Winter Candle by Jeron Ashford
One by one, the families at Juniper Court find themselves in need of a candle for their holiday season. And one by one, a misshapen, lumpy candle is passed among them, until they all join together to welcome a new family in celebration. An author's note gives an overview of each holiday tradition and its meaning mentioned in the story.
While this story could be accused of predictability or sentimentality, I find that neither accusation would hold much water. This tale is just as much about the journey the candle takes through an incredibly diverse cross section of family dynamics, cultures and holiday traditions, as it is about the arrival, making the culmination sweet and appropriate. Many of these celebrations and traditions are not well-known, making this a wonderful addition for families wanting to see themselves represented or looking for diverse voices to add to their storytimes during the holiday season. Four Stars.
The crayons all champion their own reasons as to why they are the important color of Christmas in this short by Drew Daywalt, an addition to the Day the Crayons Quit franchise.
Daywalt continues to surprise and delight with the Crayon series, and demonstrates a remarkable ability to NOT "phone it in" as he continues to add to the collection. The crayons maintain their individuality and continued penchant for being argumentative with humor and charm, and even adults will get a chuckle out of some of their asides. Best for children already familiar with the Crayons and their shenanigans. Four Stars.
Santa's Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley
Santa's favorite red long johns are missing o dasher n Christmas Eve! He tries on all his other underwear but none of them really seem like a good choice for his special trip around the world. He might have to wear the shamrock long johns, but some of his friends have a better plan.
Underwear is always going to be a hit with children, and this offering with Santa prancing around in a variety of styles and patterns will probably strike a chord with many kiddos. This is a very straightforward story that does not pretend to be anything it isn't. The illustrations are done with a soft palette and include many things not mentioned in the text for the observant kids -- from the antics of the elves and several clues to the mini-mystery within the story. If Aliens Love Underpants, A Creepy Pair of Underwear or similar stories have been hits in your home, this is a fun little addition to your holiday storytime. Three Stars.
Dasher by Matt Tavares
The story of how one very brave little reindeer finds a way to lead her family out of captivity and straight into legend.
Such a charming story, beautifully illustrated, and a creative, well-done tale all around. Tavares gives us a backstory for Santa's reindeer team that appears to come wholly from his imagination, but feels like it could easily have been based in a known legend. The illustrations give a feel vaguely reminiscent of The Polar Express and do some wonderful frame-breaking and shifting along with the story. All in all, a delightful read that is sure to satisfy children's "need-to-know" regarding this one particular mystery. Four Stars.
The Donkey's Song: A Christmas Nativity Story by Jacki Kellum
A spare retelling in rhyme of the night of Christ's birth, told from the donkey's point of view. This book is religious in nature.
Donkey's Song is a sweet, highly simplistic review of the nativity story. Told in rhyme, it would be well suited for very young children, although the illustrations may capture the interest of older ones as well. The text feels uneven in places, with pine needles and evergreen making a somewhat jarring appearance, sunlight appearing to light the Child's face, a stronger focus on the wise men than the shepherds and the culmination of the story with the donkey's bray. The "a bit of" repetition to identify the components of the story is cute, but this tale is more for making allusions to the well-known components of the Christmas tale than for actually telling it. The illustrations, done by Next to You: A Book of Adorableness's Sydney Hanson are wide-eyed and delightful, adding to the gentle, calm feel of the book. Recommended for toddlers and preschool children, who may enjoy the comforting feel of the story while reading with a loved caregiver. Three stars.
The Christmas Book Flood by Emily Kilgore
The tale of Iceland's Christmas Eve tradition of gifting books and spending the night reading, curled up with chocolate of one kind or another. An author's note provides more factual information on the writing of the story and the origin of Iceland's well-loved traditions.
Similar to The Christmas Owl, this story's primary charm lies in its basis in fact. The text is short and simple and does a fairly good job of capturing the excitement and magic surrounding the gifting of books, while also including hints about specific parts of this custom that are further detailed in the Author's Note (which absolutely should not be skipped), such as the Book Bulletin Icelanders pore over with the intensity of America's children of the eighties and the Sears toy catalogue. The illustrations, though, are where this book truly shines. The palette is vibrant and rich; the pictures, already full of details and magical elements, are further enhanced with collage textures that, of course, include news and book prints. A welcome addition to anyone's holiday reads as they open their hearts and minds to new ways to celebrate the season. But read with care -- you may find that YOUR Christmas traditions shift toward this incredibly inviting practice. This librarian certainly knows one person who will be giving it a try this Christmas Eve! Four Stars.
Dasher Can't Wait for Christmas by Matt Tavares
Matt Tavares returns to the world he built in the reindeer's origin story as Dasher heads off on another adventure. Too impatient to wait for Christmas Eve, Dasher strikes out early on her own to visit the world during the Christmas season. When a freak storm hides the North Star and jeopardizes her return to the Pole, Dasher must count on the assistance of a child to get her home safe in time.
While readers who come to this book expecting a sequel may find themselves disappointed, those looking for a charming stand-alone story will surely enjoy this sweet tale. There is enough meat to this story to make an enjoyable read for all involved, and enough tenderness to bring some holiday cheer without crossing the line into forced or saccharine sentimentality. As in the previous installment, the illustrations do not disappoint, and Tavares demonstrates once again his proficiency as both an artist and a storyteller. Four stars.
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Bear's friends are determined to awaken him and celebrate Christmas with him this year. But staying awake is such a struggle. Will Bear keep his eyes open long enough to see Christmas... and Santa... for himself?
Wilson has made a name for herself with this series, known for it's strong rhyme scheme wrapped around incredibly warm and simple ideas. Fans of the series will love returning to Bear's cave for this new-familiar installment, but newcomers will find plenty to enjoy as well. Wilson handles the flow of rhyme and meter well, without a lot of meandering. Bear's friends, and Bear himself, are as charming and loving as ever, continuing to embody friendship in sweet and uncomplicated ways. The inevitable twist may not surprise long-time readers, but they will enjoy the familiarity and Wilson keeps us busy with multiple surprises through this long winter's night. Four stars.
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