'Dog Loves Drawing'

Check out the children's books reviewed below for holiday gift-giving or holiday sharing. Each is a real gem.

Books to BorrowThe following book is available at many public libraries.“The Paper Bag Christmas” by Kevin Alan Milne, Center Street, 150 pages; read aloud: age 9 and older; read yourself: age 10 and older.Reluctantly, at the insistence of their father, 9-year-old Molar and his older brother, Aaron, are standing in line at the mall, waiting to see Santa Claus. Both boys no longer believed in Santa, but this year the tradition seemed particularly important to their dad.Santa's assistants pass out papers and pencils and direct everyone to write their Christmas list to hasten the process along. When Molar and Aaron finally meet with Santa, he informs them they won't be getting anything they've asked for. Instead, they would get everything they never thought they wanted.With that, Santa (actually Dr. Chris Ringle, a pediatric oncologist) convinces the boys to volunteer as Santa's elves at the hospital children's ward for the holiday.Each boy is asked to bring holiday cheer to the young cancer patients. Additionally, each boy is asked to befriend a specific patient — two children who particularly need a friend. What each boy learns is something they could have never have imagined; something that changes their lives in the deepest, most meaningful way.A heartwarming, moving tale, “The Paper Bag Christmas” provides a beautiful and moving reminder of the true joy of life, selfless acts, friendship and the holiday season.

Librarian's ChoiceLibrary: Zelienople Public Library, 227 S. High St., ZelienopleLibrary Director: Jan LawrenceChoices this week: “America's White Table” by Margot Theis Raven; “Down Girl and Sit: Smarter Than Squirrels” by Lucy Nolan; “Guardians of Ga'Hoole” series by Kathryn Lasky

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“Dog Loves Drawing” written and illustrated by Louise Yates, Alfred A. Knopf, 2012, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 to 6; read yourself: age 7 to 8.Dog loves books very much. But one day he receives a book in the mail that doesn't have one word or one picture in it except for the note from his Aunt Dora, saying “May the lines you draw open a door to some wonderful adventures.” A sketchbook!Dog knew immediately what to do. His first sketch is a door that Dog steps through, and then a stickman friend who says hello to Dog. And from there, more friends are added, exciting places, and wildly fun adventures. That is, until Dog's friend the duck draws a monster…Charged with imagination and bucket-loads of fun, this book will have children eager to create their own grand adventures.“Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money” by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Schwartz and Wade, 2012, 36 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8.On a very cold, snowy day, an enterprising sister and brother decide to have a lemonade stand. Mom and Dad don't think it's a good idea; who wants cold lemonade on a day like this?But the children forge ahead, and with clever ideas to market their product, actually do wind up attracting customers. And throughout their business venture, older sister Pauline teaches younger brother John-John how to count money.Full of great fun and a money-counting lesson to boot, this selection is awesome.“Sarah Gives Thanks” by Mike Allegra, illustrated by David Gardner, Albert Whitman & Co., 2012, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 to 9; read yourself: age 8 to 9.In the 1800s, recently widowed Sarah Josepha Hale needed to find a way feed her family. She began writing, and soon magazines printed and paid her for her work. She became such a popular writer that she eventually became the editor of a women's magazine.For many years, Sarah had felt that Thanksgiving should be a national holiday — a day of collective thanks for everyone in the nation to look beyond personal problems and appreciate what we have.Sarah wrote letters to influential businessmen, government officials and four presidents, and she was determined to be heard and make the holiday official. And finally, after 36 years of persistence, that's exactly what President Lincoln did.An inspiring story perfectly complemented with wonderful illustrations, this selection is first-rate.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.

‘Lemonade in Winter’