Here are a few of books that puts me in the holiday mood. Enjoy!
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All You Need for a Snowman
Written by Alice Schertle
Illustrated by Barbara LavalleeWhat do you do with a pile of freshly fallen snow? Make a snowman of course! All You Need for a Snowman is a sweet book about a group children working together to make a big snowman. The lyrical format of the text is simple and lovely.
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Merry Navidad! Christmas Carols in Spanish and English
Compiled by Alam Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy
English Versions by Rosalma Zubizarreta
Illustrated by Viví EscriváMerry Navidad! is a collection of villancicos, Spanish Christmas songs. Though the book does have carols in English and Spanish, these songs are not translated version of Christmas carols, such as Jungle Bell or Sleigh Ride. Instead the songs are traditional Spanish Christmas songs that are presented in both English and Spanish.
All of the villancicos are presented as snippets that would work equally well as songs or poems. The 19 villancicos in Merry Navidad! are organized into 9 categories. 6 of theses villancicos are written with musical notes so that they can be played on a piano, or sung.
Viví Escrivá’s illustrations are beautiful and they compliment the mood and the heritage of the villancicos.
Order Merry Navidad! Christmas Carols in Spanish and English from Bookshop Santa Cruz
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It’s a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook
Written by Stephanie Spinner
Illustrated by Jill McElmurryThis is a lovely book about a boy and his family as they celebrate Hanukkah. For the first time, Owen is the OCL—Official Candle Lighter—for his family’s menorah. During the eight nights of Hanukkah, his grandmother tells Owen a bedtime story. Each story is about a member of their family, and each story highlights a theme celebrated in Hanukkah, family, overcoming adversity, and miracles.
Order It’s a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook from Bookshop Santa Cruz
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Elijah’s Angel: a story for Chanukah and Christmas
Written by Michael J. Rosen
Illustrated by Aminah Brenda Lynn RobinsonThis book is based on the real life friendship of the author, Michael Rosen and Elijah Pierce. The story takes place when Rosen was nine years old, and Elijah was “more than eighty years old.” Elijah was the local barber who also carved works of art. As a young child, Rosen would visit Elijah on his way home from Hebrew school to watch Elijah create his works of art. But as Elijah was Christian and Rosen a Jew, there was very little Michael could do but to admire Elijah’s art. Until one year when the first day of Chanukah and Christmas fell on the same day. Elijah gives Rosen a carving of an angel. At first Rosen is stunned because he had admired the angels Elijah was carving, and was astounded with the magnitude of the gift. But Rosen was also afraid he was committing an offense against his Jewish religion because he now owned a “graven image.”
This is a fabulous story about how friendship can cross age, race, and religion lines.
Order Elijah’s Angel: a story for Chanukah and Christmas from Bookshop Santa Cruz
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The Dark is Rising
Written by Susan Cooper
As the 1974 Newbery honor book, The Dark is Rising is the second book in a series of five that chronicles The Light’s battle against The Dark; a classic case of good versus evil. In this second novel, Will Stanton is getting ready to celebrate his eleventh birthday and the upcoming Christmas season. On the eve of his eleventh birthday strange things start to happen and he learns that he is the last of the Old Ones. As an Old One, Will learns he has many powers and uses them to help The Light. But as he is the last of the Old Ones, his main job is to search and unite six medallions or Signs to effectively help The Light fight back The Dark. However, as Will gathers more Signs, he realizes that he is also losing part of his innocence and it is his family’s Christmas festivities that revitalize him on his quest.
Each glimpse into Will’s family as they celebrate Christmas is a glimpse into ancient traditions of the holiday. The author, Susan Cooper, has worked hard to capture the joy of the celebrations, as well as, the Christmas festivities as it was celebrated in the time of King Arthur. Where many parallels of King Arthur can also be found in The Dark is Rising, and the other books in the series. For example, Will and his family burns a Yule root at the family hearth with the chard remains of last year’s Yule root serving as kindling. Will also hung holly with red berries at every window and door in the house to keep The Dark from entering the home. This book is fascinating look at the ancient traditions of Christmas.