319-324. Board Books on Parade (Holiday Edition)

319. Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story. Edward Hemingway. 2018/2023. 30 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: Once upon a time, while Fox was visiting Christmastown, in the Land of Holiday Treats...a little cookie--still warm from the bakery oven--burst out the front door and shouted, "I'm a sweet cookie!"

Premise/plot: Sugar Cookie Man thinks he should be both sweet and fast...but he isn't. Can he learn to be okay with that? Sugar Cookie Man may not realize his purpose, but he does have one.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I have always enjoyed the Gingerbread Man story. This playfully touches on that story...but only a little. It stars a FOX and a COOKIE. The cookie does boast and the fox does give chase. Sugar Cookie Man learns by trial and error that he was baked with a specific purpose in mind. He's not for eating...but for hanging as an ornament on a tree. (If he was an EATING cookie the book would be quite short since the Fox would have gobbled him up by page two or three.)
 

320.  First Stories: A Christmas Carol. Jean Claude. 2018. 8 pages. [Source: Library] [board book]

First sentence: Ebenezer Scrooge found Christmas a bore. "Bah humbug to all of it!" the old man would roar. On Christmas Eve ghosts came--one, two, and three--To show Scrooge how much fun his dull life could be.

Premise/plot: This board book is a simplistic, basic rhyming adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Can Dickens' classic holiday story be retold in just eight pages? Yes and no. It introduces little ones to the bare bones basics of the story.

It is an interactive adaption. It features activities for little hands on every page. There are things to spin, push, pull, and slide. 

My thoughts: Is this the most faithful adaptation? Of course not. Is it a fun interactive book for little ones? Yes. The fact that it is "A Christmas Carol" is more for parents than little ones. But the 'surprise' elements of the interactive nature of it is a treat, I think. I enjoyed, for example, making the holiday dinner appear and disappear from the table. It was just fun. 

Is it durable enough to last? It might depend. Not only on your little one, of course. I checked out the library copy. I believe I was the first to do so. One page already has a very loose slide. You pick up the book and it starts sliding down. I was not rough or forceful in my reading. I am a gentle, careful reader.

 

321. The Very Snowy Christmas. Diana Hendry. Illustrated by Jane Chapman. 2013/2023. 16 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: It was Christmas Eve. Big Mouse was making cheese pies. Little Mouse was making paper chains. "Merry Christmas to us!" sang Little Mouse. "Big Mouse, can I decorate the tree now? Can I? Can I? 

Premise/plot: Big Mouse and Little Mouse are celebrating Christmas together...until they aren't. Little Mouse slips off on his own to go gather some holly. This holly-gathering adventure has a little excitement in it. 

My thoughts: This one--for whatever reason--reminded me of the delightful Brown Bear, Snow Bear by Joyce Dunbar. I enjoyed this one very much. It's a sweet and predictable little story to share with little ones. Mice are always cute and adorable in fiction books.

322. My Magical Santa. [Abrams Appleseed Board Books] 8 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: On a magical sleigh with his gifts piled up high, Santa set off as the elves waved goodbye. Sleigh bells a-ringing, he soared out of sight and raced round the world in only one night!

Premise/plot: Board books without authors have their own standard perhaps by which they should be judged. Or not. This one is part of Abrams' "My Magical..." series. The premise is simple: Santa is....you guessed it...magical. 

The "quality" of this one comes in the interactive nature of this one. There are things to spin, push, pull, slide. The text is rhyming, but the text is almost irrelevant. (Perhaps why there is no author credited. Or illustrator for that matter.) 

My thoughts: If your little one loves interactive books, then this one might prove serviceable enough. It's a sturdy, holiday-themed board book with plenty of things for little ones to do while parents read aloud the rhyming text. 

I would give it two and a half stars if I was actively giving out half stars. I don't think it merits the one star average on GoodReads. It isn't that bad. 

323. Touch and Trace Nursery Rhymes: Jingle Bells. Editors of Silver Dolphin Books. 2023. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [Board books]

First sentence: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.

Premise/plot: This one includes [some] lyrics from five familiar Christmas songs [jingles]. The songs included are "Jingle Bells," "Let It Snow," "Deck the Halls," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." Each song takes up one two-page spread. There are playful illustrations. Each illustration includes a tactile element to "trace." (I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these tracing elements.)

My thoughts: I really loved this one so much. It is so obviously simple yet it is SO enjoyable. 

324. Slide and See First Words Christmas. Helen Hughes. Illustrated by Kathryn Selbert. 2023. 12 pages. [Source: Library] [board books]

First sentence: Christmas friends. Elf. Santa Claus. Reindeer. Santa is getting ready for Christmas with help from his friends.

Premise/plot: This interactive board book focuses on the WORDS of Christmas. This interactive book even asks questions with sliding elements to reveal the answers. It also asks more open-ended questions. I really like this aspect of it.

My thoughts: Even the cover of the book is interactive. Little hands can make Santa pop up out of the chimney. This one does have more to offer than some of the other interactive books I've reviewed today. [I'm looking at you, My Magical Santa.] It seems to have some thought and care put into the actual narrative. Yes, it's a vocabulary book in some ways. Perhaps it won't "grow" with your little one every year. But I do think it has something to offer parents and little ones.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

314-318. Christmas Books on Parade

314. Jingle Bell Joy. Rose Rossner. Illustrated by Aleksandra Szmidt. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence:  Let's deck the halls with holly and cheer. The jolliest season is finally here!
Follow along in merry measure, Christmas has so much to treasure!
Hark! The celebration is about to begin. Glory to Christmas, that feeling within. 

My thoughts (preview): My first thought when seeing this one in person on the library was OH NO, what have I done?!?!?! The amount of glitter on the cover was alarming. Part of me was like can I leave it on the hold shelf and just back away slowly?!?! There were also holly-jolly bears on the cover so I decided to check it out despite my initial misgivings.

Premise/plot: The animal creatures in this holiday picture book LOVE to sing. (Too bad they don't know any of the right words. Oops, that's my personal thoughts creeping up.) 

It is written in rhyme. It stars animals--mainly woodland animals. These animals are singing, singing, singing. Each stanza is very loosely inspired by a single line of familiar Christmas carols. 

For example, "O come all together, standing hand in hand, rejoicing as one in a winter wonderland."
or
"Joy to the World! The time has come to celebrate each other, no matter where you're from."

My thoughts: Would I feel better about this one if it didn't have glitter? A little perhaps.
Would I feel better about this one if it wasn't so forced into rhyming? Definitely.
Do I want anyone messing around with lyrics? No, not really.

The truth is this one is "not regular." I am almost okay with fooling around with secular Christmas songs like "Jingle Bells" or "Up On the Housetop" or "Deck the Halls" or "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." But I am absolutely NOT okay with fooling around with religious Christmas songs like "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "Joy to the World," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Silent Night." 

The author's "inspired" stanza borrowed from "Joy to the World," for example, is so tasteless IF you are a believer who actually, you know, believes. I'll clarify. I am NOT speaking for any other believer other than myself. I am one person. One person does not make decisions for the whole body of Christ. I personally found it distasteful. "The time has come to celebrate each other, no matter where you're from." If you look at it from any other standpoint than looking for rhymes--come and from, then it falls short. Lyrics mean something or should mean something. And the religious Christmas carols are actually truly meaningful and worshipful. The lyrics mean EVERYTHING. 

The book, without a doubt, is not meant to be overthought, scrutinized. Who could possibly be offended by the harmless stanzas and verses? (Possibly me.) Do I want to overthink picture books? No. Not really. Did I overthink this one? Absolutely.

315. Santa's Gotta Go. Derrick Barnes. Illustrated by Courtney Lovett. 2023. 33 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

First sentence: Last Christmas, the Macks of 4550 Welling Good Lane saw a story on TV about Santa Clau spending some quality time with a family in Boston, sipping hot cocoa and playing video games.

Premise/plot: The Mack family thinks it would be completely AWESOME and AMAZING to host Santa Claus at their house. What could go wrong????? But when Santa actually stays with the family for an extended period of time--a week or possibly two--the family realizes that it is NOT actually that great having Santa as a guest. In fact, Santa is a super annoying house guest. 

My thoughts: I liked this one. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But the good news is is that I didn't overthink it. It was nice to just sit back and read a book in an easygoing way. If this plot hasn't already been used in a movie, it probably should be.

 316. The Twelve Hours of Christmas. Jenn Bailey. Illustrated by Bea Jackson. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

First sentence: In the first hour of Christmas, Santa left for me...a kitten underneath the Christmas tree!
In the second hour of Christmas, the twins dressed up to be...two stomping dinos and a kitten...Uh-oh! Where can she be?
In the third hour of Christmas, it's breakfast finally! Three French toasts, two chomping dinos, and a kitten missing from the Christmas tree.

Premise/plot: This picture book is a [great] spin on The Twelve Days of Christmas. The original song can be a bit annoying. This picture book avoids all the annoyances. It's just good fun.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. It may be my favorite of the picture books in today's picture book parade. I loved the family. It seems so authentically human. Like this family has been brought to life. It helps that it stars a kitten who appears to be hiding from the rowdier members of the family. I also adored the illustrations.

317. Holy Night and Little Star. Mitali Perkins. Illustrated by Khoa Le. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

First sentence: As the sky grew dark over Bethlehem, Little Star took her usual spot.

Premise/plot: The nativity story told through the eyes of one of the stars in the sky. The Maker has asked his creation--stars, sun, moon, planets, etc.--to make "Holy Night" extra special. Little Star is reluctant but perseveres through her doubts. Little Star has a special role to play in Holy Night and discovers something wondrous--the Maker in the manger.

My thoughts: This one requires some suspension of disbelief. I don't know that I ever really thought about personifying stars--or a star--and telling a Christian story. Yet I don't think the author meant any disrespect to the traditional story. In fact, the book opens with two passages from Psalms--Psalm 147:4 "He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names" and Psalm 148:3, "Praise him, sun and moon; praise him all you shining stars!" Would I have loved the book to use the word God? Or Creator? Or King of All Creation? Maybe. But I don't have a problem with this one. Personal preference is personal preference. And the important things--the incarnation--were handled well. 

318. Snowmen's Twelve Nights of Christmas. Caralyn Buehner. Illustrated by Mark Buehner. 2023. 33 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book]

First sentence: On the first night of Christmas
my dog chased up a tree
an elf with a present for me.
On the second night of Christmas
my dog chased up a tree
two tubing twins
and an elf with a present for me.

Premise/plot: Another spin on the song "Twelve Days of Christmas." This one stars ALL snow-creatures. 

My thoughts: I really thought the narrative was clever. I didn't care for the illustrations. I almost wish it hadn't starred all snow-creatures. For example, if the dog had been a DOG instead of a snow-dog, I think it would have been funnier. The dog was VERY naughty!!! But I think this one could be very appealing to some readers.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

313. Mercy Watson Is Missing

Mercy Watson Is Missing (Tales from Deckawoo Drive #7) Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. 2023. [December] 176 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence from prologue: The office of Percival Smidgely, PI, was situated on the third floor of the historic Blinkhopp Building in downtown Gizzford.

First sentence from chapter one: On a bright morning in early autumn, Mercy Watson went missing. 

Premise/plot: Mercy Watson, everyone's MOST FAVORITE PIG, is completely missing. Can the community come together--with or without the help of the 'official' private investigator'--to find Mercy? What could this butter-loving pig be up to? 

My thoughts: I love Kate DiCamillo. Some I love, love, love. Some I merely love. A few I've merely liked. But without a doubt she can create memorable characters and craft great narratives that are engaging for readers of varied ages. I enjoyed this one so much. It is possible I would have loved it even more if I'd taken the time to reread ALL the Mercy Watson books and the Tales of Deckawoo Drive. She has brought all the characters from previous books into this one and it is a true celebration of the community she has created/crafted.

I love the writing. For example, "Mrs. Watson returned to 54 Deckawoo Drive with dread in her heart. What had started as a pebble of worry was turning into a boulder of despair."

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

312. The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons

The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons. Leanne Hatch. 2023. [August] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Violet was in the art supply aisle when she first spotted them. There were small boxes, medium boxes, big boxes, and...super big boxes. The super big box of crayons had all the colors she would ever need. Eighty-four to be exact.

Premise/plot: Violet, our protagonist, is so thrilled and excited to get a super big box of crayons from the art store. However, she's so happy and proud own them and that they are in such pristine, perfect condition--unlike her old crayons which are junk--that she finds it impossible to enjoy them as intended--coloring. But crayons are made for coloring. They are made to bring joy, and that joy is best expressed through their actual, actual use. Can Violet learn something from her LITTLE sister about how to best use her new crayons? (AND perhaps just perhaps a little about how to best live life.)

My thoughts: I really LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I could relate to it completely. Perhaps not with crayons exactly. But with other things--many other things. (Like fabric). I enjoyed this one. I loved Violet and Marigold--the sisters. I loved the problem and solution.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

311. Perfect Piggies (Board book)

Perfect Piggies: A Book! A Song! A Celebration! by Sandra Boynton. 2010??? 2023. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [Board book]

First sentence: Ba-ddo-bah Doink! Doink!

My thoughts (preview): If a board book is only good if you go to the YouTube channel and watch a video from the author's channel, then is the book really good????????

Premise/plot: Pig-themed entertainment for little ones. This book celebrates all things piggy.

My thoughts: Sandra Boynton has a YouTube channel. Perhaps not all books have accompanying videos. But her most recent ones do seem to [mostly] have videos. If you want the "song" and "celebration" of this board book to shine, you will need to watch the YouTube video. OR else be super-super-super musically inclined and creative yourself. The video has text that the book does not have. It is not a one-for-one correlation. So the video cannot read this book to your little one. 

I liked the video well enough. The board book on its own without the video falls a bit flat for me. Though I do like board books and picture books starring pigs. So I should like this one more than I do.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers