It's That Time of Year - Gift Books

For the December Carnival of Children's Literature, Kelly (Big A little a) has asked contributors to come up with ideas for gift books. Here are some of my old and new favorites to give during this time of year. Consider it my top ten and then some.

THINK SNOW

While my parents in NY have been dealing with lake effect snow for some time now, it is just a dream for my family here in Virginia (though we did have a few flakes today). For the little people on your list who love snow, here are a few favorites.

• Snowflake Bentley written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Mary Azarian - This Caldecott Medal winner tells the true story of Wilson Bentley, a farmer who spent his life photographing snowflakes. The Buffalo Museum of Science has a digital library of these amazing photographs. You can see them at The Bentley Snow Crystal Collection.

• Snow by Uri Shulevitz - Even though the adults believe that it will not snow, a boy and his dog don't give up hope. This is a Caldecott honor book that beautifully portrays the transformation of a city when it snows.

• Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost - Frost's poem is beautifully imagined in this picture book adaptation by Susan Jeffers.

ORIGAMI MAGIC

I've been known to give gifts with origami animals as the tags. Why not consider giving these books and some colored and patterned origami paper?

• Fold Me a Poem by Kristine O'Connell George - There are no directions on making origami in this one, just some wonderfully descriptive poems and gorgeous artwork.

• Lissy's Friends by Grace Lin - Lissy feels alone at her new school, so she creates some origami animals to keep her company. Will she ever make friends of her own? This is a wonderful story for any child who has ever experienced being the new kid. Origami directions are found on the endpapers.

• The ABC's of Origami: Paper Folding for Children by Claude Sarasas - This is an old book, but one of my favorites. It has simple, easy-to-follow directions and 26 patterns (from A to Z).
  

SOMETHING TO PUZZLE OVER
Stories with a good puzzle to solve are always engaging. Here are some books that will encourage young readers put on their thinking caps.

• The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin - Winston sees puzzles everywhere. Imagine his dismay when he gives his sister a box for her birthday, only to learn that it has a secret compartment containing four wood sticks with puzzle clues. Readers will solve puzzles right along with Winston and his sister Katie as they try to solve the mystery.

• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart - Eleven year-old Reynie Muldoon is intrigued by an ad in the paper that asks “Are You a Gifted Child looking for Special Opportunities?” Reynie and dozens of other children show up to answer the ad and take a mind-boggling series of tests, but only Reynie and three others are left at the end. Puzzles and mysteries abound in this adventurous tale.

• Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett - Petra and Calder are preoccupied with Vermeer. When a Vermeer painting is stolen in transit from the National Gallery in Washington D.C. to the Chicago Institute of Art, they become intent on finding the painting and solving the mystery. Clues and mysteries abound. Calder carries a set of pentominoes in his pocket at all times, so be sure to print your own set to use while reading this one! (You can also play online.)
  

BOOKS TO EXPAND YOUR MIND
There are many great nonfiction books that share information in thoroughly entertaining ways. Here are some of the best of 2007.

• Lightship by Brian Floca - Imagine spending your life aboard a ship that doesn't sail, but rather remains anchored in order to warn other ships when there is heavy fog. This beautifully illustrated book helps readers to explore life on a lightship.

• Living Color by Steve Jenkins - Why would an animal have a blue tongue, a red-belly, or a face on it's back? Learn all about color in the animal kingdom in this fact-filled book.

• One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss - This book provides an instructive and often-times inspiring look at water. Inspiring? Absolutely. The author reminds us that the amount of water on Earth hasn't ever changed. Since this water has been around for billions of year, it is entirely possible that the water we drink may have "quenched the thirst of a dinosaur" more than one hundred million years ago!

• Ox, House, Stick: The Story of Our Alphabet by Don Robb - How and why did written language develop? This book provides a fascinating look at the Roman alphabet, from its ancient origins to today.

GOING TO THE DOGS
My apologies to all you cat lovers out there, but we love our dogs. Here are our favorite dog books, all guaranteed to make you smile, and maybe even make you laugh out loud.

• Bark George by Jules Feiffer - When George's mother asks him to bark, he meows. Then quacks, oinks, and moos. Whatever will they do? George is off to see the vet, who will surely have the answer.

• Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh - Martha is a plain old lovable pooch until she is fed vegetable soup and the letters go up to her head instead of down to her belly. Now Martha talks, and talks, and talks.

• Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion - When Harry runs away from home, he is transformed from "a white dog with black spots to a black dog with white spots." He eventually returns home, but is not recognized by his family until he's scrubbed clean. Originally published in 1956, this new version is enhanced by Margaret Bloy Graham's updated illustrations that feature added splashes of color.

• Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters From Obedience School by Mark Teague - Prison or a country club for dogs? You be the judge. In black and white (prison) and color (country club) illustrations, Teague takes readers on a rollicking good ride with Larue, the letter-writing canine.

• Office Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann - In this Caldecott Medal winner, Officer Buckle gives safety lectures to school kids that are boring, boring, boring. Once Gloria the police dog comes along, safety lectures are never the same again!
  

If you have favorite books in any of these categories, please share them. I'd love to hear your ideas.

Books for Christmas

I have always been a book giver for holidays, birthdays and the like. These are also the very things that top my list when friends and family ask what I want. When my parents recently came to visit, they were astounded at the number of books William owns. This didn't surprise me, given that he receives books regularly. Last night at bedtime we read Anatole and Petunia. These were actually books I purchased as Christmas gifts, but when they arrived in the mail with William's name on them, it was hard to keep them from him. (Okay, so I can't wait for the big day either!)

In the book Petunia repeats a phrase she has heard, " He who owns Books and loves them is wise." Immediately William said, "Wow, Mommy, I have lots of books and take care of them, so I must be wise too." Ah yes, well let's get to the end of the story. For as Petunia learns "Now I understand. It was not enough to carry wisdom under my wing. I must put it in my mind and in my heart. And to do that I must learn to read." We both love the story and always talk about how great it will be when William reads on his own. He still worries that I won't read to him when he's reading stories himself, but I assure him that this won't happen. Once we push on into chapter books there will be so much more to share together.

Until then, here are the books the William is getting for Christmas. They're all pretty great, so check them out.
Flotsam by David Wiesner
The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by Mini Grey

And because we're meerkat crazy right now:
Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett
Meerkat's Safari by Claudia Graziano

I'm sure there will be more before the day arrives, so I'll keep you posted. But for now, it's back to grading.