Wednesday, December 2, 2009

2009 Holiday Books

No matter the time of year, books are always in season -- but this is especially true during the holidays. This winter, celebrate with these holiday books from 2009:

By Elise Primavera
Ages 4-8
When Sophie is cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy in her school's performance of the Nutcracker, her Auntie Claus forgoes her usual fall business trip and transforms New York City into the North Pole, with some unpleasant consequences.

The Christmas Genie
By Dan Gutman
Ages 8-12
When a meteorite crashes into a fifth-grade classroom at Lincoln School in Oak Park, Illinois, the genie inside agrees to grant the class a Christmas wish--if they can agree on one within an hour.

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas
By Jane O'Connor
Ages 4-7
Nancy is devastated, which is even worse than heart-broken, when her fancy Christmas tree topper breaks, threatening to ruin Christmas.

Hanukkah Around the World
By Tami Lehman-Wilzig
Ages 8-11
Introduces Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, and describes how it is celebrated in different areas of the world, including Israel, Istanbul, Italy, Poland, and New York City. Includes glossary and recipes.

By Eugene Yeichin
Ages 4-8
On Christmas Eve, young Owen visits a magical factory run by animals, where he both teaches and learns some interesting things about snowmen.

A Season of Gifts
By Richard Peck
Ages 9-12
Relates the surprising gifts bestowed on twelve-year-old Bob Barnhart and his family, who have recently moved to a small Illinois town in 1958, by their larger-than-life neighbor, Mrs. Dowdel.

The True Gift: A Christmas Story
By Patricia MacLachlan
Ages 7-up
While spending Christmas at their grandparents' farm, Lily becomes convinced that her younger brother Liam is right about White Cow being lonely and helps him seek a companion for her, leaving little time for Christmas preparations or reading.