scrounge: /skrounj/ informal verb: to actively seek [books] from any available source
How about a fun one for Day 10? How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? Since our son has been interested in dinosaurs for a while, he especially enjoys this series. Generally, each book in the "How Do Dinosaurs..." series uses rhyming text to ask how a dinosaur should behave about the topic at hand, using certain examples of rude/inconsiderate behavior -- in the case of Christmas, things such as opening presents early, picking off ornaments, etc. Then we are assured that this is not how dinosaurs act, and are told about the kind and helpful things they do (helping to trim the tree, etc.).
The illustrations depict enormous, colorful dinosaurs managing somehow to coexist with human parents and friends. Not only is it a fun way to remind children about how to be considerate, but it's also fun to imagine what life would actually be like if we shared it with big, friendly, real-life dinosaurs!
The name of each dinosaur is given somewhere on the page it is introduced, and all of the dinosaurs and names are shown together on the pages inside the front and back covers.
Scrounged From: Our local library
Format: Hardcover
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Mark Teague
Pages: 40
Content Advisory: None
I grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, and while my own children aren't quite ready for that, I found Christmas in the Big Woods to be a wonderful, simple introduction to those stories, as well as a celebration of Christmas in a less materialistic time and place.
With warm illustrations and descriptive text, we are introduced to the Ingalls family: Ma, Pa, Mary, Laura, and Carrie, and their log cabin in the woods of Wisconsin. They are preparing to celebrate Christmas with Laura's aunt, uncle, and cousins, who are coming for a visit.
This book briefly shows some of the activities I remember from reading these books years ago: "pancake men" on the griddle, molasses candy poured onto pans of snow, Laura's doll named Charlotte, and new red mittens in her Christmas stocking. Details like this are easy for children's minds to latch on to, and I'm sure that when we do eventually read Little House in the Big Woods it will already seem a little bit familiar thanks to this story. In the meantime, it's a nice bit of nostalgia for those of us who grew up on these stories.
Scrounged From: Our local library
Format: Hardcover
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Illustrator: Renee Graef
Pages: 32
Content Advisory: None
Probably most of us have seen film or stage adaptations of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol (my personal favorite is A Muppet Christmas Carol). While the 1840s English in this story would probably place it beyond the read-aloud patience levels of younger children, it is still a short read compared to most of Dickens' other works.
When I read this I enjoyed coming across familiar bits of dialogue that had been used in films, though of course, there is greater depth here to the characters' conversations and decisions than is possible to portray in a movie. I appreciated the heart of the story, which focuses on seeing all people as valuable, not just those with a certain degree of money or status.
Scrounged From: A Christmas gift
Author: Charles Dickens
Pages: 128
Content Advisory: As most probably know, there are ghosts in this story.
For younger children, this picture book version of A Christmas Carol gently adapts Dickens' original tale into something that can be read in an evening or two. The expressive and detailed illustrations, paired with more accessible text, keep the heart of the story in place.
Format: Hardcover
Author: Charles Dickens
Illustrator: Brett Helquist
Pages: 40
Content Advisory: Same as for the original tale -- the final faceless ghost might be scary for young ones.
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is another Christmas favorite here, which a lot of us probably know better due to the Christmas special that comes on TV every December.
While Boris Karloff's narration sticks in my mind every time I read this book (as do the memorable songs that accompany the TV special), the book is quite able to stand on its own. I enjoy the rhyming text in Seuss's trademark anapestic style with nonsense words thrown in when called for. And of course, the climax of the story is so beautifully written that even the grinchiest among us might find our hearts growing just a little bit.
As a side note, I particularly like the snazziness of the shiny red and green on the cover of this particular edition.
Scrounged From: Our local bookstore
Format: Hardcover
Author/illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Pages: 64
Content Advisory: None
Today's Christmas book post is actually four books (or more!). When I was growing up, I loved reading the American Girl book series produced by Pleasant Company. These fictional stories of girls from the past helped to highlight some of the differences and similarities between people from different time periods and circumstances.
Each of the original series contain six short chapter books, and book three is the Christmas story. In every book of the series, there is a "Looking Back" section at the end that gives more details about what life was like during the time period of each particular character.
Felicity is growing up in Colonial Williamsburg around the time of the American Revolution. In Felicity's Surprise, she is invited to a dancing lesson at the governor's palace, but when her mother falls ill, she has to spend all her time caring for her, and accepts that she probably will not get to go. But, surprises can still happen!
Kirsten is a member of a pioneer family that emigrates from Sweden in the first book in her series. In Kirsten's Surprise, Kirsten and her father are caught in a blizzard on their way home from retrieving the family's trunks from their journey. But in the end, we get a glimpse of some of the traditions involved in the Swedish celebration of Saint Lucia's Day.
In the first book of her series, Addy and her mother escape from slavery after their family is split up by their master. In Addy's Surprise, Addy and her mother are making a life for themselves in Philadelphia, but money is tight, and they wonder if they will ever see the rest of their family again. But as they plan small surprises for each other, they are in for an even bigger surprise at the end (I have a summary of this whole series here).
Molly lives in America during World War 2, and her father is away in England working as a doctor during the war. Even though Christmas is coming in Molly's Surprise, the family knows their father may not have time to send them anything because he is so busy. But when Molly and her sister find a package with instructions to keep it hidden, they decide they have been entrusted with keeping the surprise in Christmas.
Scrounged From: Presents from my childhood
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