Christmas Books

Last year, I remember sighing when the new Christmas books came out, because I didn't see anything that struck me as unusually cool. This year, I'm sighing because there are sooo many cool titles...

Books Based on Seasonal Songs:

One of my new all-time favorites is The Twelve Days of Christmas.  Illustrator Jane  Ray cleverly creates a complementary modern story to the traditional song, imagined with detailed pictures of pipers piping, french hens, and turtle doves.  Don't miss this one!   Michael Hague's Treasury of Christmas Carols invites the reader in with a red velvet cover. Inside, whimsical watercolors introduce friendly critters getting ready for Christmas.  Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be by John Harris and illustrated by Adam Gustavson, tells the story of a Unitarian pastor, John Lord Pierpont, who was homesick for New England, and purportedly composed Jingle Bells to introduce snow to his southern congregation.

Books of the Traditional Christmas Story:

If you are looking for a Christmas book that younger children can enjoy, too, try Listen to the Silent Night by Dandi Daley Mackall with paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.  This book tells the familiar story of Mary and Joseph, while asking readers to consider the sounds of the night:  the "flip, flap, flap" of Joseph's sandals and the "rap, tap, tap" of a knock on the door.  Another poetic look at the story is One Starry Night by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Jonathan Bean, with its repeated assurances of love from parent to child, whether animal or human.  Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story by Sally Lloyd-Jones features beautiful metaphor ("the waves...roared it to the great white whales") and repeated phrases, ("It's time! It's time!"), while Alison Jay's signature crackle-look paintings of earth animals are outstanding.  Pamela Dalton creates a feel of illuminated manuscripts with The Story of Christmas.  Watercolor paintings are superimposed on black backgrounds holding the text of the Christmas story from the King James Bible.  Similarly, Jan Pienkowski harnesses the power of illuminated manuscripts with The First Christmas.  Black cut paper silhouettes complement the story.

And a few more Great Books:

While Tomie DePaola's The Night Before Christmas will always be one of my favorites, Charles Santore's new edition by Applesauce Press is a gorgeous alternative with full-page watercolor spreads and the well-known text.   Finally, Lighthouse Christmas, written by Toni Buzzeo, with pictures by Nancy Carpenter, shares an unusual story based on the Flying Santa Service of New England.   -Elaine B.

Music and the Arts

We are blessed to live in a community that supports the arts.  Perhaps some of you were even at the recent ACE Awards, given by the local arts and entertainment council, 40 North.  Picture book writers Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan have joined talents again to celebrate the arts by sharing the creative process behind the ballet Appalachian Spring in the book Ballet for Martha.  The authors profile each artist, as individual strands in a braid, to share the interwoven process between dancer/choreographer Martha Graham,  musician Aaron Copland, and set designer Isamu Noguchi.  Brian Floca's watercolor and ink illustrations perfectly pace the unfolding story, as correspondence is sent through the mail, dancers grapple with unusual scenery, and the ballet finally opens to a live audience.  This is a perfect book for sharing together with children and adults, whether with a dance enthusiast, or a fellow creative spirit.  -Elaine B.  P.S.   Don't miss our display of other musically-inspired children's books.  Visit them on the wall next to our easy-to-read section through December.

Bushel of Picture Books

A recent article in the The New York Times declared "Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children." My question is, why didn't they speak with public libraries when they researched their article?  For instance, our picture books one of our highest circulating items, with 75% of our new picture books circulating at any given time. Parents and children alike come to the department to discover old favorites or something new. Here are some great examples of the bushel of fabulous picture books that have come across our desks recently:

Biblioburro: a True Story from Colombia by Jeanette Winter, sharing the story of a donkey-driven bookmobile told through Winter's simple text and bright acrylic style, and perfect for reading-aloud.

Ellen Stoll Walsh brings back her curious mice with Balancing Act.  Fans who loved Mouse Paint will not be disappointed with this fun exploration of equilibrium straight from a child's playground.

Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt allows the reader to help the jungle animals get ready for bed - by turning the page.

Speaking of bedtime, don't miss A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker, when Bear's unwanted visitor doesn't take no for an answer, again.

Nini Lost and Found by Anita Lobel stars the tabby from Nini Here and There chronicles Nini's journey after the cat takes advantage of an open door.  Much like a wandering child, Nini discovers she loves the comforts of home most of all.

The sister team of Kate and M. Sarah Klise collaborate again for a fascinating story about Ella Kate Ewing, who didn't stop growing until she was eight feet tall in Stand Straight Ella Kate.

Finally, Nic Bishop doesn't disappoint with his newest photographic feast - this time focusing his lens on Lizards.  Last fall when he visited Champaign-Urbana, he shared his struggles with photographing these quick and sometimes obstinate, creatures.  Enjoy!  -Elaine B.

Monster Fun

Meet Zoe's monster. This is just one of the many monsters that were created during "Monster Collage" at the library in June. We read There Was an Old Monster by Rebecca Emberley and imagined what other monsters we could make with found materials. If you missed "Monster Collage," there are still tons of great programs yet to come this summer, including Percy Jackson's Camp Half-Blood, Furry Friends Overnight and Monster Fun and Games. -Elaine B.

Laugh Out Loud!

Are you looking for some crazy, fun picture books to share with your family? Two of my favorites are Bark, George by Jules Feiffer and Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black. In Bark George, the reader meets George, a puppy who won't bark. Instead, George quacks, oinks and moos. His worried mother takes him to the vet, with some hilarious results. Chicken Cheeks begins - and ends - with a celebration of the derrieres of various animals. The jaunty, rhyming words are fun to read aloud, while the art shares a second, parallel story. Don't miss the Amazon.com video of Black, dressed as a chicken, reading his book. -Elaine B.

New Picture Book for young tyrants

Just Like Bossy Bear by David Horvath is a funny new book that looks at the effects of being bossy. Bossy Bear and Green Turtle are best friends and Bossy Bear is used to being bossy....always VERY bossy. Green Turtle decides to follow suit and this causes Bossy Bear to see his own behavior in a new light. See if the two friends manage to be less bossy in this funny, funny book. This book can also provide a great way to discuss with kids how to be polite! --Rachel V.