Last-minute gift ideas
Check out the children’s books reviewed below for holiday gift-giving or holiday sharing. Each is a real gem.
The following book is available at many public libraries:
The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne (Center Street, 150 pages)
Read aloud: age 9 and older
Read yourself: age 9 to 10 and older
Reluctantly, at the insistence of their father, 9-year-old Molar and his older brother, Aaron, are standing in line at the mall, waiting to see Santa Claus.
Both boys no longer believed in Santa, but this year the tradition seemed particularly important to their dad. Santa’s assistants pass out papers and pencils and direct everyone to write their Christmas list to hasten the process along.
When Molar and Aaron finally meet with Santa, he informs them they won’t be getting anything they’ve asked for. Instead, they would get everything they never thought they wanted.
With that, Santa (actually Dr. Chris Ringle, a pediatric oncologist) convinces the boys to volunteer as Santa’s elves at the hospital children’s ward for the holiday.
Each boy is asked to bring holiday cheer to the young cancer patients. Additionally, each boy is asked to befriend a specific patient – two children who particularly need a friend.
What each boy learns is something they could have never have imagined; something that changes their lives in the deepest, most meaningful way.
A heartwarming, moving tale, “The Paper Bag Christmas” provides a beautiful and moving reminder of the true joy of life, selfless acts, friendship and the holiday season.
Librarian’s choice
Library: Frank Sarris Public Library, 35 N. Jefferson Ave., Canonsburg
Youth services staff: Barb Somma, Jackie Cannon, Amy Weir
Choices this week: “The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folktale” by Jan Brett; “Christmas Tapestry” by Patricia Polacco; “Redwall” by Brian Jacques
Books to buy
The following books are available at bookstores:
Dog Loves Drawing, written and illustrated by Louise Yates (Alfred A. Knopf, 2012, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover)
Read aloud: age 3 to 6
Read yourself: age 7 to 8
Dog loves books very much. But one day he receives a book in the mail that doesn’t have one word or one picture in it except for the note from his Aunt Dora, saying, “May the lines you draw open a door to some wonderful adventures.” A sketchbook!
Dog knew immediately what to do. His first sketch is a door that Dog steps through, and then a stickman friend who says hello to Dog.
And from there, more friends are added, exciting places and wildly fun adventures. That is, until Dog’s friend the duck draws a monster …
Charged with imagination and bucket-loads of fun, this book will have kids eager to create their own grand adventures.
Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Schwartz and Wade, 2012, 36 pages, $16.99 hardcover)
Read aloud: age 3 to 4 and older
Read yourself: age 7 to 8
On a very cold, snowy day, an enterprising sister and brother decide to have a lemonade stand. Mom and Dad don’t think it’s a good idea; who wants cold lemonade on a day like this?
But the kids forge ahead, and with clever ideas to market their product, they actually do wind up attracting customers. And throughout their business venture, older sister Pauline teaches younger brother John-John how to count money.
Full of great fun and a money-counting lesson to boot, this selection is awesome.
Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra and illustrated by David Gardner (Albert Whitman & Co., 2012, $16.99 hardcover)
Read aloud: age 6 to 9
Read yourself: age 8 to 9
In the 1800s, recently widowed Sarah Josepha Hale needed to find a way to feed her family. She began writing, and soon magazines printed and paid her for her work. She became such a popular writer that she eventually became the editor of a women’s magazine.
For many years, Sarah had felt that Thanksgiving should be a national holiday – a day of collective thanks for everyone in the nation to look beyond personal problems and appreciate what we have.
Sarah wrote letters to influential businessmen, government officials and four presidents, and was determined to be heard and make the holiday official. And finally, after 36 years of persistence, that’s exactly what President Lincoln did.
An inspiring story perfectly complemented with wonderful illustrations, this selection is first rate.
Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached at her website, www.greatestbooksforkids.com