David Atherton's Christmas Cookbook for Kids review

 

Grab your aprons and get into the holiday spirit with Great British Baking Show winner and star chef David Atherton.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a festive cookbook for the family that will give everyone some holiday fun in the kitchen!  It features a yummy variety of sweets, party foods, cakes and cookies. The ingredient lists are relatively simple to a little more complex if you want to make some show stoppers. The recipes are easy-to-follow and among them you will find tips and tricks throughout.   There are detailed illustrations (not photos) that go along with the recipes as well.  A few examples you can try are reindeer bark, sweet and spicy popcorn, snowy owl cupcakes or coconut snowballs.  There is even a section on making gift boxes to give your homemade treats to someone special.  The holidays are a wonderful time to make memories with the family and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-12.~

 

Title:  David Atherton's Christmas Cookbook for Kids

Author: David Atherton, illustrated by Katie Cottle

Pub. date: September 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: nonfiction

Hardcover, 72 pgs.

 

 

The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise review

 

When you're a quilt instead of a sheet, being a ghost is hard! But it does mean you can float around in cold weather.(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

The Little Ghost Quilt loves being outside in the winter.  When he flies around, his quilt makes him feel warm and cozy and the falling snowflakes make his quilt patches look like he has polka dots.  Unfortunately, his ghost friends cannot join him because their thin sheets make them to cold in the frigid air.  But when little ghost quilt decides to take a flight into town, he notices the townspeople decorating and having cheery celebrations. Oh, how he wishes he could show his friends these spectacular sites.  Seeing the townspeople so joyful during their yuletide festivities gives the little ghost an idea to bring something special to share with his friends too.  

 

This is a wonderful follow up to the first book, The Little Ghost who was a Quilt, which I enjoyed as much as this one.  It is the perfect story to cozy up to at the end of a busy day.  The text flows nicely for reading aloud and the black and white pencil illustrations have a little bit of holiday colors added making it so charming.  It has the warmth of friendship, thinking of others and coming up with a special way to include them in some holiday cheer.  To kick off the magic of the upcoming season, this is a sweet book for a cold winter day.  I think "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title: The Little Ghost Quilts Winter Surprise 

Author: Riel Nason, illustrated by Byron EggenSchwiler

Pub. date: August 2025, Tundra Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

How to Catch a Turkey review

 

A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Can YOU help catch it?(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A turkey is on the loose! He is expected to go onstage any minute for the school play but he gets stage fright and takes off running.   Will everyone catch him in time for the big Thanksgiving performance?

 

 If you are looking for a fun and fast-paced read for the Thanksgiving season, this story will add giggles to the festivity.  The rhyming text flows easily and the whimsical illustrations are in bold colors.  When the turkey gets stage fright and decides to bolt, the chaos trying to catch him throughout the school will have kids either cheering for his escape or his capture.  In the end, the turkey ends up right up on stage where he was suppose to be and finds that it can be quite enjoyable after all. A fun read to add to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  I think this is a "just right book for ages 3-6.~

 

Title: How to Catch A Turkey

Author:  Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton

Pub. date: September 2018, Sourcebooks Wonderland

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

 

 

The Littlest Christmas Tree review

A beautifully illustrated tale about celebrating the joy of Christmas, and the little things in life. (goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

Daddy Bear and Cubby Bear are in search of the perfect Christmas tree.  Cubby loves the tree that chooses him this year and gives it the best spot in his home.  But as the holidays come to a close, Cubby is sad to see it happen and that little tree will be leaving soon.  But Daddy Bear has an idea that will keep little tree around a little bit longer.

 

A sweet story perfect for this time of year when you are getting ready and looking for your own special tree!  The illustrations are lively detailing the forest, animals and the holiday season wonderfully.  It is a celebration of the joys of Christmas and all the hard work put into decorating.  I loved how relatable Daddy Bear is to us grown ups as he pulls the sleigh with trees (and friends), untangling lights and struggling with some bows.  We always feel sad, just like Cubby, when the time comes to take down our tree too.  But each year we hang onto it a little bit longer and place it out in our backyard for the birds during the winter months.  This is a heartwarming read for families that love Christmas trees and  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

 

Title:  The Littlest Christmas Tree

Author: Jane Chapman

Pub. date: September 2024, Tiger Tales

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

I Spy with my Little Eye Easter Hop & Find

 

Follow along with the Easter Bunny and his helper, Chick, as they deliver treats on Easter morning!(book cover)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter is right around the corner and this book would be a fun addition to the kids baskets.  Readers will search and find items while the Easter Bunny travels around town delivering special treats. Kids will count, learn shapes, match objects and find various items throughout the story.  The text is rhyming and the illustrations are in bold Easter colors.  Older kids would be able to do this book on their own but younger ones may need help as the pages do seem a little busy with a lot to look at.  Some of the items were a bit tricky to find, so kids will need their thinking caps on for a few of them.  All-in-all, it is a fun holiday interactive book which also sneaks in some educational opportunity without them realizing.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  I Spy with My Little Eye Easter Hop & Find

Author: Rubie Crowe, illustrated by Melanie Demmer

Pub. date: November 2023, Cottage Door Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Pick a Perfect Egg review

 

The creators of Pick a Pine Tree and Pick a Pumpkin return with another seasonal celebration, one that deserves a spot in every Easter basket.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Taking a trip to a chicken farm and picking out the perfect eggs are just the first step to dyeing Easter eggs.  After getting them home safely, it is time to cook and color your eggs in various shades.  When Easter Day finally arrives, brightly colored plastic eggs filled with treats are hidden all around.  Everyone gathers together and let the Easter Egg hunt begin!

Here is a nice Easter read-aloud for the upcoming holiday. Kids will follow along with each detailed step learning the process of how to dye their own eggs.  The text is rhythmic and the illustrations are in bright springtime colors.  This story captures all the excitement leading up to a fun Easter Day egg hunt whether in your community or a special time with the family.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title:  Pick a Perfect Egg

Author:  Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis

Pub. date:  February 2023, Candlewick Press

Genre: holiday picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs

 

 

How to Build a Leprechaun Trap review

 

Catching leprechauns is no easy task-you need more than dandelion tea and four-leaf clovers! You'll need the perfect trap(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner and here is a fun step-by-step book that will help kids catch that tricky little Leprechaun.  It gives you all the details you need to build 15 different types of traps using items found around the house or craft stores such as; a shoe box, paper plates, acrylic paint, cotton balls, construction paper, popsicle sticks or paper cups for example. Kids will use STEM to create easy and fun traps for the holiday celebration.  Materials and complete instructions are included on every page but you can interchange items if something is not available.  Creativity and imagination is the key.  There is a guide for difficulty ranging from 1-5 clovers for each build and even a few recipes to make with adult help.  Best of all, it will have the kids thinking and working on some clever, constructive ideas while having  plenty of fun!  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

 

Title:  How to Build a Leprechaun Trap

Author: Larissa Juliano 

 Pub. date: March 2018, Sourcebooks Wonderland 

Genre: non fiction 

Hardcover, 96 pgs. 

 

The Day it Rained Hearts review

A creative and sweet story, perfect for Valentine's Day, that helps open the hearts of young readers.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

On the day it rained hearts, Cornelia Augusta caught as many as she could.  She thought they were perfect for making Valentines for her friends.  Each heart was special in their own unique way and she knew exactly who would receive which ones.

A cute Valentine's story for the upcoming day.  It is a short and simple read that will spark some creativity and would work nicely alongside a Valentine's Day craft project.  Having various paper hearts in colors and sizes will give kids plenty of room for imagination and not just limiting them to making a card.  It encourages thinking and being thoughtful to others by a special gesture.  This sweet story helps teach the importance of making others feel good and in return you will feel good too. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title:  The Day it Rained Hearts

Author: Felicia Bond

Pub: Laura Geringer Books 

genre: picture/board book

Hardcover

The Snowflake review

 

 A wintery tale about a young girl wishing for a perfect Christmas tree, and a young snowflake wishing for the perfect place to land.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A tiny snowflake forms from the clouds and begins to fall.  She doesn't want to fall downward but the cloud tells her that is what snowflakes do and to not worry because she will find her way.  While the little snowflake floats here and there, she hopes for a perfect place to land.  Meanwhile, a little girl named Noelle longs for a Christmas tree like the one she sees in the store window.  She finds a pine branch along the path and takes it home to decorate it with many different colors.  As she places the lovely tree on her outside windowsill, she hopes real snow will cover it someday.   Eventually, the two characters paths cross and the snowflake finds the perfect place to settle down while giving Noelle a happy surprise. 

 

Here is the last of my reads from my holiday stack and I thought it is still worth mentioning even though Christmas is past.  This sweet story goes back and forth between the snowflake falling and hoping to land in the right spot and Noelle wanting a beautiful Christmas tree for her family.  The illustrations are warm and gentle with many details.  A few of the pages are in a darker tone of grey/dark blue making the text a bit hard to see.  If you are reading aloud to a group, this may slow down your flow.  The story did not go into a reason why Noelle and her family did not have a tree but it leaves room for thinking and talking about it if kids ask.  Otherwise, it is a nice holiday or winter book to add to next years Christmas read list.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  The Snowflake

Author: Benji Davies

Pub. date: October 2020, Harper Collins

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.

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judy Moody and Stink: The Wishbone Wish review

The town’s annual Turkey Trot race and festival is coming up, and Judy and Stink are training to win. Judy has decided that she is going to take home the big prize: a fat, juicy turkey. (goodreads summary)






Every year Judy's family celebrates Thanksgiving Day going to Grandma Lou's house for dinner and misses their town's annual festivities. But this year, her parents work it out so they will be able to attend both! For the big event Judy finds her best costume; Sarah Josepha Hale, whom I learned was the inventor of Thanksgiving. She is also very determined to win the Turkey Trot Race and has been training hard for weeks. That's because the winner brings home a "for-real" Thanksgiving turkey. Judy is so confident about winning the race that she asks Grandma Lou to promise her she will not buy one for their dinner. When the day finally arrives, Judy and Stink are excited for the upcoming events and bringing home that big prize!

After reading this funny and cute story, Judy's enthusiastic nature will have everyone inspired about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  Her commitment to the special day and dedication to winning the big turkey for her family dinner is an important part of the storyline. This easy-to-read chapter book was not only fun and entertaining but it also included Thanksgiving facts.  When Judy shared her wealth of knowledge about Sarah Jospeha Hale, I eagerly found myself wanting to look up more information on this interesting historical figure. I also liked the strong sense of family and bringing the community together for a celebration as well. The full colored illustrations throughout the book are vivid and bold.  The fall palette of colors added to the wonderful Thanksgiving theme.  The text flows easily making this a quick story to read just in time for the holiday break.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-9.~

Title: Judy Moody & Stink: The Wishbone Wish
Author: Megan McDonald
Pub. Date: September 2015, Candlewick Press
Genre: chapter book
Hardcover, 128 pgs.

Thanksgiving for Emily Ann review

Emily Ann doesn't like Thanksgiving, not one bit. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday, she feels a little ignored...and just a little bit sad. But just as Emily Ann prepares to do her worst, her family comes together to show her what matters most about Thanksgiving: family.(goodreads summary)





What would Thanksgiving be without at least one new story for the holiday. But by the looks of this cover, I think Emily Ann may be a little devious. Feeling alone and left out while the Thanksgiving Day preparations are going on around her, she decides to be a little bit naughty with the family turkey. Luckily, her plan is intercepted by her mom and realizes that Thanksgiving is a wonderful time after all.

This is a short and simple rhyming story that has a theme of gratitude and family.  Emily Ann's negative attitude turned around for the better when she saw the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Her expression went from naughty to cheerful and then I liked her much better as a character. The dog was cute as her sidekick on each page. This is a quick read and one to share that encourages the meaning of Thanksgiving.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title: Thanksgiving for Emily Ann
Author: Teresa Johnston, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Pub. Date: August 2014, Cartwheel Books
Genre: picture book, Thanksgiving
Hardcover, 32 pgs.