
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
I know people still have Halloween costumes and candy on the mind, but Christmas and Hannukah are right around the corner. It’s literally mid-October already. That is crazy to me. It seems like only yesterday the kids started back at school.
I know that many parents and grandparents love gifting their child/grandchild the “hottest” toy of the season, which is fine, but don’t overlook books. Gifting books is a great way to help a child develop a love a reading and encourage a child to make reading a part of their every day.
Reading books together is always a great way to form life long memories and promote child/parent bonding.
If you are looking for some great books to read this holiday season, or to give a a gift, check out these titles from Candlewick Press.
Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas
HC: 9781536230130 | Ages 4-8 | $17.99 ($23.99 CAN)
The New York Times best-selling creator of Dasher has crafted another delightful journey featuring everyone’s favorite reindeer doe, in a story full of giving, joy, and holiday magic.
This is a beautiful book. I knew the moment I saw the cover art that I had to see this book in person. The illustrations throughout are equally as beautiful.
This is a magical holiday story that I think even older children will enjoy. I’m an adult and I love this book. This book is one of those books that will become a family tradition. I could easily see a family reading this book together year after year.
The illustrations remind me of the Polar Express, and we all know what a timeless classic that story is.
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney
HC: 9781536223767 | Ages 4-8 | $18.99 ($24.99 CAN)
The beloved, multi-award-winning duo of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen tackle a perennial question.
I think most kids are curious as to how Santa squeezes himself down the chimney. I did when I was a kid. My kids wondered how Santa would be able to put presents under our tree because we don’t have a fireplace. We use a special Santa key that the kids would hang on the outside of the door before going to bed. Before they got up, myself or my husband would take the key and place it next to the half eaten cookies.
This book goes on to explore this age old question, including some new ones like when does Santa do his laundry.
Is This Winter?
HC: 9781536226270 | Ages 3-7 | $10.99 ($14.99 CAN)
What’s with all the blinking lights? With her trademark visual humor and comic timing, Helen Yoon takes a look at some odd winter traditions.
This is a cute, simply story about a cute puppy exploring the sites and sounds of winter for the first time.
The puppy cracks me up. He doesn’t look like a dog in the traditional sense. He has HUGE eyes that really adds to his expression.
You don’t need to read what he’s feeling – you can “see” his expression just by looking at his large eyes.
This is a quick read, as well as an easy reader.
Snow
Board: 9781536219845 | Ages 0-3 | $8.99 ($11.99 CAN)
Everyone’s favorite baby joins an adorable pal to revel in a seasonal adventure that will have little listeners eager to explore their own white, wintry world.
This is an adorable board book for little ones. There is not too much text, but that is okay. The pictures tell the story.
This is also a great book to teach children some sight words like snow, scarf and mittens.
I think this book might be nice for children who might not otherwise experience snow to know what playing in the snow is like and what is involved.
We Disagree About This Tree
HC: 9781536231984 | Ages 2-5 | $16.99 ($22.99)
A festive follow-up to There’s a Bear on My Chair and There’s a Mouse in My House.
This is a delightful easy reader for young children. I love the illustrations and the soft/muted colors.
Bear is trying to find a way to decorate a tree by considering large baubles and blinding lights. It’s also very silly, such as decorating with a manatee dressed like a fairy.
this is a fun rhyming book. I enjoyed reading this one because of the rhyming (very creative).
Where’s the Snowman?
Board: 9781536227833 | Ages 0-2 | $9.99 ($12.99 CAN)
An angel, a gingerbread cookie, a cardinal, and a snowman hide beneath bright felt flaps. With a mirror on the final page, this is the perfect book to share with littles.
Little ones enjoy interactive books. This book features felt flaps that children can life to discover what is hiding beneath. They’ll find a lot of things other than the snowman.
This book is also an easy reader, so beginning readers will be able to read and interact with this book independently.
I like that it teaches beginning readers some easy sight words pertaining to the holiday season.
The Christmas Doll
$17.99 USD, $23.99 CAD
A little girl in wartime England finds that a simple act of generosity and kindness changes her life forever in this heartfelt holiday book based on a popular British TV show.
This is also a beautifully illustrated book with a heartwarming story. Just like the book Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, I can see reading this book as a holiday tradition. This book gave me the “warm fuzzies.”
I love the nostalgic invoked by this book. I also love how it is about family and sharing memories together.
Below are some books that would make great gifts this holiday season (and beyond…).
This book also features beautiful, heart-warming illustrations that truly help this story come alive.
Above are some great new holiday and seasonal titles. Here are a few books that would make great gifts, especially if your family is doing a lot of traveling this holiday season to visit family and friends.
Where’s Waldo: An A-Maze-ing Journey
$18.99 USD, $24.99
A-maze-ing! Follow Waldo on a journey through impossibly intricate mazes—with enough twists and turns to make you giddy.
I am a huge fan of Where’s Waldo books, and my kids at work enjoy them as well. This book is nothing like any other Where’s Waldo book I have seen before.
I found this book very challenging. I only found Waldo on a few pages. I’m still looking for the rest. The kids I work with have better luck (in all fairness they probably have better eyesight than me – ha ha).
This book would be great to take with you when you travel. It would give a child something to do on a long car or plane ride.
Ten-Word Tiny Tales
UK Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho presents twenty tiny tales—each one illustrated by a different artist, and each just ten words long—in a book that’s as much a work of art as an invitation to budding writers.
This is such a great idea! What a fun and creative way to encourage children to write their own stories using their imagination based on just ten easy words.
For example, one page reads “The bear turns the ignition on the snowmobile – it works!” Another reads “The Venus Flytrap keeps edging closer to Grandma’s chair.” I’m curious to see what kids write about the last one.
As someone who writes, I need prompts like this to help get my creative juices flowing.
Will You Be My Friend?
Board: 9781536233407 | Ages 0-3 | $8.99 ($11.99 CAN)
From legendary author and illustrator duo Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram comes the delightful sequel to the heartwarming picture book classic Guess How Much I Love You.
I was excited when I saw the illustration on the cover of this book. I knew right away it was from the same illustrator who did Guess How Much I Love You. I think everyone owned a copy of that book at one point or another. I still do (although it’s in one of my kid’s baby boxes).
In this new story we find Little Nutbrown Hare exploring when he comes across a special surprise – and the possibility of a friend.
This book is equally as charming as it’s processor. If you loved Guess How Much I Love You, you’ll enjoy this book too.
These are just a few new books available from Candlewick Press.
If you are interested in learning more about these and other titles from the publisher, visit CandlewickPress.com.
Be sure to check out the brand on social media too.
These books are available at many retail locations including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and more.
Kimberly
*I received free samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.