The Best Gift for Bear review

 

Hedgehog has been busy making gifts for all of her friends. But what could possibly be grand enough for her dear friend Bear? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedgehog wants to make cookie gifts for all of her friends.  But when she gets to Bear's gift she wants it to be grand and special.  When she finally comes up with the idea, she goes to work rolling, cutting and baking until she makes the most wonderful gift.  A giant gingerbread house!  But getting it to Bear's place in one piece is another task by itself.  

This is a heartwarming holiday story that celebrates friendship and that the best gifts do not always need to be material things.  Hedgehog put so much thought into the gift but when things didn't turn out as expected children will feel her disappointment. The illustrations are so sweet and full of expression.  Even though things did not go exactly how Hedgehog planned, she has a happy ending anyway.  The best gift of all is spending time together with a good friend. What a wonderful message learned after reading this charming story.  It also includes a recipe for Hedgehogs gingerbread cookies and honey icing for kids to try.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title:  The Best Gift for Bear

Author:  Jennifer A. Bell

Pub. date: September 2022, Two Lions

genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

 

Latkes and Applesauce review

Papa, Mama, Rebecca and Ezra love eating latkes and applesauce during Hanukkah.  One year winter comes early and snow starts falling.  All the apples and potatoes are buried in the snow. But wait! A stray kitten and a hungry dog appear at the family's door. Can these new furry friends be the key to saving the Hanukkah celebration. (book jacket summary)

 

 

An unexpected blizzard arrives early and the Menashe family's crop of potatoes and apples are buried.  Without them they are unable to make latkes and applesauce for their Hanukkah feast.  A stray kitten and a dog unexpectedly show up on the family's doorstep hungry and cold.  They hardly have enough food to feed themselves during the storm but the family takes both animals in and shares what they do have.  As the snowstorm begins to clear,  the dog and kitten find some big surprises bringing the family a miracle for the Hanukkah celebration.  

This year Hanukkah begins December 18th and here is a book just in time for the celebration. It is a wonderful story about family, culture and tradition.  It was beautifully told and illustrated with warm, calming hues and tone.   There were many things that I enjoyed and liked about this book. While the storm shows no signs of slowing and food becoming scarce, papa encourages his family to have faith and hope.  Opening their door and hearts to the stray animals in need, while they were in need themselves, shows the generous nature and love for all of God's creatures.  All of these together leads to the belief of miracles happening and a heartwarming ending for all.  The authors note at the end about the Holiday of Hanukkah, latkes and applesauce and why children play with the dreidel helped me learn so much more that I truly didn't know.  This is a wonderful updated version of the story originally published by the same author but a different illustrator. It does make a nice read aloud for the family.  With the many themes of faith, hope kindness, sharing and miracles,  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-10.~

 

Title:  Latkes and Applesauce - A Hanukkah Story

Author:  Fran Manushkin, illustrated by: Kris Easler

Pub. date: September 2022,  Charlesbridge Publishing

genre: holiday picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through the North Pole Snow review

What happens when a little white fox meets a certain jolly old soul?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A hungry and cold white fox is in need of a dinner and warm place to sleep on a bitter snowy night.  He comes across a friendly man with a big round belly and snow-white beard who offers him a meal and place to stay.  Spring arrives and the man is off to work. He is busy measuring and building, sewing and stuffing, until all his empty shelves are full of wonderful toys. One day, letters fall from the sky and he reads each one.  As the kind man begins to fill a great big sack, there are eight reindeer that appear with a sleigh ready to load. 

A simple and sweet story about how Santa prepares all year for his magical journey on Christmas Eve.  The weary fox welcomed into his home shows generosity and kindness which is perfect for this time of year.  The front cover is so pretty and the illustrations are larger but soft in color making it nice for reading aloud.   I liked little fox's expression of curiosity leading up to contentment in the end.  It is a different tale about Santa than we are used to but would make a nice addition to the holiday season reading list.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.  

 

Title:  Through the North Pole Snow

Author:  Polly Faber, illustrated by Richard Jones

Pub. date: October 2022, Candlewick Press 

Genre:  picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

The Perfect Tree review

 

Bunny is looking for the perfect Christmas tree. Her forest friends tell her that the perfect tree is one that is just her size, bushy as Squirrel’s tail, perfectly pointy on top for a star, the greenest green, and smells like Christmas. But sometimes the perfect tree is the one surrounded by friends(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

The animals of the forest offer their expertise helping Bunny locate the perfect Christmas tree.   Is it in the meadow or on top of the mountain? Or maybe down by the stream.  Finding the perfect tree is not all that easy as Bunny soon discovers.  Just as all hope is lost, she stumbles upon a tree that she hadn't noticed before.  There it was, the perfect tree after all!

This heartwarming and charming story will be a wonderful addition to the holiday reading list.  Text flows easily and the vivid colorful illustrations are so sweet and cute.  Spotting the little mouse with his backpack popping up in various places on each page will surely surprise the kids when they see him.  We all have our own own ideas as to what makes the perfect Christmas tree. This brings back many memories of how each year we searched for our own perfect tree.  Sometimes you find it and sometimes you have to keep looking.  But as Bunny finds in the end, sharing the perfect tree amongst friends is the best way to enjoy a perfect Christmas tree.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title:  The Perfect Tree

Author:  Corinne Demas, illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan

Pub. date:  December 2022 , Harry N. Abrams

Genre:  picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

Thankful review

 

When the first snow falls, a little girl writes down the things she’s thankful for on strips of paper and links them together. As one idea leads to another, her chain grows longer. There’s so much good in her life.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

This story reminds readers the importance of being thankful and how making a thankful chain is a wonderful way to just pause and think about how grateful we are for all that we have around us.  As her thoughts begin to flow, it is the everyday simple things that makes the little girls chain grow longer and longer.    

It is so beautifully written and illustrated and could be read anytime throughout the year.  The illustrations are done in a 3-D diorama set photographed with a digital camera making the pages so unique and interesting to look at.  How creative this was to see all the paper detail and the mix of realistic items together .  The color palette also has a quiet, gentle feel to it and would be a perfect book to cozy up with just before bedtime.  What a wonderful family tradition this would be for any age to do anytime of the year.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3 - 10.~

Title:  Thankful

Author:  Elaine Vickers, illustrated by Samantha Cotterill

Pub. date: September 2021

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 48 pgs.  

 

 

 

 

 

The Stocking Stuffer review

 

It's Christmas Eve and for the first time ever, Santa's naughty list is empty! With a terrible blizzard raging outside, how will Santa be able to deliver Christmas magic to every single home before morning?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is Christmas Eve and a storm is coming.  Without a moment to spare, Santa must get everything ready in time for Christmas morning. No one has made the naughty list this year and the elves are hurrying to finish up the last of the extra gifts.  Santa feels a little overwhelmed and not sure how he will get everything delivered.  But under the tree is tiny Tinsel Mouse to the rescue.  He is watching and hoping Santa will let him join his sleigh this year.  Tinsel tells Santa that while he is unpacking his bag, he can fill the holiday stockings with good things and sweets!

This is the perfect story to start off the holiday season.  It would make a wonderful read aloud with the bold Christmas colors and rhyming text that flows easily.  With the Christmas Eve storm and Santa's extra workload, Tinsel the Mouse is so thoughtful offering to come to his assistance making sure he stuffs all the stockings in time for the big day.  The story shows caring and generosity making Tinsel the best Santa's helper.  I also liked that it is a great size and shape that will fit in a stocking. It is a wonderful book to cozy up to with a hot cocoa and will spread holiday cheer.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title:  The Stocking Stuffer

Author:  Hollley Merriweather, illustrated by Stephanie Gaegin

Pub. date: September 2022 - Harper Collins

genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walter Had a Best Friend review

 

Walter and Xavier are best friends. They do everything together! But then…quietly…slowly…Xavier becomes best friends with someone else. Walter goes from feeling hurt and left out to feeling confused and angry to feeling just plain lonely. Until one morning he wakes up feeling a tiny bit hopeful.(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

Walter and Xavier are best friends that do everything together.  They hike, paint pictures and enjoy each others company sitting quietly.  Then one day Xavier met Penelope and everything slowly started to change for Walter. 

I have always been a big fan of any book by Deborah Underwood.  Her stories are always gentle, kind and eloquently written for young readers.  Children do not always understand friendship changes and this story may help them realize they are not alone. The feelings of anger and the hurt they feel are normal and healthy for their development. Even though at the time they do not think so;  just as Walter felt when he did not want to do the things he used to because of the hole in his heart.   As Walter slowly looses his friendship with Xavier, he must also slowly recover from his feelings of deep sadness.  But time will pass with many more beautiful days ahead.  Walter eventually decides to try something on his own that leads him on a path to discovery.  A new friend waiting who may have been looking for one too.   This story offers children the hope and reassurance for better days ahead.  The illustrations are sweet and you can feel how Walter feels all throughout the story. The color palette is soft and calming adding to the beauty of this lovely story.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-8.  

Title:  Walter Had a Best Friend

Author:  Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

 Pub. date: October 2022, Beach Lane Books

Hardcover, 40 pgs.