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Parent Book Recommendations November/December
By Sandy Meagher

Although November and December are months of great excitement, things can get a little frenzied. It seems not so long ago that I was taxiing our four children to music lessons and various practices, supervising homework, cooking meals – all while preparing for the holiday season. I often looked for new ways to bring more calm into our lives and it usually came in the form of books. Just reading together before bedtime was always a great nighttime soother. Here are some of my favorite holiday books:

To read Sandy Meagher's related article It's Children's Book Week! click here

Maisy's Snowy Christmas Eve by Lucy Cousins (Candlewick Press, 2003, ISBN: 0-763-62196-X). Maisy is a favorite character of my granddaughter, Tess. She loves to follow the characters from story to story and can tell me what happens in each setting.

Curious George is an all-time favorite character of my grandson, Paul. It pleases him that George can get into so much mischief and still be loved by The Man with the Yellow Hat. Merry Christmas, Curious George by H.A. and Margret Rey and Cathy Hapka (Houghton Mifflin, 2006, ISBN: 0-618-69237-1) will please all George lovers.

Activities that allow kids to work with you or their siblings can be meaningful and gratifying. Children love the book Spot 7 Christmas by Kidslabel (Chronicle Books, 2006, ISBN: 0-811-85323-3). The pairs of photos have seven differences and a riddle below each picture. Kids can do a lot of brainstorming and problem-solving with these books whether they work alone or with a partner. They are just plain fun.

At my house, craft books were always a big hit. A real treasure is Origami Holiday Decorations: For Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa by Florence Temko (Tuttle Publishing, 2003, ISBN: 0-804-83477-6). Try the origami Kwanzaa bowl for a display on different holidays.

I also always try to emphasize some family activities for winter. A magical way to introduce ice skating is with the book Skating with the Bears by Andrew Breakspeare (Dutton Juvenile, 2005, ISBN: 0-525-47485-4). Snowmen never lose their popularity and are truly celebrated in Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner (Dial, 2005, ISBN: 0-803-72995-2).

Be sure to check out your local library and bookstores for holiday reading and craft books; they are bound to enhance your family's celebration of this special time of year.

To read Sandy Meagher's related article It's Children's Book Week! click here

Sandy Meagher is the Library Department Chairperson and School Librarian in the Wayne Highlands School District, Honesdale, PA.

November/December, 2006, Vol.37, No.3