Merry Reading: Picture Books

Fellow bloggers, a few other friends, and I compiled Christmas suggestions for slightly older picture-book readers (say, seven and up). Many thanks to Jenny, Rose Kent, Elaine at Wild Rose Reader, Camille at Book Moot, Anamaria at Books Together, Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect, and my friends Ms. L., Ms. D., and Ms. C. at the library. Also, be sure to see all the new holiday titles reviewed at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast and the books of Christmas poetry at Wild Rose Reader.

Auntie Claus, by Elise Primarvera

The Christmas Bear, by Henrietta Strickland

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters, by Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick L. McKissack.  Christmas at a Virginia plantation in 1859.

A Christmas Like Helen's, by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

A Christmas Memory. Truman Capote's classic short story, illustrated with full-page watercolors by Beth Peck.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, by Susan Wojciechowski

A Christmas Tree in the White House, by Gary Hines

December, by Eve Bunting

The Donkey's Dream, by Barbara Helen Berger

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, by Dr. Seuss

Night Tree, by Eve Bunting

Olivia Helps with Christmas, by Ian Falconer

The Oxford Treasury of Christmas Poems, compiled by Michael Harrison and Christopher Stuart-Clark

The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg

Redbird at Rockefeller Center, by Peter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas

Santa Calls, by William Joyce

Silver Packages, by Cynthia Rylant

Star Mother's Youngest Child, by Louise Moeri

The Story of Holly and Ivy, by Rumer Godden

The Thirteen Days of Christmas, by Jenny Overton

Under the Kissletoe: Christmastime Poems, by J. Patrick Lewis

We Were There: A Nativity Story, by Eve Bunting

Welcome Comfort, by Patricia Polacco

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story, by Gloria Houston

*****

Chapter Books

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

Children of the Noisy Village, by Astrid Lindgren

Judy Moody and Stink: The Holly Joliday, by Megan McDonald

Miracle on 34th Street, by Valentine Davies

Ramona and Her Father, by Beverly Cleary

Comments

[Elaine Magliaro]

Susan,

Thanks for compiling this list. I'll include a link to it when I publish my next post on Christmas picture books at Wild Rose Reader.

[Elaine Magliaro]

Susan,

I just remembered three more picture books for your list:

1. THE YEAR OF THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE, written by Gloria Houston & illustrated by Barbara Cooney

2. THE STORY OF HOLLY AND IVY, written by Rumer Godden & illustrated by Barbara Cooney

3. A CHRISTMAS LIKE HELEN'S, written by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock & illustrated by Mary Azarian

[Susan T.]

Muchas gracias, Elaine!

[Becky]

"The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree" is one of our favorite books this time of year, but I can't read it aloud without crying. The kids know that this is one they have to read to each other!

[Camille]

I like reading Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant. I always get choked up at the end.

[Susan T.]

Becky, we have to find lots on this list; so far I love Night Tree and Jr. loves The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. I'll look for The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree.

Camille, thanks! I added in your suggestion. I consider this an evolving list.

[Deborah White]

Susan:
Thanks for your thanks. It is one of our favorite things to do here at the Library. Beware of getting us started though, it's often hard to stop.
dew

[Anamaria]

We love The Story of Holly and Ivy! I think it was recently reissued, too. And A Christmas Like Helen's is a new favorite (we just discovered it this year).

Some other (chapter) books that came to mind:
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET by Valentine Davies
CHILDREN OF NOISY VILLAGE by Astrid Lindgren (it has several Christmas chapters)

Thanks for this great list!

[Elaine Magliaro]

Susan,

Here are two poetry titles for your list:

1. THE OXFORD TREASURY OF CHRISTMAS POEMS, compiled by Michael Harrison & Christopher Stuart-Clark (Oxford University Press, 1999)

2. UNDER THE KISSLETOE: CHRISTMASTIME POEMS, written by J. Patrick Lewis (Wordsong, 2007)

[Susan T.]

Anamaria, thanks! The Noisy Village book sounds perfect for my son and me!

Elaine, awesome, as always!

[hipwritermama]

Great list!

[jules]

Thanks for this great list!

[Tricia]

I'm late chiming in, but William and I read Judy Moody and Stink: The Holly Joliday (Megan McDonald) and loved it.

We're also partial to A Christmas Tree in the White House by Gary Hines. It is based on Teddy Roosevelt's refusal to have a Christmas tree in the White House, and what happens when he finds his sons have put one up in their room.

Have a wonderful holiday!

[Susan]

Tricia, merry Christmas! Thank you so much. I am going to add your selections when I get a chance! Yay! I love this list.