I always look forward to new holiday children's books. I'm partly inspired by one of our favorite family rituals, sharing nightly stories during the season. Generally there's an outstanding book or two every season, but in the past several years, I've been surprised at the scarcity of great titles. This year, in contrast, many of my favorite books have a holiday theme.
Santa Claus, sometimes seen as the figurehead of Christmas commercialism, also embodies the best parts of the holiday...a jolly soul and selfless giving.
New in paperback is Aaron Shepard's The Baker's Dozen (Aladdin, $5.99; ages 5-8). An honest colonial baker, visited by St. Nicholas in the guise of an old woman, denies her request for his generosity. His reluctance ruins his baking and business until he learns to "count better", insisting on giving thirteen cookies, a baker's dozen, to all his customers.
Patricia Polacco's newest hero is Welcome Comfort (Philomel, $16.99; ages 6 and up). Welcome, an overweight foster child, is picked on by his peers until the kindly custodian, Mr. Hamp, stops the cruelty and takes the hurting child under his wing and into his heart. Welcome, worn down by years of hopelessness and unmet expectations, learns from Mr. Hamp what true nurture feels like, that miracles can happen when "believin' is seein'" , and how it feels to truly embrace the spirit of Christmas.
Mary Hoffman tells the nativity story with a new twist in The Wise Women (Phyllis Fogelman Books, $16.99; ages 5-9)Three women from different cultures who know well how to nurture their families, are each drawn by the magical star. When the three converge, they bring Mary the priceless gifts she most needs and touch the "star-baby" so He's effected forever. Illustrations by Lynne Russell are rich and deep, just as the mystery and wisdom of these women who know how to love.
Sarah Jane Boss draws on early Christian texts to write Mary's Story (Barefoot Books, $16.95; ages 6 and up). The author tells of Mary's early life, her sorrows after Joseph's death, details of Jesus' life and death, and her assumption into heaven. Helen Cann illustrates and shows the humbleness of Mary's life with flourishes of gold to portray her holiness.
Drawing from many of the same sources, reteller Marianna Mayer unites classic works of art with her storytelling voice in Young Jesus of Nazareth (Morrow, $16.00; ages 7 and up). Stories of His early life give make up a portrait that children will find powerful and adults illuminating. This is a wonderful companion to Mayer's previous title, Young Mary of Nazareth (Morrow,$16.00; ages 7 and up)
Tasha Tudor is passionate about Christmas and she shows her exuberance in two recently released titles. Her reissued 1950's The Doll's Christmas (Simon & Schuster, $12.95; ages 5 - 8) was inspired by a lovely family tradition she began to help her young children experience Christmas giving. Tudor also illustrates a new version of Moore's The Night Before Christmas (Little Brown, $14.95; all ages)
Charlotte Zolotow's The Beautiful Christmas Tree (Houghton Mifflin, $15.00; ages 5-8 )is back with new illustrations by Yan Nascimbene. Mr. Crockett doesn't fit into his upscale neighborhood, especially when he plants a scrawny pine that becomes a home for birds. In time, the elegance of the neighborhood fades, but when the colorful birds perching in the now-beautiful pine combine their chirps with carolers, they "make a chorus of love" that Mr. Crockett identifies as the real Christmas. Nascimbene's stylized and symbolic illustrations give this tale new life.
The familiar story of the Gingerbread Boy puts on holiday garb and wears new twists in Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby (Putnam, $16.99; ages 3-7) When the gingerbread object of Matti's wintry baking does a mad dash out the door, there follows the traditional chase, but the book ends with a surprising, ingenious child-inspired solution. Jan Brett dresses the characters in festive Tyrolean clothing, and details her fabulous boarders with the story's foreshadowing and elaborate holiday ornamentation.
Rosemary Wells' Morris's Disappearing Bag (Viking, $15.99; ages 2-5) is back in vivid colors and a larger format to show how a youngest sibling, finds more Christmas magic than anyone in his family.
Artists love to illustrate the holiday classics. This year, Vladimir Vagin illustrates The Twelve Days of Christmas (HarperCollins, $15.95, all ages) in a courtly style that brims with color, elegance and a wintry cheer.
Bruce Whatley illustrates two classics. He gives Clement Moore's The Night Before Christmas (HarperCollins, $16.95; all ages) fascinating perspectives and accurate mixed with fantastical renderings to show the magical night. Whatley employs a more realism in Elvis Presley's The First Noel (HarperCollins, 12.95; all ages) which comes with a CD by the King..
A full-length CD of The Nutcracker performed by Claire Bloom comes packaged with a book adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman's classic written by Janet Schulman. It's illustrated with rich colors by Renee Graef, who was inspired by a 19th Century German holiday setting. (HarperCollins, $19.95; ages 6 and up)
Jerry Pinkney gives Hans Christian Andersen's tale, The Little Match Girl an early 20th century American setting and a heroine of immigrant background. (Phyllis Fogelman Books, $6.99; ages 6 and up) Pinkney's skill as illustrator and his wisdom of choosing this specific time and place, highlight the inequity of a wealthy and poor Christmas, proving the timelessness of the theme and the story.
Sadly, there weren't the exquisite Kwanzaa, or Hannukah books of years past , but there were quite a number of books celebrating Hispanic holidays.
Tomie DePaola's The Night of Las Posadas (Putnam, $15.99; ages 5-9) details many of Las Posadas' customs with the story of Sister Angie. For years she has orchestrated the event, and is particularly proud that her niece and new husband have been chosen to portray Maria and Jose. Troubles ensue when Sister Angie falls ill and the couple is stranded with a broken car in a snow storm. A mysterious Maria and Jose appear to save the day and renew the wonderment of the first Christmas.
Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith's text is through and the photos by Lawrence Migdale are clear and colorful in their non-fiction Las Posadas: An Hispanic Christmas Celebration (Holiday House, $16.95; ages 6-10) Written in the viewpoint of a young girl, the book reveals art, culture, history, recipes, songs and legends of Las Posadas.
Lori Carlson's Hurray for Three Kings' Day! (Morrow, $16.00; ages 4-8) tells much about the holiday and even more about a young girl and her community, family, and enthusiasm. Spanish is threaded through the text in a way that feels authentic and appropriate.
Holidays are had when there's been a recent death in the family, but traditions can be healing. This is certainly the case in Rudulfo Anaya's Farolitos for Abuelo (Hyperion, $15.99; ages 6-9). Luz's grandfather has always been there for her whether her need is homework, planting, or fishing. When her Abuelo plunges into freezing cold water to save a boy, he contracts pneumonia and dies very quickly. Remembering his love of farolitos, Luz lights up his grave site and inspires others in the community to do the same. The end result is families who are comforted by the glow of farolitos, fond remembrances, carols, hot chocolate and bischochitos, and being together.
Jane Zalben's To Every Season: A Family Holiday Cookbook (Simon and Schuster, $19.95; ages 6 and up) crosses cultures and calendar to bring specialties like Cupid Cupcakes, traditional foods like St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef and Cabbage, and helpful recipes like Fanny's Flourless Chocolate Cake for Passover. In all, there are seventy recipes, explanations of sixteen holiday customs and Zalben's dear animal chefs and cooks romp through the pages.