittens, as he experiences the joys of winter ... catching snowflakes, throwing snowballs, licking icicles, and making a snowman.

And on the last oh-so-cozy page ... a picture of the little boy (with requisite steaming hot chocolate in hand), his red mittens, and his snoozing kitty warming by the fire.

A short, sweet, perfectly cheerful book! Enjoy!

The Twelve Books of Christmas (at least in our house!) - Book 6

Over the past two nights, each of my kids have requested this enchanting book. "God Gave Us Christmas" is part of the popular "God Gave Us..." series by Lisa Tawn Bergren. With a lovely message and beautiful illustrations by David Hohn, I consider it a perfect read for the holiday season. I would say it is aimed at the preschool age, but my 6-year old son enjoyed it as well.

The main character, Little Cub, has a lot of questions about Christmas including, "Who 'vented Christmas?". When her mother responds that God invented Christmas, Little Cub wants to know if God is more important than Santa. Her mother responds in the affirmative, but Little Cub is still a bit intrigued by Santa, and wants to find him. Her mother explains that Santa is quite hard to find ... but, God can be found in many places. Thus begins a polar expedition where Little Cub learns that God can be seen in everything from the Northern Lights to the melting glaciers to the flowers peeking from the ground.

Santa Claus is given props for reminding us about wonderful things like generosity and care, but the main message focuses on God - and Jesus - being the reason for Christmas.

A gentle, sweet, and warmly illustrated story about the true meaning of Christmas ... what could be better to share with your little ones?!

The Twelve Books of Christmas (at least in our house!) - Book 5

This book is special in our house ... because it's slightly magical. But, more on that in a moment.

I know this is not exactly a "Christmas" book, but it sort of is ... winter, delicate snowflakes falling from the sky, enough snow to sled and build a snowman ... what could be more Christmasy than that (think "Frosty the Snowman" ... "Dashing Through the Snow" ... "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"!)?

"The Snowy Day", by Anna Milbourne and Elena Temporin, is adorably illustrated and explains - in a simple and fun way - what makes it snow! And, oh, all the things you can do in the snow ... sledding and snowball-throwing and snowman-making. And, did you know that animals hide away in warm tree hollows and thick fir tree branches when it's cold and snowy? Oh, the things children will learn, all the while enjoying a sweet story and charming pictures.

OK, back to the magical part ... last year, my son (then 5) handed us this book to read and, after we'd finished, informed us that reading the book would make it snow that night. And ... it did! We were delighted to open the curtains that next morning to find our neighborhood blanketed in white snow. After that happened, the book automatically earned some magical credits! We've read it once or twice this year, with no luck. BUT, we're going to make sure to read it again this weekend ... according to the local meteorologist, we may just see some magic happening again this year!

The Twelve Books of Christmas (at least in our house!) - Book 4

Who doesn't love Mouse, cautiously protecting his beloved red, ripe strawberry from the big, hungry, mysterious Bear in "The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear", by Don and Audrey Wood? The sweet, simple story and vibrant illustrations easily capture the attention of a wide age range.

And, how lucky are we that there is a Christmas version featuring our favorite characters ... with a twist!

In "Merry Christmas, BIG HUNGRY BEAR!", little Mouse sets out to protect his Christmas presents from Bear, just like he did with his red, ripe, juicy strawberry. But he then learns that, while Bear would love a present, he never gets one ... not even from Santa [gasp]! In fact, Bear spends Christmas alone, with big tears falling from his big, hungry eyes.

Well ... that does it ... this make Mouse quite distraught, and we see our timid Mouse transform into a brave and generous friend, as he trudges through cold and snow to bring presents to lonely Bear on Christmas Eve. He makes it to the cold, dark cave and begins his work ... adding bling to a tree and placing presents underneath. But, in the midst of his work ... he hears a noise that sends him scurrying for cover. Is Bear coming to get him? Quite the contrary ... Bear has left Mouse a present (a LARGE one), and - though we never see Bear - we know a friendship has blossomed.

A sweet story with stunningly beautiful illustrations that make you feel warm and cozy inside! A perfect read for a winter's night.