How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was quiet and relaxing, but the day before we spent at least five hours in the emergency department of Boston Children's Hospital. It has been a long two weeks. First Covid and then pneumonia and an asthma flare up (both caused by Covid). Luckily, she seems to be on the mend, and I can focus again on my blog and life. That means getting ready for Christmas and the other upcoming holidays. Today I am sharing a collection of holiday books that I have been waiting to share as well as some easy Christmas ornaments made from things like cupcake liners and pipe cleaners. My round-up of books include three board books and three picture books. The first book we will share is the board book about Kwanzaa. It is called Kwanzaa and is by Hannah Eliot and illustrated by Andrea Pippins. It is part of the Celebrate the World Series and is recommended for ages 2 to 4.
From the Publisher:
Learn all about the traditions of Kwanzaa in this board book from the Celebrate the World series, which highlights special occasions and holidays across the globe.Joyous Kwanzaa! On December 26th of each year, the celebration of Kwanzaa begins. Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday that honors history, family, values, community, and culture. During this time, families gather, songs are sung, and dances and stories and poetry are performed! This festive board book helps teach even the youngest of readers about the celebration and importance of Kwanzaa.
From Me:
This book is a perfect introduction to Kwanzaa. It shares what Kwanzaa is and how it is celebrated each day as well as the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The book uses the words for the principles and shares what they mean. The illustrations are colorful and fun.
I love how this book teaches the reader about Kwanzaa and does so in a respectful and fun way. It discusses the importance and who celebrates Kwanzaa. I see this book being perfect for a child who is beginning to understand the family's Kwanzaa celebration or for a story time (classroom or library) to teach kids about Kwanzaa.
Our next book is another board book. It is Relish the Season by Katie Vernon. It is part of the Weenie Books. It is recommended for ages 1 to 5.
From the Publisher:
A loveable hot dog named Weenie gets ready for Christmas in this laugh-out-loud festive board book sure to be a holiday wiener!Weenie loves Christmas,
but what’s the merriest part?
Can they pick just one?
Oh where should they start?
Do they play outside in the snow, or snuggle up warm and cozy? Do they wrap presents with gold or silver bowsies? On a night like Christmas Eve, the choices are endless!
From Me:
This is a cute and fun book. Weenie shares choices that are somewhat opposites. It is a book I can see kids enjoying. After all the main character is a hot dog. Weenie shares the choices of the day like celebrate quiet or celebrate giggly. It would be fun to talk to the kids about what they mean and how they are opposite each other.
I can see this book read at home or in a classroom when introducing opposites. It is a relatively simple book and is definitely meant for the younger kids. It has a winter and Christmas theme to it.
Our final board book is a sweet book that has a play on words. It is All By My Elf by Jeffrey Burton and illustrated by Nanette Regan. It is recommended for preschool and up. It is also a touch and feel book.
From the Publisher:
Little ones help prepare their homes for Santa’s arrival in this sweet and festive board book featuring an interactive element on every page, from glitter to felt!Christmas is coming!
I can be Santa’s helper…all by my elf!
When the Christmas breeze swirls in the air, everyone prepares to bring out their holiday best…even the kids! A cast of eager little helpers get ready for the holidays, from rolling the perfect snowman to frosting gingerbread cookies. This time of year, there’s no such thing as being too young to help!
From Me:
This is a sweet multicultural board book that has many diverse kids trying to help with the Christmas preparations and do things on their own or by them "elves". Most of the pages have something to feel. The gingerbread page shown above has raised spots for the frostings. The page below has crinkly foil for the bow (not shown in this picture).
Children will love seeing the various things that get done for the holiday and will love to be able to do some of it themselves. This is a fun book for a caregiver to read a child and share the various things to feel as well as some Christmas traditions. It is also the perfect book for bedtime on Christmas Eve as it ends with all that is left to do is go to sleep.
Now we have three picture books. The first is inspired by a favorite classic. It is Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho by Wiilliam Boniface and illustrated by Julien Chung. It is based on Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
From the Publisher:
A New York Times BestsellerIn a much-anticipated new companion to the beloved and bestselling classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, the rollicking alphabet chant gets a holiday twist.
A told B,
and B told C,
“I’ll meet you in the branches
of the Christmas tree.”
In this holiday alphabet rhyme, the crew of beloved letters gets their chance to shine as decorations on the Christmas tree!
From Me:
The letters are back and this time they are trying to decorate the Christmas tree. They want to meet on the tree but there is a problem. They slip and fall down. They come up with a plan and it involves different shaped gifts. This book let's kids learn the alphabet as well as their shapes. I love that the shapes include a rhombus!! My geometry teacher heart is singing. The Christmas version is just as fun as the original.
This book will be a festive read for the classrooms that love the original book. It is also a fun read at home book for younger kids. I can see kids learning their alphabet and letters as well as being introduced to shapes including ones they may not completely know.
Our next picture book is also about a tree. It is Everett Green The Not-So-Christmas Tree by Freddy Wexler and illustrated by Fanny Berthiaume. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
From the Publisher:
Celebrate friendship, giving, and the true meaning of Christmas with Everett Green, the palm tree with plenty of personality!The tiki torch is lit, the hula dancers are ready, the stage is set. It's...Christmastime in Hawaii!
Everett Green is a singing, dancing palm tree waiting for his big break. He dreams of being a star, yet has no idea how to make it happen--until he sees the Rockefeller Tree on TV. Determined to become the most famous Christmas tree ever, Everett is ready to hightail it out of Hawaii and make his big debut in the Big Apple.
But it's not all clear skies for Everett when a New York snowstorm grounds his flight.
Stuck in the airport with hundreds of disgruntled travelers, Everett must dig deep for holiday spirit if he wants to become a real Christmas tree!
From grammy-nominated songwriter Freddy Wexler comes a modern Christmas classic: the story of a would-be Christmas tree who comes to see that Christmas is not what or where you are, but who you're with.
From Me:
Everett Green is a small plastic palm tree. He is enjoying his life but wants more. He wants his name in lights. When he sees the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree on television, he knows that he wants to be in New York City. When he got to the airport though there were a few problems. First, he had no money, id or ticket. Then a winter storm delayed all the flights to New York. What was a plastic little palm tree with a dream of being a Christmas tree to do? When a young girl walks past him and calls him a Christmas tree Everett has hope. He begins to share the Christmas spirit throughout the airport and manages to pull off a Christmas show in the terminal. Everett learned the truth about Christmas. It isn't about seeing your name in lights or getting attention but about the joy you give. It can be anywhere even in an airport terminal. By spreading Christmas cheer he became a real Christmas tree.
This is a fun book about what Christmas really means. It shares how being with people who have the Christmas spirit is fun. It doesn't matter where you are but how you behave that brings Christmas joy. I can see this being a fun book for kids. It has lessons but also would be great for a family who travels at Christmas time. It will also be a fun story time book at school or elsewhere.
Our final book for today is a new take on Santa Claus origins. It is The Wonderful Once: A Christmas Story by J.R. Buchta and illustrated by Erin O'Leary Brown. It is recommended for ages 3 to 9.
From the Publisher:
"Most things in life happen over and over again.Some things happen only once.
This is the story of a wonderful once."
A little boy goes on a fantastic Christmas adventure in this story of a kind gesture that results in a magical journey, full of stardust and snowflakes. It’s an all-around feel-good story with a surprise ending and a powerful message. Brought to life by beautiful illustrations, this enchanting tale captures the spirit of Christmas and the magic of a single good deed that changed the world forever. It has all the makings of an annual read for families at Christmastime and a fresh look at some age-old traditions that will surely capture the interest of readers around the world.
Why Readers love The Wonderful Once: A Christmas Story:
- A new family Christmas tradition for readers around the world
- Teaches kids the values of giving and kindness that will last throughout the year
- A feel good tale for readers of all ages (0-102)
- Makes a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for children, parents, grandparents, and teachers
- Screen-free family time during the cold winter months and holiday season
From Me:
This story is a sweet story that will become a holiday classic. Lucas is a young boy in an orphanage. He gets to pick the first Christmas gift from the donations of the various villagers. After the gifts have been picked a young girl is brought in. She looks so sad and there are no more gifts for her. Lucas offers his gift to her. He discovers the joy of giving. For his kindness he is rewarded by the Spirit of Giving. She grants him his biggest wish. She uses her magic and adopts him. She takes him to the North Pole and shares with him the magic of the toy-making elves and the flying reindeer. He now gets to give children all over the world gifts and enjoy gift giving even more.
This is a magical story that helps explain the origins of Santa Claus. The name Santa Claus is Lucas Astan in a different order. I love how the villagers come together to give a gift to each of the orphans. It shows love and care throughout the story. I also love that Lucas learns the joy of giving and that becomes his biggest wish. He wants to give toys to all the children of the world. This is a story families will enjoy reading together. It is perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit.
Christmas Ornament Crafts
I have been in a crafting mood lately, but life keeps getting in the way. I began to watch some of the reels on Facebook. I found several using toilet paper rolls and some using pipe cleaners and one using cupcake liners. I used foil cupcake liners in the first one, small cupcake liners and then just plain white ones. Each has 12 cupcake liners.
Pipe Cleaner Tutorials:
1 & 2) Pipe Cleaner Ornament The second one I made two different sizes and wove the smaller one between the other one.
