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2007 HOLIDAY ROUNDUP
As we anticipate the holidays, and all the joy and happiness they bring us, Kidsreads.com is pleased to present our annual roundup of great winter reads. In this feature, you’ll find books that celebrate what the season is all about: peace, giving, friendship and spending quality time with loved ones. Of course, we couldn’t resist adding a few that will make you “Ho, Ho, Ho!” and break out in holiday song. Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy!
 THE ALL-I’LL-EVER-WANT CHRISTMAS DOLL
written by Patricia McKissack
illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Schwartz & Wade/Random House
ISBN: 9780375837593
Ages 4-8
40 pages
• Click here to buy from Amazon.com
It’s Christmas, and Nella is beside herself with excitement! She and her sisters have been given a real gift --- a beautiful Baby Betty doll. But it's hard to share something you've waited your whole seven-year-old life for, and Nella grabs the doll for herself. It isn't long before she discovers that a doll can't do the fun things she and her sisters do together. So, as Christmas day fades, Nella shares it with her sisters.
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 ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (Children’s Edition)
written by Frank McCourt
illustrated by Raul Colon
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416937890
Ages 5-10
32 pages
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Frank McCourt's first Christmas book is by turns tender and heartwarming, and wholly unforgettable. Angela is six years old and worries for the Baby Jesus on the altar of St. Joseph's Church near School House Lane in Limerick, Ireland, where she lives. December nights are damp and cold, and the church is dark. The Baby Jesus' mother doesn't even have a blanket to cover him. The Baby is sure to need Angela's help, even if she is not allowed to step near the altar, especially by herself.
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 BEAR’S FIRST CHRISTMAS
written by Robert Kinerk
illustrated by Jim LaMarche
A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9780689869723
Ages 4-8
32 pages
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In the dark of winter, deep in the woods, a lone bear is awakened from his winter sleep by a soft and mysterious sound. Under the stars the bear finds his way step by step through the snowy forest, making friends along his route. Then the bear discovers a place in the woods that glows magically with something he and his friends could never have imagined --- their first Christmas.
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 CHRISTMAS AT STONY CREEK
written by Stephanie Greene
illustrated by Chris Sheban
Greenwillow Books
ISBN: 9780061214868
Ages 7-12
96 pages
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It's almost Christmas and Pipsqueak’s Papa has gone away to search for food. He promised to be home soon, so by Christmas Eve, Pip is worried. What will they eat for Christmas dinner? How can they celebrate without Papa? Pip knows she must do something. There are mountains of food in the huge house on the hill. The one filled with cats and traps. The most dangerous place in Stony Creek. Pip is not sure she has the courage to go there, but she has to try. She has to do it for Mama, Kit, Will, Nibs, Nan and baby Finny. For Christmas. And for Papa.
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 ELOISE’S CHRISTMAS TRINKLES
Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9780689874253
Ages 4-8
48 pages
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Eloise LOVES Christmas, and she's spreading holiday cheer all over The Plaza Hotel. She hangs holly and berries in the halls, trims the tree and attends the holiday parties. She has gifts ready for everyone: the hotel employees and best friends Nanny, Skipperdee and Weenie. But the best parts are dreaming of Santa coming to The Plaza and waking up to a gift that sparkles and trinkles.
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 GREAT JOY
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763629205
Ages 4-8
32 pages
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It is just before Christmas when an organ grinder and a monkey appear on the street corner outside Frances’s apartment. Frances can see them from her window, and sometimes when it’s quiet she can hear their music. In fact, Frances can’t stop thinking about them, especially after she sees the man and his monkey sleeping outside on the cold street at midnight. When the day of the Christmas pageant arrives, and it’s Frances’s turn to speak, everyone waits silently. But all Frances can think about is the organ grinder’s sad eyes --- until, just in time, she finds the perfect words to share.
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 HOLLY CLAUS: THE CHRISTMAS PRINCESS
written by Brittney Ryan
illustrated by Laurel Long with Jeffrey K. Bedrick
Julie Andrews Collection/HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061440229
Ages 5-9
48 pages
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When young Christopher writes a letter to Santa Claus, he poses a question no one has ever thought to ask before: Dear Santa Claus, What do you wish for Christmas?
Miraculously, Santa's longtime wish comes true, and a baby girl is born --- Princess Holly Claus. But just as the Land of Forever joyously celebrates her arrival, far away an evil is unleashed. A curse is placed on Holly, freezing her heart in ice so her future will be bound by a world of darkness. And with the Gates of Forever now locked, Santa can no longer spread the magic of Christmas to children everywhere. As soon as Holly finds a way to make a daring escape, she begins an astounding journey to the Empire City, determined to free herself and, once and for all, bring back Christmas.
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 JUDY MOODY & STINK: THE HOLLY JOLIDAY
written by Megan McDonald
illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763632373
Ages 5-8
96 pages
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Judy Moody is making a list and checking it twice, but all her brother, Stink, wants this year is snow. But it hasn’t snowed on Christmas in Virginia in more than 100 years, so what are the chances that that will change? Enter the new mailman, Mr. Jack Frost, who not only looks like a jolly old elf but also seems to know a lot about weather patterns, has a fondness for the cold, and works looooooong hours during the holiday season. Is it possible that Stink might get his wish?
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 THE LONGEST CHRISTMAS LIST EVER
written by Gregg Spiridellis
illustrated by Evan Spiridellis
Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN: 9781423101932
Ages 4-8
40 pages
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Trevor is determined not to leave ANYTHING off his Christmas list --- so he carries it with him everywhere he goes…for an entire year. Trevor thinks of everything he could possibly want, but the one thing he does forget is the true meaning of Christmas. Trevor’s list becomes so huge that it spills out of his house, down the street, through town, and all the way to the post office…which happens to be closed for Christmas by the time Trevor is finally ready to send his list! Luckily, Santa, with a little help from Trevor’s parents, knows just what to get him….
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 MERRY FAIRY HOLIDAYS:
Three Enchanted Christmas Stories
Cicely Mary Barker
Frederick Warne & Company/Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN: 9780723259725
Ages 7-up
240 pages
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This wonderful holiday collection features three Flower Fairies Friends chapter book stories about the most popular winter Flower Fairies, The Christmas Tree Fairy, Snowdrop Fairy and the Holly Fairy as they each celebrate the festive season. Discover how the Christmas Tree Fairy uses her fairy dust to save the Christmas tree, Snowdrop Fairy weathers a wintery storm and Holly uncovers the Christmas troublemakers.
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 MERRY NAVIDAD!: Christmas Carols in Spanish and English
selected by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy
illustrated by Vivi Escriva
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060584344
Ages 5-10
64 pages
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In this warm and vibrant collection of traditional Spanish Christmas carols, or villancicos, noted authors Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy bring to life the holiday traditions of Latin America and Spain. The creative English adaptations by Rosalma Zubizarreta both capture the spirit of the originals and add a new dimension to the songs. And Spanish illustrator Viví Escrivá's spirited illustrations are perfect backdrops for the lyrics, adding rich holiday flavor.
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 THE NUTCRACKER
written and illustrated by Susan Jeffers
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780060743864
Ages 3-8
40 pages
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When New York Times bestselling artist Susan Jeffers realized there were no versions of THE NUTCRACKER that depicted just the ballet (instead of the extended fairy tale that she felt was too long and complex for a young child), she set out to create a NUTCRACKER unlike any done before, with a lovely spare text and exquisite art. Here is a gift that gives even the youngest child a front-row seat at the world’s most beloved holiday ballet.
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 OLIVIA HELPS WITH CHRISTMAS
written and illustrated by Ian Falconer
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416907862
Ages 3-7
58 pages
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Christmas is coming, and Olivia is incredibly busy. She has to wait for Santa, make sure her dad sets up the tree, wait for Santa, watch her mom make the Christmas dinner, wait for Santa, oversee the care with which the stockings are hung and, of course, OPEN HER PRESENTS! Do you see how hard it is to be so helpful during the holidays?
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 ON ANGEL WINGS
written by Michael Morpurgo
illustrated by Quentin Blake
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763634667
Ages 4-8
48 pages
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"I bring you news of great joy. For tonight, in Bethlehem, a child has been born, a savior who is Christ the Lord." When the shepherds are invited to follow the star to visit the child, one young boy is told to stay and mind the flock. But the Angel Gabriel returns for him, taking the boy on a magical, memorable flight to be the first to witness the Christmas miracle.
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 ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF CHANUKAH
written by Cecily Kaiser
illustrated by Brian Schatell
Cartwheel Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439758024
Ages 4-8
24 pages
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On the first night of Chanukah, my mother gave to me
A menorah burning bright for all to see!
Sung to the tune and rhythm of the popular "The Twelve Days of Christmas," this paperback introduces young readers to the traditions of Chanukah. Gifts of latkes, gelt, dreidels, donuts, and much more celebrate this very special holiday! Back matter and a glossary explain the history and traditions of Chanukah.
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 SANTA’S LITTLEST HELPER TRAVELS THE WORLD
written by Anu Stohner
illustrated by Henrike Wilson
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781599901879
Ages 4-8
32 pages
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As Christmas approaches, everything is going according to plan --- the toys are finished and the sleighs are packed. But when all of Santa’s helpers develop a terrible case of Christmas spots, it begins to look as if Christmas might not happen. But don’t count Santa’s littlest helper out! Together with his animal friends, the Littlest Santa packs the sleigh and sets out on an around-the-world journey to deliver Christmas gifts --- one child and one country at a time.
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 THE SEVEN DAYS OF KWANZAA
written by Melrose Cooper
illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau
Cartwheel Books/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780439567466
Ages 4-8
24 pages
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Sing in celebration of Kwanzaa with this cheerful holiday rhyme. This creative spin on a familiar Christmas song features rhyming text, and lively artwork from illustrator Jeremy Tugeau.
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 A SONG IN BETHLEHEM
written by Marni McGee
illustrated by Jason Cockcroft
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780375834479
Ages 5-8
40 pages
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One chilly evening in Bethlehem, young Naomi hears of an amazing sight: at the inn's stable, there are three men rich as kings, with rubies around their necks and gold on their fingers. Naomi rushes to catch a glimpse. But by the time she arrives, the men are gone. Yet Naomi discovers a different treasure: a baby boy, with parents kind and wise. And when she receives the gift of a flute from the baby and his family, her life is transformed forever and her world is full of music.
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--- Compiled and written by Mary Dubbs
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