Great children's books for holidays
With no time to lose before the holidays, and no space for commentary, below you'll find excellent choices for children's books this holiday season.
The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>“If You Take a Mouse to the Movies”</B> by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond, Harper Collins, 32 pages; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.If you take a mouse to the movies, he'll ask you for some popcorn, which he'll want to string all together. Then he'll want to hang his popcorn string on a Christmas tree. Of course, that means you'll have to go buy a Christmas tree.Before you even get the tree home, this feisty little mouse will see a snowman and want to make one of his own, then a giant fort out of snow. At this point he'll be tired and cold, and you'll be homeward bound, only to discover that this lovable and energetic mouse still has endless things he'll want to do.A happy and fun book filled with holiday cheer, this selection will demand numerous repeat performances.
<B>Library:</B> Evans City Public Library, 204 S. Jackson St., Evans City<B>Library Director:</B> Judith Pfeifer<B>Children's Librarian:</B> Patricia Pflug<B>Choices this week:</B> <B>“Baby Danced the Polka”</B> by Karen Beaumont; <B>“Daisy Comes Home”</B> by Jan Brett; <B>“Geronimo Stilton”</B> series by Geronimo Stilton
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>“The Night Before Christmas”</B> by Clement Moore, illustrated by Robert Ingpen, Sterling, 2010, 52 pages, $12.95 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Clement C. Moore wrote this Christmas poem for his children in 1822. In just the few years that followed, it became enormously popular around the world, and to this day it is still one of the best loved Christmas stories of all time.In this new edition, award-winning illustrator Robert Ingpen offers a beautiful interpretation of this wonderful Christmas story. Through enchanting, warm and rich illustrations, Ingpen has captured the very essence of “The Night Before Christmas” as never before, making this selection very special, indeed.<B>“The Boy Who Changed the World”</B> by Andy Andrews, illustrated by Philip Hurst, Tommy Nelson, 2010, 42 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Every choice we make, both good and bad, can make a difference and influence the lives of others, and this outstanding book makes that point in a clever, profound way.Highlighting the lives of four people whose lives were unknowingly influenced by one another, each achieved great things, but it wouldn't have been possible without the choices the others had made.Based on the author's popular book, The Butterfly Effect, readers will emerge from this book with a new found understanding that their choices do make a difference and that they, too, can change the world.<B>“Tiny Little Fly”</B> by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Kevin Waldron, Candlewick, 2010, 38 pages, $15.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 2 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.One tiny little fly can be very annoying to creatures far, far bigger than the fly. Why, just ask the giant elephant, the huge hippopotamus, and the great big tiger in this book! The elephant tries to tramp and crush the annoying fly, the hippo tries roll and squash the pest and the tiger tries to swoop and snatch it. But the tiny little fly just flies out of their reach, over and over again, and the big animals know Tiny Little Fly will be back, all too soon!Charming, funny and a spot on portrayal of how annoying a fly can be, kids will want to read this selection over and over again.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.
