An Early Christmas Gift For a Special Child …

Maisy’s Christmas Tree

By Lucy Cousins
Candlewick. $6.99.

It is time to decorate the Christmas tree and Maisy invited all her friends over to help. After Cyril strings the lights, Tullulah adds the pretty ornaments and Charley hangs some colorful candy canes.

Now Maisy needs some assistance wrapping presents and someone with a long trunk like Eddie the Elephant will be pressed into action to put the angel at the tree’s very top. When everything is in place, all the friends gather around the tree to sing Christmas carols together.

Toddlers love Maisy and this little board book will be a much-read book in the days leading up to December 25th.

Merry Christmas Bugs!
Ready-to-Read, Level One

By David Carter
Simon Spotlight. $3.99

Featuring easy sight words and a simple plot and dialogue, this inexpensive paperback will delight any child just beginning to read. It is Christmas Eve and Bitsy Bee wants to find the perfect gift for her good friend, Busy Bug.

After looking at a number of possibilities from toys and a pet to a top hat for magic tricks, Bitsy decides on a more personalized present. You’ll see what she comes up with and also what Busy Bug brings her when you read this holiday story.

Besides the two featured characters, you’ll discover David Carter included various types of little bugs in the background on every page of this book. For a totally buggy Christmas, this is the book to read. An e-book edition is also available.

 

Where Is Baby’s Christmas Present?

By Karen Katz
Little Simon. $12.99

This oversized board book offers some interactive fun as the young reader helps Baby look for his Christmas present. Is it in the closet? No! But there are six big ornaments there. Is the gift under the wrapping paper? No! What about the inside the Gingerbread House? I’m afraid not!

You’ll just have to keep looking along with Baby until you discover where that present is hidden.

Big, bright illustrations and surprises behind the flaps make this a book toddlers will have fun with, but be careful because the flaps are made of thin paper and will rip if you pull back without care.

 

And Then Comes Christmas

By Tom Brenner
Illustrated by Jana Christy
Candlewick Press. $15.99

Cold nights, short days, the first snowfall and holiday decorations in stores announce that Christmas isn’t far off. This book captures the excitement of the arrival of both winter and the holiday season.

The little girl featured in the story walks the reader through all the pre-Christmas activities like the school play, decorating the house, shopping, wrapping presents, and baking tasty goodies in the kitchen.

Not only is this a picture book to enjoy with family members but you may also wish to set it out on a table where friends who visit can take a look at it. If you purchase only one holiday book this year, make it “And Then Comes Christmas”!

 

Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer: 75th Anniversary Edition

By Robert May
Illustrated by Antonio Javier Caparo
Little Simon. $17.99

If you need a new copy of this holiday classic or have never owned one, there’s a great opportunity to get a beautiful edition of the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer tale by Robert May.

Originally created in 1939 for a Montgomery Ward promotion, May used the tale of the Ugly Duckling as his inspiration. Over the years the store distributed millions of copies before May was granted the copyright in 1947.

Once that happened Rudolph’s fame soared and then came the famous song that cemented the reindeer’s reputation as a holiday icon.

There are quite a few editions of this story available but this 75th anniversary version with its large illustrations is the one you’ll want to purchase and save so you can enjoy it for years to come.

Uncles and Antlers

By Lisa Wheeler Illustrated by Brian Floca
Atheneum. $17.99

Here’s a humorous look at the holidays from the vantage point of a little reindeer that each Christmas is visited by her seven uncles. Each one is quite a character and the rhymed text explains what is unique about each relative.

For example, Uncle Quint is from Montreal and is a trick-shot basketball expert. He has five earrings, five tattoos and five new pairs of brand-name shoes. He does commercials in TV, too.

Uncle Sven, a literary gentleman, writes poetry, books and plays while Uncle Sy drives a racecar.

I’ll let you read the book to see why the reindeer gather each year like this, but you probably won’t be too surprised by what they are really up to.

 

The Christmas Show

By Rebecca Patterson
Simon & Schuster. $14.99

The entire class has been working hard for the annual Christmas presentation but one little boy hasn’t really been too attentive. Now that it is time for the nativity play, this little shepherd is going to steal the show but that may not be a good thing.

You can probably guess who sings the wrong part or the “right part at the wrong time”. Also, when everyone leaves the stage there’s one little fellow still standing there. You know who that is!

After the presentation some of the other students aren’t too happy with their classmate’s miscues, but his Granny says he was the best thing in the play so all ends well.

Any child who has had trouble performing on stage will love the funny mishaps this little boy experiences. The author handles the situation with humor and no one’s feeling are hurt so this turns out to be a positive experience.

Not your typical Christmas picture book, “The Christmas Show” will put a smile on everyone’s face.

And may you and your family have a Happy Holiday!