Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Books Read in 2009

Toddler Bible by Bethan James and Yorgus Sgouros. 2008.
How Do I Love You? by Marion Dane Bauer. (Pub Jan 2009)
I'm A Happy Hugglewug by Niamh Sharkey 2009.
Books are for eating reading. by Suzy Becker. 2009. (Jan 2009)
Duck & Goose: How are you feeling? by Tad Hills. 2009. (Jan 2009)
Planet Earth: Baby Penguins by Scholastic. 2009
My First Garden. 2009. Simon & Schuster
Baby Bible: Stories About Jesus. Currie, Robin. 2004.
Beautiful Babies by Karma Wilson. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
Shake It Up, Baby by Karen Katz. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
My Dance Recital by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. 2009. Random House.
Pajama Mamas by Kate Spohn. Random House. 2009. Random House.
Jacob Lawrence In the City by Susan Goldman Rubin. 2009. Chronicle Books.
Magritte's Imagination. By Susan Goldman Rubin. 2009. Chronicle Books.
In My Pond by Sara Gillingham. Chronicle Books. 2009.
Lullaby and Good Night. Illustrated by Janet Samuel. 2008. Scholastic.
The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord and Janet Burroway. 1972 (picture book version); this board book edition 2009) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. 1942. (picture book version; this board book 2009). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Bow-Wow's Colorful Life
. Mark Newgarden & Megan Montague Cash. 2009. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Bow-Wow 12 Months Running. Mark Newgarden & Megan Montague Cash. 2009. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
My Mother Is Mine by Marion Dane Bauer. Little Simon (Simon & Schuster) 2009.
I Love Fall!: A Touch and Feel Board Book by Alison Inches. Simon & Schuster. 2009.
Where is Baby's Beach Ball? A Lift the Flap Book. Karen Katz. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
The Birthday Box. Leslie Patricelli. 2009. Candlewick Press.
Fisher-Price: Snuggly Time. A "Soft to Touch" Book. HarperCollins. 2009.
Helen Oxenbury's All Fall Down/Clap Hands/Say Goodnight/Tickle, Tickle. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
Lucy Cousin's Maisy Dual-Language Books: Maisy's Clothes, Maisy's Food, Maisy's Animals, Maisy's Toys. 2009. Candlewick Press.
Sweet Dreams, Maisy. Lucy Cousins. Candlewick Press. 2009.
Maisy's Snowy Christmas Eve. Lucy Cousins. Candlewick Press. 2009.
Merry Christmas. Susan Leigh. Concordia Press. 2006.

What is God Like by Beverly Lewis. 2008.
Froggy Green by Anna Walker. 2009.
Thank You, God! Illustrated by Sophie Allsopp. 2009.
Questions from Little Hearts by Kathleen Long Bostrom. Illustrated by Elena Kucharik. 2009 (Feb Pub)
Never Talk to Strangers. by Irma Joyce. Illustrated by George Buckett. 1967/2009.
The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle --no author listed-- 2009. Little Simon/Little Green. Simon & Schuster.
Knitty Kitty by David Elliott. 2008
All God's Critters by Bill Staines. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Simon & Schuster. 2009.
My People by Langston Hughes. Photographs by Charles R. Smith, Jr. Simon & Schuster. 2009.
What a Good Big Brother by Diane Wright Landolf. Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. Random House. 2009.
Cat by Matthew Van Fleet. Photographs by Brian Stanton. 2009. (February 2009). Simon & Schuster.
Jazz On a Saturday Night by Leo & Diane Dillon. 2007. Blue Sky Press.
This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt. 2006. Harcourt.
A Mighty Fine Time Machine by Suzanne Bloom. 2009. (March 2009). Boyds Mills Press.
Lovey and Dovey by Ellevan Lieshout and Erik van Os. 2009. Boyds Mills Press.
Wee Little Lamb by Lauren Thompson. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. 2005. Dial Books.
Rent Party Jazz by William Miller. 2001. Lee & Low Books.
Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. 2005. Knopf
Mama Don't Allow by Thacher Hurd. 1984. HarperCollins
Punk Farm On Tour by Jarret J. Krosoczka. 2007. Knopf
Ella's Big Chance by Shirley Hughes. 2003.
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins. 1969. Random House.
Love That Puppy! by Jeff Jarka. 2009. (May publication) Henry Holt.
Stuck in the Mud by Jane Clarke. 2008. Walker Books.
I Got Two Dogs by John Lithgow. 2008. Illustrated by Robert Neubecker. Simon & Schuster.
Old MacNoah Had An Ark by Sally Lloyd-Jones. 2008. Harper Blessings.
The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing. Penguin. 2009.
Chicken Soup by Jean Van Leeuwen. Illustrated by David Gavril. Harry N. Abrams. 2009. (May)
Scaredy Squirrel at Night by Melanie Watt. Kids Can Press. 2009. (February)
Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. 2009. Chronicle Books.
Big Rabbit's Bad Mood. Ramona Badescu. 2009. Illustrated by Delphine Durand. Chronicle Books.
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. 2009. Chronicle Books.
Wee Little Chick by Lauren Thompson. 2008. Simon & Schuster. Illustrated by John Butler.
Tiny & Hercules by Amy Schwartz. 2009. Roaring Brooks.
Hello Tilly by Polly Dunbar. Candlewick. 2008.
Happy Hector by Polly Dunbar. Candlewick. 2008.
Pretty Pru by Polly Dunbar. Candlewick. 2009.
Where's Tumpty? by Polly Dunbar. Candlewick. 2009.
Yes Day by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. 2009. HarperCollins.
Ten Days and Nine Nights by Yumi Heo. 2009. Random House.
Grizzly Dad by Joanna Harrison. 2009. Random House.
Sugar Would Not Eat It by Emily Jenkins. 2009. Random House.
Crocodaddy by Kim Norman. 2009. Sterling.
A Small Surprise by Louise Yates. 2009. Knopf
Being A Pig Is Nice by Sally Lloyd Jones. 2009. Random House.
The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Lardsen. 2009. Kids Can Press.
Stanley's Beauty Contest by Linda Bailey. 2009. Kids Can Press.
My Uncle Emily by Jane Yolen. 2009. Penguin.
Edward and the Eureka Lucky Wish Company. Barbara Todd. 2009. Kids Can Press.
Do You Want A Friend? by Noel Piper. 2009. Crossway.
Princess Pig. Eileen Spinelli. Illustrated by Tim Bowers. 2009. Knopf (Random House)
1000 Times No. Mr. Tom Warburton. 2009. HarperCollins.
Mousie Love by Dori Chaconas. Illustrated by Josee Masse. 2009. Bloomsbury.
Itty Bitty by Cece Bell. 2009. Candlewick.
Maisy Goes To Preschool. Lucy Cousins. 2009. Candlewick
Gone With The Wand. Margie Palatini. 2009. Illustrations by Brian Ajhar. Scholastic.
Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root. Illustrated by Jill Barton. 2001. Candlewick Press.
Tonka Phonics Reading Program (12 Mini-Books, Flashcards) 2007. Scholastic
When I Grow Up. Leonid Gore. 2009. Scholastic.
My Dad and Me by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
When Papa Comes Home Tonight. 2009. Simon & Schuster
My Father The Dog by Elizabeth Bluemle. 2006. Candlewick Press.
A Day With Dad by Bo R. Holmberg. 2008. Candlewick Press.
Hook. Ed Young. 2009. Roaring Brook Press.
Egg Drop by Mini Grey. 2009. Random House.
Tsunami by Kimiko Kajikawa. Illustrated by Ed Young. Penguin. 2009.
Dogs on the Bed by Elizabeth Bluemle. Candlewick. 2008.
Dog Day by Sarah Hayes. 2008. FSG.
Critter Sitter by Chuck Richards. 2008. Walker (Bloomsbury)
Bad Dog, Marley by John Grogan. 2007. HarperCollins
Really Truly Bingo by Laura McGee Kvasnosky. Candlewick Press. 2008.
Finding Susie by Sandra Day O'Connor. 2009. Random House.
Natalie & Naughtily by Vincent X. Kirsch. 2008. Bloomsbury.
Peanut by David Lucas. 2008. Candlewick.
Crazy Hair by Neil Gaiman. 2009. HarperCollins.
The Zoo I Drew by Todd H. Doodler. 2009. Random House.
God Found Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren. 2009. HarperCollins.
How To Make A Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. by Marjorie Priceman. 2008. Random House.
Norman Rockwell: You're A Grand Old Flag. 2008. Lyrics by George M. Cohan. Art by Norman Rockwell. Simon & Schuster.
My Parents Are Divorced, My Elbows Have Nicknames, And Other Facts About Me. Bill Cochran. Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman. 2009. HarperCollins.
The Grumpy Dump Truck by Brie Spangler. 2009. Random House.
It's A Secret by John Burningham. 2009. Candlewick Press.
How To Get Married by Me The Bride. Sally Lloyd-Jones. 2009. Random House.
Maybe A Bear Ate It by Robie H. Harris. 2008. Scholastic.
Me and You by Genevieve Cote. 2009. Kids Can Press.
The Delicious Bug by Janet Perlman. 2009. Kids Can Press.
Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli. Barbara Jean Hicks. 2009. Random House.
Lulu's Pajamas. Lucie Papineau. 2009. Kids Can Press.
The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood by Agnese Baruzzi. 2009. Candlewick Press.
The True Story of Goldilocks. Agnese Baruzzi. 2009. Candlewick Press.
Wilson and Miss Lovely by John Stadler. 2009.
I Don't Want To Go To School by Stephanie Blake. 2009. Random House.
Big Bear Hug. Nicholas Oldland. 2009. Kids Can Press.
Come Back Soon by Daniel Schallau. 2009. Houghton Mifflin.
Christian the Lion. Anthony Bourke and John Rendall. 2009. Henry Holt.
What is the Bible? by Kathleen Long Bostrom. 2009. Tyndale.
Who Made the World? by Kathleen Long Bostrom. 2009. Tyndale.
The Little Dump Truck. Margery Cuyler. 2009. Illustrated by Bob Kolar. Henry Holt.
One Dragon's Dream by Peter Pavey. 1978/2009. Candlewick Press.
The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. 1968/2009. Candlewick Press.
Kisses on the Wind by Lisa Moser. 2009. Candlewick Press. Illustrated by Kathryn Brown.
Mortimer's First Garden. Karma Wilson. 2009. Simon & Schuster. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen.
I Spy Fly Guy! Tedd Arnold. 2009. Scholastic. (Early Reader) 30 pages.
Archie and the Pirates. Marc Rosenthal. 2009. HarperCollins.
A Walk Down Sesame Street. 2009. Candlewick Press (Pop-Up/Novelty.) 16 pages.
Baby Polar by Yannick Murphy. 2009. Clarion Books.
Creature ABC by Andrew Zuckerman. 2009. Chronicle Books.
I Don't Want A Posh Dog by Emma Dodd. 2009. Little, Brown.
Duck and Cover. Jackie Urbanovic. 2009. HarperCollins.
My Elephant. Petr Horacek. 2009. Candlewick Press.
The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear. David Bruins and Hilary Leung. 2009. Kids Can Press.
Under the Star: A Christmas Counting Story. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen. Key Porter Kids.
The Seeing Stick. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini. Running Press.
Pumpkin Baby by Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Susan Mitchell. Key Porter Kids.
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
Here Comes The Big, Mean Dust Bunny! by Jan Thomas. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
The Scarecrow's Dance. Jane Yolen. 2009. Simon & Schuster.
God Gave Us Love. Lisa Tawn Bergren. 2009. Waterbrook Press.
God Gave Us Christmas. Lisa Tawn Bergren. 2006. Waterbrook Press.
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne. Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. 1928.
Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker. 2008.
A Horn for Louis by Eric Kimmel. 2005.
Sword of the Ramurai. by Becky Ances. Illustrated by Ryan Wilson. 2008. 70 pages
Everyday Prayers edited by Jennifer Frantz. 2008. Early Reader. (Harper Blessings) 24 pages
Bedtime Prayers edited by Jennifer Frantz. 2008. Early Reader (Harper Blessings) 24 pages
The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket. HarperCollins. 2009.
Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels by Jamie Michalak. 2009. Candlewick Press. (Early Reader)
Zelda and Ivy: Keeping Secrets by Laura McGee Kvasnosky. 2009. Candlewick Press. (Early Reader)
No Kisses, Please! by Hans Wilhelm. 2004. (Paperback release 2009) (Early Reader) Scholastic
Houndsley and Catina: Plink and Plunk. 2009. (April 2009) (Hardback) (Early Reader) Candlewick Press.
Dragon's Fat Cat by Dav Pilkey. 1992. Scholastic. 48 pages.
Cranky Paws (Pet Vet #1) by Darrel & Sally Odgers. 2009. Kane/Miller. 87 pages.
Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon. 2009. Sourcebooks. 90 pages.
Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy by Francesca Simon. 2009. Sourcebooks. 90 pages.
Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine by Francesca Simon. 2009. Sourcebooks. 88 pages.
Horrid Henry's Stinkbomb by Francesca Simon. 2009. Sourcebooks. 78 pages.
To Catch A Mermaid by Suzanne Selfors. 2007. Little, Brown Young Readers. 246 pages.
Mommy's Having a Watermelon by Danny and Kim Adlerman. 2009. The Kids At Our House.
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman. 2009. Candlewick
Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School by Barbara Park. Random House. 2009.
Jack Russell: Dog Detective: The Mugged Pug. Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2007. Kane/Miller. 76 pages.
Jack Russell: Dog Detective: The Lying Postman. Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2007. Kane/Miller. 80 pages.
Jack Russell: Dog Detective: The Awful Pawful. Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2007. Kane/Miller. 80 pages.
Jack Russell: Dog Detective: The Sausage Situation. Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2007. Kane/Miller. 80 pages.
Pet Vet: The Mare's Tale. Darrel & Sally Odgers. 2009. Kane/Miller. 88 pages.
Jack Russell: Dog Detective: The Buried Biscuits. Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2008. Kane/Miller. 80 pages.
Jack Russell: Dog Detective: The Kitnapped Creature. Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2008. Kane/Miller. 80 pages.
Jack Russell: Dog Detective: The Blue Stealer. Darrel and Sally Odgers. 2009. Kane/Miller. 80 pages.
Family Reminders. Julie Danneberg. Illustrated by John Shelley. Charlesbridge. 2009. 105 pages.
Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt. David Catrow. 2009. Scholastic.
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit. 1902. Puffin Classics. 237 pages.
Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist: Flight of the Phoenix. R.L. LaFevers. 2009. Houghton Mifflin. 138 pages.
My Story Bible: 66 Favorite Stories by Jan Godfrey and Paola Bertolini Grudina. 2009. Tyndale. 141 pages.
Sunny Holiday by Coleen Murtagh Paratore. 2009. Scholastic. 160 pages.
Jemma Hartman: Camper Extraordinaire. Brenda A. Ferber. 2009. FSG. 215 pages.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. Lenore Look. Random House. 2008. 172 pages.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters. Lenore Look. 2009. Random House. 170 pages.
The Sisters 8: Annie's Adventures. Lauren Baratz-Logsted. 2008. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 136 pages.
Gullible Gus. Maxine Rose Schur. 2009. Clarion Books. 48 pages. (early reader/chapter book)
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell. 2008. HarperCollins. 171 pages.
Love, Aubrey. Suzanne LaFleur. 2009. Random House. 262 pages.
Umbrella Summer. Lisa Graff. 2009. HarperCollins. 235 pages.
The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine. 2009. Penguin. 266 pages.
Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez. 2009. Little, Brown. 198 pages.
Heart of a Shepherd. Rosanne Parry. 2009. Random House. 161 pages.
Ottoline Goes to School. Chris Riddell. 2009. HarperCollins. 170 pages.
Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me. Nan Marino. Roaring Brook Press. 154 pages.
Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree. Lauren Tarshis. 2007. Penguin. 200 pages.
Callie's Rules by Naomi Zucker. 2009. Egmont USA. 225 pages.
Signal. Cynthia DeFelice. 2009. FSG. 151 pages.
Take the Mummy and Run by Mary Amato. 2009. Holiday House. 226 pages.
Strawberry Hill. Mary Ann Hoberman. 2009. Little, Brown. 230 pages.
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love. Lauren Tarshis. 2009. Penguin. 169 pages.
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano. Peggy Gifford. 2009. Random House. 177 pages.
Mudville. Kurtis Scaletta. 2009. 265 pages. Knopf.
Alibi Junior High. Greg Logsted. 2009. 244 pages. Simon & Schuster.
Journey of Dreams. Marge Pellegrino. 2009. Frances Lincoln Children's Books. 250 pages.
The Unfinished Angel. Sharon Creech. 2009. HarperCollins. 164 pages.
Piper Reed, Navy Brat. Kimberly Willis Holt. Henry Holt. 146 pages. 2007.
Piper Reed The Great Gypsy. Kimberly Willis Holt. Henry Holt. 160 pages. 2008
Piper Reed Gets A Job. Kimberly Willis Holt. Henry Holt. 160 pages. 2009.
Bobby Vs. Girls (Accidentally). 2009. Lisa Yee. Scholastic. 170 pages.
The Girl Who Threw Butterflies. Mick Cochrane. 2009. Random House. 177 pages.
The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow. Andy Griffiths. Illustrated by Terry Denton. 2009. Feiwel and Friends. 124 pages. (Early Reader)
Dessert First by Hallie Durand. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 154 pages.
Ruby Flips for Attention. (Ruby and the Booker Boys). 2009. Derrick Barnes. Scholastic. 130 pages.
Road to Tater Hill. Edith M. Hemingway. 2009. Random House. 214 pages.
No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) by Trudi Trueit. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 118 pages.
The Funeral Director's Son by Coleen Murtagh Paratore. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 135 pages.
Dog Whisperer: The Rescue by Nicholas Edwards. 2009. SquareFish. 216 pages.
The Cat On The Mat Is Flat by Andy Griffiths. 2007. Feiwel and Friends. 167 pages.
Black Angels. Linda Beatrice Brown. 2009. Penguin. 260 pages.
Bystander. James Preller. 2009. Feiwel and Friends. 226 pages.

The Year of the Bomb by Ronald Kidd. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 202 pages.
Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford. 2009. Penguin. 196 pages.
Walking Backward. Catherine Austen. 2009. Orca. 167 pages.
The Kind of Friends We Used To Be. Frances O'Roark Dowell. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 234 pages.
Highway Cats. Janet Taylor Lisle. 2008. Penguin. 128 pages.
Horrid Henry's Christmas. Francesca Simon. 2006/2009. Sourcebooks. 112 pages.
Anything But Typical. Nora Raleigh Baskin. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 195 pages.
The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis. Barbara O'Connor. 2009. FSG. 150 pages.
The Last Invisible Boy. Evan Kuhlman. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 235 pages.
Peace, Locomotion. Jacqueline Woodson. 2009. Penguin. 136 pages.
Faith, Hope, and Ivy June. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. 2009. Random House. 280 pages.
Lucky Breaks. Susan Patron. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 180 pages.
Gone From These Woods. Donny Bailey Seagraves. Random House. 178 pages.
William S. and the Great Escape. Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Simon & Schuster. 214 pages.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Monday, December 21, 2009

Horrid Henry's Christmas


Simon, Francesca. 2009. Horrid Henry's Christmas. Sourcebooks. 90 pages.

One of the great discoveries of the year--at least as far as chapter books are concerned--is a fun little series by Francesca Simon. Horrid Henry. How horrid is Henry? Very, very horrid. A role model, he isn't...and yet...there is something (at least to me) wonderfully charming about his being so horrid. The books are funny. Will everyone appreciate Horrid Henry's humor? No. Will some readers find it a bit too much to take? Probably. But I find the books fun. And I think they'd be great to read aloud.

In Horrid Henry's Christmas, we get four stories--all set within a span of days leading up to Christmas--where Henry is well, horrid, as usual. In the first story, "Horrid Henry's Christmas Play," we see Henry upset about not getting a good role in the school play. Will he find the way to steal the show anyway? In the second story, "Horrid Henry's Christmas Presents", Henry tries to save his money by making (and making do). He doesn't want to spend his money on others, you see, so he's trying to do gift-giving with the least amount of effort. Do you think his plan will backfire? Do you think his family will be able to figure that one out? In the third story, we see Horrid Henry trying to "catch" Santa. It's a sure-fired way (in my opinion) on how to get coal in your stocking. Horrid Henry is so very naughty! Though I must admit his conversation with chocolate had me giggling. In the fourth, it is finally Christmas. What surprises does the day have for Horrid Henry and his family? Will he behave himself? What do you think?!

I enjoyed this one. It was a fun holiday read.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Friday, December 4, 2009

God Gave Us Love


God Gave Us Love. Lisa Tawn Bergren. Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Waterbrook Press.

Little Cub struggles with loving in this family-friendly picture book. It's not always easy to love. Your family. Your friends. Your neighbors. There are many different kinds of love, Little Cub discovers through her questions, but God gave us love. And he wants us to show HIS love to others. Grampa Bear is doing the honors in this one of teaching Little Cub all about God and God's love and how we're supposed to love others because God first showed His love to us.


"Anytime we show love, Little Cub, we're sharing a bit of his love."


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Thursday, December 3, 2009

God Gave Us Christmas


God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren. Illustrated by David Hohn. 2006. Waterbrook Press.

Mama and Little Cub are back for another adventure in God Gave Us Christmas. (They also star in God Gave Us You, God Gave Us Two, God Gave Us Heaven, and God Gave Us Love.) In this holiday picture book, Little Cub, inquisitive as ever, asks who invented Christmas. At first, Little Cub is convinced that Santa had to be the one who invented Christmas. After all, he is the one who brings all the toys. But Mama Bear lets Little Bear know that Christmas is all about God. The two, in fact, set off on a journey to see how God gave us Christmas. By looking at His creation, Little Bear soon accepts that God's gift is amazing. This is enthusiastic Christmas tale starring a lovable bear family.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas. Susan K. Leigh. 2006. Concordia Publishing House. (Board Book)

This little board book is just right for your little ones at Christmas. It tells the real story of Christmas in simple sentences. It is very Jesus-focused. (Something that I just love, love, love!) Here's how it starts off:

Christmas is here.
Christmas is Jesus' birthday.

Jesus is the Son of God.
The Bible tells us about Jesus.
I love the simplicity of it. Yet at the same time I love how much substance there is. Each sentence says something important, something significant. If you're looking to share a non-Santa message with your little ones to prepare for Christmas, then this one might work for you.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers