The Night Before Christmas

Every year I talk about how you MUST read The Night Before Christmas, a poem by Clement C. Moore so beloved that it's been popularized into picture book form.

It's so popular, in fact, the question isn't if you can find a copy but which copy should you take home.  I've shared my favorites over the years, and here's another recommended illustrated copy with pictures by the prolific children's illustrator Gyo Fujikawa (c. 1961, reprinted 2007).

My very favorite illustration in the whole book is:

But wait, I didn't include the whole spread.  To find out what the rest of this picture looks like, you'll have to check out the book from your local library or pick up a version for yourself at your favorite book store.

Snow

So are you ready for some more of P. D. Eastman's I CAN READ book titles?

In Snow (c. 1962), P. D. Eastman teamed up with Roy McKie in writing and illustrating a perfect beginner I CAN READ book for the winter season.  Thankfully, this is one of those titles that has experienced copyright renewal, so I recently found our copy at Marshalls for just a fraction of the price.

And as you know, our kids much prefer P.D. Eastman to Dr. Seuss, and I still haven't figured out why.  I don't know if it's the illustrations or if they can better picture themselves in the story or if the plot is more predictable for an early reader, but Eastman's books are the ones they keep returning to again and again.

Let me share with you a few of our favorite illustrations from Snow:

The Twelve Days of Christmas

This is such a FUN book!  The kids and I are consistently mesmerized by Hilary Knight's illustrations, and his version of The Twelve Days of Christmas (c. 1981, 2001) proves no exception!  In fact, this copy has proven quite a friend to the bed-ridden, flu-stricken children this week.

Talk about green living, look at the use of space and  furnishings in this cottage!

Each time the kids pick it up, they find another hidden delight.  Knight's detailed illustrations do not cease to entertain while revealing yet another surprise.

Knight gives us a page by page tour of this darling house; if only it were a REAL dollhouse!

Needless to say, Hilary Knight weaves several tales in his ingenius, watercolor and colored penciled pictures.  Unearth them for yourself and be newly delighted by a familiar carol.

December

Find "September" in A Child's Calendar, a collection of twelve of John Updike's poems that describes a child's journey through the seasons from January through December  (c. 1965).  Caldecott award winning artist Trina Schart Hyman illustrated the collection (c. 1999).

This First Thanksgiving Day

Dear Readers,

Two years ago, I recommended to my young friends a story entitled This First Thanksgiving Day by Laura Krauss Melmed and Mark Buehner (c. 2001).  Well, I stand corrected!  My elementary friends have quite enjoyed this Thanksgiving story too!

Revisit my previous post here.  Then consider letting the older readers read it to their younger siblings.  And while the younger siblings look for the hidden turkey on each two-page spread, have the older siblings look for that quirky dinosaur on various spreads (we're still not sure just how many).  While the younger siblings count the people on each spread, have the older siblings practice their addition by finding and then adding the various animals (squirrels, rabbits, fish, birds, geese, chickens, etc.) on each spread.  Either way, enjoy the fun activities while celebrating Thanksgiving!

Parents, this would be a great book to check out before that long car trip or while you're trying to get dinner on the table but the Macy's Day Parade ended hours ago.

Count Down to Fall

If your child is an animal lover, here's a book with detailed animal illustrations.  Count Down to Fall (c. 2009) with author Fran Hawk and illustrator Sherry Neidigh teaches about various trees, leaves, seeds, and animals.  Note: I love the illustrations but find the text somewhat lacking. However, the end pages presents good natural science information.

August

Find "August" in A Child's Calendar, a collection of twelve of John Updike's poems that describes a child's journey through the seasons from January through December  (c. 1965).  Caldecott award winning artist Trina Schart Hyman illustrated the collection (c. 1999).

Iron Horses

Dedicated to all my train-loving readers: Have you ever wandered how the transcontinental railroad was built?  "Transcontinental Railroad?" you ask.  It was the joining of the American west's Central Pacific Railroad to the east's Union Pacific Railroad so that citizens could travel from one coast to the next in a matter of days rather than months.

Discover this train race afresh with Verla Kay's simple rhyming text and Michael McCurdy's signature illustrations in Iron Horses (c. 1999).

Shoe-la-la!

First I want to say that I did not pick this book.

No.  The fancy lovin' child picked it out.

And I was quite skeptical!

So take note:  Shoe-la-la! (c. 2011) by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by LeUyen Pham made it to Read Me A Story!

Let me tell you why . . .
. . . the-child-who-picked-it sat down and read it to the youngest as soon as we got home.

To any ordinary blog reader, this is of little consequence.  However, I had to "beg, borrow, and steal" to hear my child read.  So when the-child-who-would-not-read was transported into the-child-that-actually-can-read through proof of this book . . . well I knew it was a keeper.

Think of Dr. Seussish rhyming rhythms:

Shoes with zippers,

Shoes with straps,

Shoes with buckles,

Shoes with taps.

 collaborated with a love for all that's fancy and frilly:

It's difficult to see here, but the street-post reads Hightop and Oxford.

and you have Shoe-la-la!  Enjoy!

When Winter Comes

I've raved over Susan Gaber's illustrations here and here before.  Check out another of her illustrated books (c. 2000) with words by Nancy Van Laan.

Kids are mesmerized by When Winter Comes!  Nana reads it to her class each winter.  And my child came home from kindergarten a few weeks ago, exclaiming that her teacher read "one of my favorite books to the whole class today!"  Yep, I think that teacher's pretty brilliant (especially as her students were just returning from winter break) because you see this read has quite the calming effect (like the gentle cadences of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening).  Catch a glimpse of it in the rhyme and repetition:

Where oh where do the leaves all go
when winter comes and the cold winds blow?
(next page)
The leaves go tumble
tumbling down.
Snow is their blanket.
Their bed is the ground.

So check it out, and tell me, which part do you like best: the soothing rhythm of VanLaan's rhyme or Gaber's soft snowy acrylic paintings or just the complete cozy, snugly, fireside experience of reading it to your child?

Over in the Meadow

I have another folk-song turned into book for you today.  John Langstaff's retelling of Over in the Meadow (c. 1957) begs to be checked out due to Feodor Rojankovsky's gorgeous, lifelike illustrations.   In fact, I was going to scan more illustrations to share with you.  However, here's the problem: I can't decide which ones to share.  So you'll have to content yourself with the cover jacket until you're able to check this beauty out of your local library.

Since you're familiar with this old counting song, I'll only include the first stanza to jog your memory:
              Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun
              Lived an old mother turtle and her little turtle one.
              "Dig," said the mother, "I did," said the one;
              So he dug and was glad in the sand in the sun. 

Once you check out Over in the Meadow, you'll want to see more of Rojankovsky's illustrations.  I recommend the 1956 Caldecott Award Winning  Frog Went A-Courtin', a familiar Southern Appalachian ballad, originally written over four-hundred years ago in Scotland.

The Fox went out on a chilly night

A perfect read for this time of year especially, Peter Spier brings this folk song to life in his Caldecott Honor book THE FOX went out on a chilly night (c. 1961).  It's a circle of life song not at all for the fainthearted.

After the lively, amusing reading, I recommend listening to Nickel Creek's adaption.  You won't at all be disappointed!

Debra and Jessica, this one is especially dedicated to your families, with love!  I can't listen to this song (or read this book) without thinking of "Mimi" singing it to her children and then her grandchildren, as well as her Shanghai and Horizon audiences.

The fox went out on a chilly night,
And he prayed to the moon to give him light,
For he'd many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o,
For he'd many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o.

He ran 'til he came to the farmer's bin,
Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein
"A couple of you will grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o
A couple of you will grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o."

He grabbed a grey goose by the neck,
Then he swung a little one over his back
And he didn't mind their quack, quack, quack
Or their legs all dangling down-o, down-o, down-o
He didn't mind the quack, quack, quack
Or their legs all dangling down-o.

Old Mother Giggle-Gaggle jumped out of bed
Out of the window she popped her head
Crying, "John, John, the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
Crying, "John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o.

So John, he ran to the top of the hill,
Blew his horn both loud and shrill;
The fox, he said, "I better go on with my kill
Or they'll soon be on my tail-o, tail-o, tail-o."
The fox, he said, "I better go on with my kill
Or they'll soon be on my trail-o."

He ran till he came to his nice warm den
There were the little ones eight, nine, ten
Saying, "Daddy, Daddy, better go back again
For it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o."
Saying, "Daddy, Daddy, better go back again for it
Must be a mighty fine town-o."

Then the fox and his wife, without any strife
Cut-up the goose with a fork and a knife
They never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o.
They never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o.

Dappled Apples

 It's apple season!  Wahoo!  That's cause to do a celebration dance as autumn peeks its head around the corner.  The kids and I are mesmerized by the illustrations in Dappled Apples (c. 2001).  Jan Carr's simple, rhyming text tugs the attention of the tots.  But it's Dorothy Donohue illustrations that beg an encore.

Donohue crafts her illustrations by creating art collages from handmade, textured cut paper.  It has prompted me to attempt an art project with the kids modeled on Donohue's illustrations.  We shall see how it works out.

Oh My Baby, Little One

 This particular book is absolutely beautiful! To say Jane Dyer's illustrations are wonderful is an understatement.  Dyer gives us cozy watercolors that parallel the experience of cuddling up with a blankie . . . thumb or pacie in place.  Likewise, Kathi Appelt's gentle rhyming text lulls the reader and listener into a rhythm of comfort.  My youngest would have me re-read this gem nightly . . . and I would gladly accommodate!  Would you like a glimpse into the opening?

Oh my baby, little one,
the hardest thing I do
is hold you tight, then let you go,
and walk away from you.


But even when I'm far away,
this love I have will stay
and wrap itself around you
every minute of the day.

You can sense that Oh My Baby, Little One (c. 2000) connects best with the pre-kinder ages.  Be sure to look for that elusive heart on each page spread . . . further illuminating the text.  Oh, and grab a tissue for yourself before you settle in to read.

Mama Loves

Mama Loves (c. 2004) by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Kathryn Brown subtly (and nostalgically) chronicles the different seasons through a child's point-of-view.  Since Botlich and Brown randomly disperse the various seasons throughout the pages, it also presents a learning activity in identifying each two-page spread's particular season.

The rhymes weave the story of a mother's time spent with her young, spinning memories into their hearts.  Our worn cover gives testament that this remains one of the kids' very favorite books.  I think they find comfort in having it read and re-read to them every night.  It's a cozy book, radiating warmth in both illustrations and text, that's almost as good as a hug from Mom.  Here's an excerpt:

Mama loves
apples in autumn.
Sidewalks and leaves.
Sweaters and pumpkins
and walking
with me.





Note: Mama Loves makes a wonderful Mother's Day gift to mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers.  My own mother gave this to me for my very first Mother's Day.

p.s.  The Mister says, "That's one of my all-time favorite books."

The Giant Jam Sandwich

Do you remember this story from your childhood as much as my husband and I do?  It's The Giant Jam Sandwich (c. 1972) with story and pictures by John Vernon Lord and verses by Janet Burroway.  Oh, it's a classic!  Discover (or rediscover) this tall tale:
                           One hot summer in Itching Down,
                           Four million wasps flew into town. 

I would tell your more about this wonderful story, but it's one of those that you truly have to see and read for yourself.  So whether you're trying to rid yourself of pests or you're just trying to bring some humor into your life, this book proves itself time and again as a phenomenal read-loud for young and old alike.

Bear Wants More

I've shared with you before about one of my youngest's favorite friends in Bear Feels Sick.  If your kids enjoy that title as much as mine do, then you'll be ready for a new "Bear" story.  Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman give us another charming rhyming tale of friendship, perfect for a "springtime read-aloud" in Bear Wants More, and don't forget to let the kids "read" aloud all the But the bear wants more! lines, beginning with:
               When springtime comes,
                in his warm winter den
                a bear wakes up
                very hungry and thin!
We especially enjoyed Chapman's (who lives with her family in Dorset, England) settings of cheerful emerald forests and meadows.

Oh, and be sure to enter the most recent give-away by Friday!  Just click and comment here: http://readmeastorynow.blogspot.com/2011/04/give-away-4.html 

Three Little Kittens

You're familiar with the Mother Goose rhyme ~ one of our family's favorite ~ of the "Three Little Kittens," right?   The rhyme begins with this first stanza:

Three little kittens lost their mittens,

And they began to cry,

"Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear,

Our mittens we have lost."

"What!   Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!

Then you shall have no pie."

"Meow, meow, meow meow."

There are an additional three stanzas that follow, which we enjoy singing as well as reading.  Now, my kids were wild about this classic nursery rhyme before, but when Nana gave Galdone's interpretation (c. 1986) to our youngest this past Christmas, well, that just sealed the deal.  Galdone's whimsical illustrations depict detailed scenes sure to capture any child's fancy.  Toddlers and preschoolers especially enjoy a tale of "naughty" kittens desiring a slice of pie as well as Galdone's colorful illustrations.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

I know, you've seen the original animated movie and you've seen the Jim Carrey movie, so why take the time to read the book?

  
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (c. 1957) is such that no televised production can fully encapsulate the beauty of language or the quality of rhyme as Dr. Seuss does.  Let's just say a little dose of this book can help cure the gimmies.  Dr. Seuss says it best and says it complete: 

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing!  Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
"It came without ribbons!  It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!"

This Is the Stable

  
This Is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten tells the miracle of Jesus' birth in the rhythm of This is the House that Jack Built, making it catchy for children to remember the details.  Artist Delana Bettoli "used sepia ink outline, watercolor underpainting, gouache, and acrylic paint to create" her illustrations.

This is such a departure from the nativities we've seen in the past.  Finally, Bettoli presents us with a Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and shepherds that look like they're from Israel.  And how about these wise men who could actually be from the Eastern Hemisphere.

 As you can see, Bettoli's brilliant artwork makes this book stand out from other nativity editions.  I have to catch my breath each time I come to this page.  Isn't the rich color she gives to the angels just spectacular?  Bettoli's interpretation of the brilliancy of light and color of the angels encompassing the sky lends us understanding as to why the shepherds were fearful.


But what I love about this book most of all are dove-like wings enveloping the sky and stable, which for me signifies God's presence.  In fact, look for the dove throughout the story -- a Biblical symbol of God's Spirit.