A New Year for the Nursery Set!

Wow - I can't believe this is my last post for 2015!  How about this for a New Year's Resolution: Commit to reading nursery tales and rhymes to your little ones in 2016!

What better place to start then with Richard Scarry?

Then move on to this unique and gorgeous book of nursery rhymes, A Pocketful of Posies, by talented crafts-woman, Sally Mavor...

Young children love the rhythm and fun in stories that rhyme.  Some of my favorites include Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny, and The Big Red Barn.

Lately I've been seeing lots of Nursery Tale (and other literary) inspired children's products!  How cute are these???

from Zulilly

from Out of Print

on Amazon

from Cafe Press

Happy New Year!  Here's an apropos quote for us book lovers...

...from his book, Diary of a Player - have you read it?

It's Grandson Tested and Approved: My Current Favorite "12 Days of Christmas Book" (For Toddlers and Up)

I'm pretty sure there is not a child on the planet that won't be completely taken with this Twelve Days of Christmas book - mainly because of the flickering "Ani-Motion" technology (also called "scanimation") used for the cute illustrations.

Watch as the three french hens peck the ground and the drummers drum - the story literally springs to life as you turn the pages!

And that's good news for a parent looking for a way lure their child onto their lap for a fun moment in the midst of all the after-Christmas-commotion-and-gift-opening-hubbub!

My 3-year-old grandson absolutely loves this book and already has the song memorized.  He sings right along with him mommy!

Nativity Hymn

Merry Christmas!  Today's book pairs liturgical poetry with sweet images of Christ's birth in the style of Byzantine iconography. Its simplicity and beauty draw its readers into the profound "Today!" of our Lord's birth...

Available HERE, from Orthodoxchristianchildren.com

Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, 

And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! 

Angels with shepherds glorify Him! 

The wise men journey with a star! 

Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!

Christ is Born!
Glorify Him!

Pigs and Rabbits in the Snow: Two Adorable Christmas Picture Books

Book #1...Pigs

What's a pig to do? Two pigs, actually.  They don't know what to get each other for Christmas.  But don't worry, they go through this every year, and they will figure it out!  (In spite of the suggestions they get from Opal.)

Because they do care about each other and are the very best of friends, even though they like different things.

Toot and Puddle's Let it Snow, is an adorable story, written and illustrated by Holly Hobbie.  Perfect for preschoolers and up.

Book #2...Rabbits

It's been snowing for hours, it's almost Christmas, and Squirrel and Hare are waiting in the little house at the end of the wood for Little Grey Rabbit to return from market with the Christmas fare.  But where is she?

This is a book you will want to look at again and again.  The pictures by Margaret Tempest are reminiscent of Beatrix Potter.

 

The sweet narration harkens back to all the elements of an old-fashioned Christmas and friendship...

sledding, carol singing, evergreens, presents, and a party.

The author of Little Grey Rabbit's Christmas, Alison Uttley, whose own childhood Christmases were spent in the countryside, has written a story full of warmth that you and your children will love!

Little Angels Doing Good Deeds

This sweet book might inspire your little angels to be helpful to others!

For a culture that couldn't be more devoted commercialism and materialism, this picture book is a good reminder to our children of simple acts of kindness that should be at the forefront of our Advent season.

On a cold Christmas Eve, ten little angels quietly fly through the night. They've come to the aid of the lost, lonely, and weary - even assisting Father Christmas with his heavy sack full of gifts.

Your young ones will enjoy counting each consecutive angel on the top of each page. On the last page, the tenth busy angel lights the tree and reveals the singing cherubic faces of all ten angels. 

Originally published in Germany in 1933, The Christmas Angels is a simple, yet clever Christmas counting book with timeless appeal - written and illustrated by Else Wenz-Viëtor. A unique design of cut-out angel heads running across the top of the book will enchant young readers, especially when each black and white illustration is transformed into color with every turn of the page.

Little Porcupine's Christmas, illustrated by Felicia Bond

Little Porcupine's Christmas, from the illustrator of If You Give A Mouse A Cookie would be a fun addition to any kindergartner's library.  It's sweetly told by Joseph Slate about a prickly porcupine who is more than a little trepidatious about trying out for his school's Baby in the Manger play...

His mother believes in him (she calls him the "light of her life", after all.)  But unfortunately, his classmates convince him that he's just not right for any of the parts.

The countdown to the date of the play begins, and Little Porcupine still doesn't have a part or a costume.  The expected night arrives, and not until Little Porcupine raises the curtain do any of them realize that something crucial is missing!

The Mamas and Papas in the audience are the first to notice.  Will Little Porcupine be able to save the play?  He does, as he manifests the truth of his mother's words.  (hint: he really shines!) I absolutely love the ending, guaranteed to warm your heart!

 

Up Close and Personal With Jolly Old St. Nick

As a child, whenever I heard Clement C. Moore's "The Night Before Christmas" I recall wishing I could actually spring from my bed into the poem to join the narrator and watch the children, the sugarplums, St. Nick, and the reindeer as he described them!

Well, if that was you too, today I'd like to recommend a dreamy picture book version of this lovely old poem (written by Moore in 1822), that will take your child face to face with that "Right Jolly Old Elf".

Robert Ingpen's illustrations have a wonderfully inviting quality and a "you're there too" perspective, starting with the Mouse (who though he's not stirring, is looking right at you!)

I love the soft, warm style of Ingpen's illustrations. If you want to see more pictures from this cozy book, curl up with a cup of hot cocoa and watch this Youtube video, courtesy of Palazzo Editions, Ltd (2011)...



Robert Ingpen has illustrated other classic titles which include: Treasure Island, The Wind in the Willows, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan & Wendy, A Christmas Carol, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The Secret Garden (all published by Walker Books - go here for more information).