Picture Book Review - 'Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong

Christmas is a week away, can you believe it?? I'm in total shock. It feels like the past few weeks have just flown by, with a flurry of shopping, decorating and readying for all the events we've had going on. Last night was the Nativity play at Sprout's school, an absolutely terrific event that was full of just what you'd expect - a bit of confusion, some dropped lines, but lots of shining faces and kids singing enthusiastically with joy in their hearts. Such a special moment for us and for Sprout.

Tonight's pick is for all those who celebrate Christmas and want to add a bit of diversity into the mix. Roseanne Greenfield Thong is fast becoming one of my go-to authors for high-quality multicultural titles (in fact, I have two titles of her titles sitting on my desk at the moment!). And her new book 'Twas Nochebuena is just spectacular - a winner for Spanish-speakers as well as those who are still learning the language.

The story in 'Twas Nochebuena mirrors Clement C. Moore's poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, but puts an entirely fresh storyline in place. Gone are the nightcaps and that bowl full of jelly, to be replaced by farols and tamales. The heroine relates her family's Christmas tradition, making food together, decorating, visiting house to house, attending mass. The night culminates with fireworks, a midnight feast and lots of gifts. It's a joyous, exuberant celebration that readers will want to jump right into!

The festivities are captured by Thong's skillful rhymes, which integrate Spanish phrases into the text, allowing readers to discern meaning from context. That's a strategy I much prefer to the repetition that some books employ - I think this method makes books more accessible to all audiences. Sara Palacios did the illustrations for 'Twas Nochebuena and I *love* them. The tone is absolutely on-point: festive, fun, full of life and spirit, just like the holidays should be. Love the colors, the touches of collage, and the inclusion of multiracial families as well.

Add 'Twas Nochebuena to your holiday bookshelf and think about reading it as part of your Christmas Eve celebrations. Fair warning, though - you'll want to have champurrado (hot chocolate) close at hand!

'Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, published by Viking

Ages 4-6

Source: Library

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."