Books for Christmas

Happy Holidays!

This week I am working with Christmas books and thought I’d share some wonderful ones with you. I hope you already have some of these that you enjoy.

The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden is one of my very favorite books. The story is wonderful no matter who illustrates it, but if you can find the one with Barbara Cooney’s wonderful folk art illustrations, that is my favorite. (I also love Rumer’s other doll books, but most of them are out of print.)

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg is a wonderful story. It’s a special treat to read this book and hand out the tiny candy canes.

Christmas Tree Farm by Ann Purmell is the story of a Christmas tree farm. (Who would have guessed!) Many children may not know what happens before they buy their tree at the lot. I know that a lot of families here in the Pacific Northwest actually go out and cut their own tree, but when I was a child in Florida, that was almost a fairy tale to me.

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon. A fictional account of the Christmas truce of 1014. My copy includes a CD of the author reading the story. He also sings a ballad that goes along with the story. The oil paintings are marvelous.

Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble has some wonderful folk art style illustrations to accompany the story of an old fashioned Christmas.

Steven Layne spoke at a teacher’s convention a few years ago and we bought two of his books which are a nice lighthearted touch for the holidays. The Principal’s Night Before Christmas and The Teacher’s Night Before Christmas. You can also find many other books that play upon Clement C. Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Patricia MacLachlan, author of Sarah, Plain and Tall has a new Christmas book out called The True Gift. It is the story of a family in hard times that had to sell most of their livestock and the children were worried that their one cow would be lonely. They put an ad out to advertise for a friend for their cow and the neighbors help out.

If you haven’t heard of Patricia Polacco, you have missed a wonderful author. She is a wonderful illustrator. Christmas Tapestry is the retelling of the classic story of an old man that donates a handmade tapestry to the church and his wife who was separated from him during the war recognizes her needlework and they are reunited. An Orange for Frankie and The Trees of the Dancing Goats are two other Christmas stories by Patricia Polacco. (Please note that she has another Christmas story called “Welcome Comfort” that is simply a fairy tale about a young boy who was ostracized by his peers, but who did make friends with an elderly gentleman and eventually Welcome Comfort (his name) became the next Santa Clause.) Not all of Patricia Polacco’s books will be appropriate for your classrooms or your libraries. You will have to make that call. She does have some wonderful books that are perfect for schools and also are appropriate for all ages.

Christmas Cookies: Bite-Sized Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is just great. Here is an excerpt: “Responsible means, ‘You asked me to put away the cookie cutters, and you can count on me to do it.’” Need I say more?

One traditional holiday story is the one by O. Henry called Gift of the Magi. This can be found in a collection of his stories, or as a picture book. The story can be for all ages, but I think it works best for older students. I especially like the picture book version with Lisbeth Zwerger’s flowing illustrations.

Another old favorite of many is The Bird’s Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin. This is a timeless family story.

Years ago I read a darling story of Mr. Willowby who got a Christmas tree, but it was too tall, so he chopped off the tip and threw it away. An animal found the tip, took it home, but it was too tall, so he chopped off the tip and threw it away. And so it goes throughout the book with smaller and smaller animals chopping off the tip until finally it ends up in the mouse’s house in Mr. Willowby’s home so happy to have a tree just like Mr. Willowby’s. The book is called Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree written by Robert E. Barry.

Next week I will continue with this same topic. More Christmas stories! If you have some favorite Christmas books, I will be happy to include them also.

Don’t forget to check out my blog sdalibrarian.blogspot.com.

Best wishes,
Audrey