12 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Mr Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

It's Day 3 of our 12 Days of Christmas Picture Books series. Today's pick is an oldie but goodie. I've said it many times, but it bears repeating -- one of the best things about being a mom, hands down, is sharing books with Sprout that I read as a child. I can hardly wait until he's old enough to start reading chapter books with, because there are so many we'll read together. But in the meantime there are oodles of great picture books that I've just been itching to share.

Today's pick is no exception -- Robert Barry's Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. First published in 1963, I remember encountering this classic when I was in elementary school, and I'm thrilled that it's still available to read with my kiddo. As the story goes, rich old Mr. Willowby, has a gigantic Christmas tree delivered to his home. The tree is magnificent -- but it's too tall for even Mr. Willowby's mammoth parlor. So the top is lopped off by Baxter the butler, who can't bear to throw out the treetop and shares it with Miss Adelaide, another Willowby staff member. Well, that tree is too tall for Miss Adelaide's display space, so she snips off the top and discards it, where it's saved by Timm the gardener. And on and on it goes, until even the tiniest little houseful of mice has a Christmas tree to mark the season, all thanks to Mr. Willowby.

I love the spirit of giving and sharing with others that runs through this story. As each person finds a use for what someone else discards, the tree ends up brightening so many more houses than just Mr. Willowby's. And so it is with the joy of the season -- as we each receive from others, so too should we pass it on, spreading the spirit of the holiday with as many others as our lives can touch.

And just in case you're wondering: Sprout got a huge kick out of this story. The first time we read it, we had to go through after we finished so he could see the treetop get smaller and smaller and smaller. And then on the last page, when the tiny mouse tree is shining out of their hole right next to Mr. Willowby's huge tree, Sprout sighed and said, "That's just right for them." Oh the joy of a classic story so well told!

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry, published by Random House Children's Books
Ages 3-7
Source: Library
Sample: "Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree / Came by special delivery. / Full and fresh and glistening green -- / The biggest tree he had ever seen."
Recommended

12 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Happy Christmas Gemma by Sarah Hayes

It's Day 2 of our 12 Days of Christmas Picture Books countdown. On this day, at this moment, our hearts first go out to the families of all those touched by the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Details about this horrific event are still coming in, but one thing is certain - lives were destroyed today, hearts were broken. Tonight our love is with all those affected by today's senseless act. Tonight we will be sitting a little closer, hugging a little tighter. Tonight, we will pray.

And tonight, we'll read another Christmas title, because when nothing else in this world makes sense, books soothe us.

Tonight we are sharing a book that's unfortunately out of print, but well worth finding from your favorite used bookstore or borrowing from the library. Sarah Hayes's Happy Christmas Gemma was published in 1986, but it has a timeless quality that makes it just as fresh and relevant for children today. Hayes is a British author, so there are some touches that are uniquely English in this one. But what I love most about it is that it really speaks to younger children, those who may perhaps have a baby in the house and who are feeling quite grown-up in comparison. There aren't enough books that fill this niche, and finding a holiday-themed one is even better.

It's Gemma's first Christmas, and her older brother is making sure she's experiencing every bit of the season, in her own way. As he decorates the tree, Gemma undecorates it. As he wraps presents, Gemma tears up labels. And as he waits up for Santa, Gemma falls fast asleep -- good thing her big brother is looking out for her!

This gentle story of sibling love is written in a simple tone, as a young child would tell it. Jan Ormerod's illustrations match the text perfectly, revealing warm scenes of togetherness and celebration. I especially love the expressions on brother's face, suitably indulgent as he watches little Gemma go about her way just as a small baby would. Much of this reminds me of Ezra Jack Keats and other classic depictions of  family life - in particular the spread where baby Gemma sleeps while her brother watches the snow come down reminded both Sprout and I of The Snowy Day, which of course makes us love this one all the more.

For a story that hits just the right note of childlike anticipation and joyous celebration, Happy Christmas Gemma is an excellent find. And when we need to appreciate the closeness of our family, as we do tonight, we're so grateful for books like this.

Happy Christmas Gemma by Sarah Hayes, published by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books
Ages 0-5
Source: Library
Sample: "We all ate a lot at Christmas dinner. Once Grandma put her elbows on the table, but I didn't say anything. Gemma turned her bowl upside down."
Recommended

12 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Who Built the Stable? by Ashley Bryan

It's finally here! Our series on 12 Days of Christmas Picture Books resumes for 2012. We've been looking forward to reading holiday books all year, and we're especially excited about some of the finds we've got this time around. I hope you'll join us for each of our daily picks. And don't forget, you can leave us a comment here on the blog or connect via Facebook or Twitter to share your favorite Christmas titles with us.

And so, on to our first Christmas title! Today's pick is one of the most vibrant and visually stunning books you're liable to find on a holiday shelf. Who Built the Stable? by author/illustrator Ashley Bryan is a fresh and accessible look at the nativity story, with a multicultural slant. In Bryan's version, a young shepherd boy builds a stable to shelter his livestock. When Joseph and Mary aren't able to find room at the inn, the boy offers up his stable as a place for them to stay. And so it is that when the babe is born, the shepherd's own manger cradles the child on that first Christmas morning.

Bryan's bio indicates he first began thinking about the title question when he was visiting Africa, and that inspiration shines through in his gorgeous paintings. Every page bursts with life, and the more you look the more there is to see -- multicolor stars twinkling in a swirling sky, mud huts peeking out from a hilltop. The animals are more than background filler here, just as colorful as everything else in Bryan's landscape. And as with all his books, Bryan's text is stellar here too, a thought-provoking piece of poetry that even the youngest children will appreciate.

This vivid take on the nativity is one that begs to be read and re-read, a perfect frame for holiday conversations. Whether you're looking for a new title to share with your own kids or a gift idea for someone on your list, Who Built the Stable? is a memorable addition to the Christmas story canon.

Who Built the Stable? by Ashley Bryan, published by Simon & Schuster
All ages
Source: Library
Sample: "The little shepherd sheltered them. / For one night he saw a star, / And -- Lo! -- it grew in brightness, / Approaching from afar."

Picture Book Review - Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins

Ooooh boy, does it seem like winter around here! In the Northwest that's more about rain and gray days than it is about snow, though Sprout is convinced it's going to snow ON CHRISTMAS and he will be super disappointed if (when?) it doesn't. And since he's been a little snow-obsessed these past few weeks we've been reading a bunch of books about wintry climes. Think penguins, polar bears, sledding, snowmen and of course our favorite Ezra Jack Keats classic (which honestly we just read all year round).

The other thing that's a running theme in the Kinser household these days is counting. Sprout is counting everything of late, with relish, and can actually get up to thirty, more or less accurately. Watching him learn these building blocks of knowledge is so exciting for us -- it's like having a front row seat to a pretty amazing discovery. The thrill for him in understanding how the numbers come together, and recognizing a pattern, is just palpable, and I love seeing this.

So with these two obsessions in mind, I was pretty thrilled to bring home today's pick, Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money. This quirky picture book is written by Emily Jenkins, who happens to be the author of one of our big favorites from earlier this year, What Happens on Wednesdays. And it's illustrated by G. Brian Karas, who we also adore -- so, win-win right from the get-go.

Beyond that, how can you not be charmed by a book whose premise is siblings who, bored one very cold and snowy day, decide to have a lemonade stand. Yup, a for-real, on-the-corner, ice-cubes-and-all lemonade stand. Though Mom and Dad try to dissuade Pauline and John-John, the kids are determined. And so they count out money for supplies, mix up their product and hit the streets -- in parkas and earmuffs, no less -- chanting their slogan: "Lemon lemon lime, lemon LIMEade! / Lemon lemon lime, lemon LEMONade!" (Catchy, no?)

This tale of young entrepreneurship is not only fun, it's a great learning experience to boot. (Just skip over the subtitle when you read it to your kiddos -- without it the "learning part" will just sneak right up on them!) At every turn, Pauline is educating her young brother about counting money, how many coins make up a dollar and how they can make back their initial supply investment. You don't see that kind of thing too often in a book that is this accessible to the younger crowd, so kudos to Jenkins for including it. And then there's the perserverance both kiddos show. When business is slow, as you might expet it to be when you're selling cold drinks in wintertime, the siblings come up with creative ways to boost their sales. Plus -- huge bonus in my book -- there's a truly multicultural cast of characters here, which we see as we meet the various members of Pauline and John-John's neighborhood. Love that!

In the end, is Pauline and John-John's project a success? Well, you'll have to be the judge of that. But what I can tell you, with certainty, is that this is a picture book that's not only whimsical and bursting with community, but that's solidly based in math and counting skills as well. And in whatever season you read this amusing story, you're bound to get your money's worth!

Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins, published by Schwartz and Wade
Ages: 3-6
Source: Library
Sample: "'Maybe nobody is on the street,' says Pauline, after a bit. 'Maybe nobody will want cold drinks.' / 'I'm on the street,' says John-John. 'I want them.' He grabs a cup of limeade. / 'Don't drink too much,' Pauline warns. 'It's fifty cents a cup.'"
Recommended

Guest Post - The Barefoot Books Holiday Gift Guide!

I asked Liz Hughes, a Barefoot Books Ambassador, to join us today with a few gift suggestions from the Barefoot Books catalog. We love Barefoot, as much for the excellent quality of their materials as for their multicultural themes and multiracial cast of characters. This gift guide is jam-packed with wonderful books and CDs. If you're looking for some gift ideas for growing your little global citizen, look no further!

Thank you so much to Mary for inviting me here to her place for a guest post!  I am so honored to share with you some of my favorite Barefoot Books as holiday gift suggestions for the children in your lives.  Books are the perfect gift for children of all ages, in my humble opinion.  Please feel free to contact me (Liz@ReadingBarefootinBoston.com) if you have any questions about specific books or Barefoot Books in general.   

Make sure to read all the way to the end of this post for a special discount code you can use on your order, and for information about how your purchase can help children in Ethiopia gain access to books and literacy too. 

And now, on to the Barefoot Books holiday gift guide! 

Babies:

Alison Jay illustrates two of my favorite books in this category, I Took the Moon for a Walk and Listen, Listen.  Her illustrations have such a dreamy, old world feel to them - so very distinctive!

 

 

I Took the Moon for a Walk

 

A little boy goes for a nighttime walk with the moon and discovers the world at night.  Includes end notes about the phases of the moon and nocturnal plants and animals, so this book will have a long life on your child’s book shelf - especially if you get the sturdy large format board book version.

 

 

Listen, Listen

 

Birds chirp, leaves crunch, fires crackle and seagulls squawk - this book is fun to read and fun to listen to, great for building vocabulary!  There’s also a fun seek-and-find in the back, with a page for each season.   

Clare Beaton is another of my favorite Barefoot illustrators, her fabric creations are just simply amazing.  Her books include How Big is a Pig, How Loud is a Lion, Hidden Hippo, Elusive Moose, Secret Seahorse, There’s a Cow in the Cabbage Patch...the one I’ve chosen to highlight here is Who are You, Baby Kangaroo?

 

 

Who are You, Baby Kangaroo?

 

A little puppy goes around the world trying to discover what a baby kangaroo is called, and along the way learns the names for all sorts of baby animals.  So adorable!

For more gift ideas for babies, visit my Barefoot Books storefront.

 

Toddlers:

The most popular and best-selling type of books in this category are Barefoot’s singalong books.  When my daughter was a little younger, singalong books were this single mom’s best friend - I could pop a few discs into the CD player, sit my little one down at the table with a stack of books, and get dinner ready for us while she alternated between dancing around the kitchen to the music and “reading” along in the book as the song played.  If you have a three- or four-year-old in your house, I highly recommend singalong books! 

 

Here are a few of my favorites:

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

Four children - from Mali, Europe, China, and India - go through their morning routines to the tune of this classic song.   

 

 

If You’re Happy and You Know It!

Another traditional song with a multicultural twist - clap your hands, stomp your feet, pat your head with a happy bunch of kids from all around the world!

 

 

Knick Knack Paddy Whack

 

Yet another classic, this one is great for learning to count from one to ten and also includes notes in the back about musical instrument families.

The Animal Boogie

The Animal Boogie is one of Barefoot’s all-time best selling books, it is tremendous fun!  And the illustrations really highlight Barefoot’s commitment to diversity - not only do the kids in this book have all different skin colors, there’s also a little girl in a wheelchair who shows us how to flap like a bird.

 

 

 

Shape Song Swingalong

What can you make with a line, a square, a circle, and a triangle?  Find out in this catchy tune by children’s singer SteveSongs! 

For more books that make great gifts for toddlers, visit my Barefoot Books storefront. 

 

Age 4 to 7:

My daughter is currently right in the middle of this age group, so I am very well informed about the books in this category! 

 

Let’s start with Barefoot’s Travel the World books...Laurie Krebs is a retired first-grade teacher who takes trips around the world with her husband and then comes home to write gorgeous children’s books about the places they visit.  Off We Go to Mexico, We’re Sailing to Galapagos, We’re Roaming in the Rainforest, Up and Down the Andes, and We’re Sailing Down the Nile are some of her books, but my favorites are We’re Riding on a Caravan and We All Went on Safari.

 

 
We’re Riding on a Caravan

A family spends a year traveling by caravan along China’s ancient silk road, bringing their goods to sell at the famous market in Kashgar.  This book is one of my favorites because of the fun rhyming text and the stunning illustrations, and the extensive end notes with a map, the story of silk, information about all the places the caravan visits, and more make this another book that will be relevant to your child for years and years.

 

We All Went on Safari

Learn to count from one to ten in English and Swahili as you follow a Masai family through the grasslands of Tanzania.  This one also has amazing end notes including information about African animals and the Masai people, as well as a map and more.

Barefoot donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book to the African Wildlife Foundation, to aid in their wildlife conservation and community building efforts in Tanzania.

 

Also in this category are Barefoot’s version of traditional tales, such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood, as well as new stories that are sure to become classics.

 

Jack and the Beanstalk

Niamh Sharkey - named Irish Children’s Laureate earlier this year - illustrates this new version of the old tale and gives it her own quirky treatment.  I love how she imagines the funny little man wearing a big, baggy jacket with big, baggy pockets who trades Jack six magic beans for Daisy the cow!  This book also includes a CD with the story narrated by Richard Hope.

 

 

 

Lola’s Fandango

Lola feels plain and ordinary compared to her beautiful and talented older sister Clementina, until she discovers her mother’s old flamenco shoes in the closet and convinces her father to give her secret lessons.  She surprises and delights everyone when she dances the flamenco - in her polka dot dress and special new shoes - for her mother’s birthday party!  The book comes with a story CD narrated by the Amadour family, who really bring all of the characters to life.  Lola’s Fandango was a 2012 Ezra Jack Keats honorable mention for best author and illustrator.

Finally, in this category is my very favorite Barefoot illustrator - Miriam Latimer.  Mary was kind enough to review Latimer’s Shopping with Dad a few months ago, and I promise you that all of her books are worth a look.  Her illustrations are colorful and spunky and fun, and each of her main characters has a small creature that appears on every page with him or her - see if your little one can figure out the creature in each book and then find it on every page!  In addition to Shopping with Dad, Latimer has illustrated The Prince’s Bedtime, Emily’s Tiger, Shrinking Sam, and two books featuring the brave and strong Ruby - Ruby’s School Walk and Ruby’s Sleepover.

 

Ruby’s School Walk

Ruby finds the courage to face crocodiles, tigers, witches, and ghosts, on her walk to school for her first day - and then her mom helps her find the courage to face the rest of the day!

 

Look here for even more books geared toward four- to seven-year olds.  

 

Ages 8+: 

Barefoot has some great story collections for older kids, most of which come with story CDs.  Two that I recommend are The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories and The Barefoot Book of Pirates.

 

The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories

Eight stories about dance from around the world, including The West Indies, ancient Egypt, Germany, Japan, Mali, and the Czech Republic.  This hardcover book has gorgeous illustrations, the stories are wonderfully narrated by the British actress Juliet Stevenson, and the end notes include information about how each type of dance is done.  A beautiful book for any dance lover, adult or child!

 

 

The Barefoot Book of Pirates

Seven pirate stories from around the world, including Japan, Morocco, Scotland, and Germany.  My favorite pirate in this book is Grace O’Malley from Ireland - girls can be pirates too, you know!

Find more gift ideas for children over eight years old here at my Barefoot Books storefront.

 

Chapter Books for Independent Readers:

For children who are able to read on their own, Barefoot has a great selection of chapter books - from easy readers for kids just starting to read, through advanced books for kids who are strong readers (or even adults!).  

 

 

The Tortoise’s Gift

This story from Zambia is the first book in Barefoot’s Animal Stories series, easy chapter  books for early readers.  When a drought comes, which animal can go to the mountain and come back with the name of the magical tree that will provide all of them with their favorite fruit?  The Tortoise’s Gift was just named the Best Early Reader on the list of 10 Best Children’s Books of 2012 from Parents Magazine.

 

 

The Feathered Ogre

This story from Italy is the first book in Barefoot’s Monster Stories series, another easy chapter book for early readers.  When the king gets sick, Pirolo the gardner sets off to retrieve the only thing that will cure the king - a feather from the back of the ogre who eats boys and girls for his supper.  When he arrives at the ogre’s castle, he gets some help from a clever princess and they all live happily ever after - of course!

 

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

This chapter book for confident readers is a new version of the classic fairy tale, with breath-taking illustrations from the French artist Miss Clara.  Miss Clara builds tiny three-dimensional figures of all the characters in the books she illustrates, then photographs them and uses Photoshop to create simply stunning images. 

 

Robin Hood

Robin Hood is a chapter book for advanced readers, though my five-year-old and I both enjoyed reading this one together at bedtime, one chapter at a time.  There are nine stories here about Robin Hood’s adventures, including all the familiar merry men in his band of outlaws - Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet - as well as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Guy of Gisborne, and a strong Maid Marian who is more than capable of taking care of herself!  The stories are based on the original Robin Hood ballads and have an authentic Middle Ages feel to them.

 

You can find more chapter books for independent readers at my storefront.

 

Finally, Barefoot’s only non-fiction book is one that I believe should be on every child’s bookshelf -- the Barefoot Books World Atlas.

 

 

Younger children will be fascinated by the beautiful artwork, with tiny icons depicting interesting and important places in every country and continent, and in the oceans; older children can learn so much from the detailed information on every page, and Barefoot packs even more information into the book with flaps that open up and pages that fold out and expand.  And there’s a poster-sized map of the world tucked inside the back cover, worthy of being framed and hung in your child’s room as a gorgeous piece of art! 

 

The World Atlas is part of Barefoot’s Travel the World section, and you can find more books in this category at my Barefoot Books storefront.

 

 

As you can see, Barefoot Books has something for every child on your holiday shopping list!  Place your orders before 11AM Eastern time on Friday December 14th in order to guarantee delivery before Christmas with regular UPS shipping - which is free if you order $60 or more; orders placed after the 14th can still arrive by Christmas with additional shipping charges for fast delivery.

 

Please feel free to use the discount code TWENTY12 to save 20% on your entire order; you can use this code for one order before the end of the year.

 

If you would like your purchase to help support the important work of Ethiopia Reads, which brings literacy and libraries to children in Ethiopia, please go to my Barefoot Marketplace,

http://www.barefootbooks.com/marketplace/14930/

scroll down to My Events and click Support This Event under the Open Hearts Big Dreams fundraiser.  I will donate 20% of your purchase to Ethiopia Reads through this fundraising event in Seattle; purchase now through December 15th to participate in the fundraiser.

 

Thank you once again to Mary for inviting me here to share some of my favorite Barefoot Books with you.  Happy holidays to everyone!