Love Monster and the
Perfect Present by Rachel Bright
Love Monster returns just in time to celebrate the “Special
Day Like No Other” when everyone gives presents to “a lovely someone to show how special they
are” Love Monster is nervous about finding the perfect give in spite of the
fact that the “shops were full of hundreds of WONDERFUL SHINYFUL things!” After
searching high and low, he still has nothing. But, have no fear, Love Monster
comes through in the end with the perfect present just as the title predicted.
For all families who find themselves in the crush of looking for the perfect
present, this be a wonderful way to start the conversation: why do we give
presents? What does it mean when we give to one another? And so much more!
Frankenstein’s Fright
Before Christmas by Ludworst Bemonster
A parody of the Night Before Christmas with Frankenstein
front and center along with 10 other little monsters and Miss Devel. The
original poem is closely followed, but does have some clunky rhymes along the
way. Saint Nick saves the day with his gift of new heads and a special ride for
all the little monsters. Those who are familiar with the poem will appreciate
how Bemonster (really Walton and Hale) sticks with the intent, but throws little
bumps in the road to remind the reader that they never know what to expect.
Beautiful Yetta’s
Hanukkah Kitten by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Jill Pinkwater
Yetta is a chicken who lives with the parrots in Brooklyn.
She is a beautiful chicken and she speaks Yiddish, while the parrots speak
Spanish. When they discover a kitten in the snow, Yetta wants to care for it
and the parrots are afraid of it. But, Yetta knows to take the kitten to the
old grandmother. The parrots remember that it is Hanukkah, when humans are in a
good mood. The Pinkwaters have teamed up to write a silly book that children
and adults will enjoy. Both the Spanish and Yiddish are transliterated so the
phonetic reading can be done. The pictures are bright and colorful with excellent
use of contrast. And what could be better than a plate full of latkes at the
end?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer based on The original television classic from 1964 retold by Thea
Feldman, illustrated by Erwin Madrid
First, I cannot believe that this television show is 50
years old. Where has the time flown! The story is basically the same one told
by the TV movie: Rudolph runs away because the other reindeer make fun of his
nose; Hermey the elf runs away because he wants to be a dentist; and they hook
up with Yukon Cornelius to fight the Abominable Snow Monster and find their way
to the Island of Misfit Toys. Because the narration truncates much of the
story, it would be difficult to follow if you were not familiar with the movie.
But, who is not familiar with that story? The pictures are great, modeled after
the cartoons from the movie. For a touch of nostalgia, choose this book. But,
for good story telling, choose another.
Hunters of the Great
Forest by Dennis Nolan
A impeccable wordless picture book. Chosen for the Christmas
section not because it is a Christmas story but because many of the characters
look like Christmas elves. Perspective
is used to great effect as the elves go off to hunt in the forest. The reader
gradually realizes that these elves are miniature, only a little larger than an
ant. On their great adventure, they encounter a dragonfly, a bird, a squirrel
and finally a little girl roasting marshmallows. Working together, they carry
one stray marshmallow home with them and then all the elves in their village grab
a small piece for their own turn at roasting marshmallows. Superb! And maybe
that is what Christmas is all about after all: giving to one another whatever
we have, whether it is our sense of adventure, or a marshmallow we found in the
woods.
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