Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa . . . is there any better season than this? As we move into winter and a time of greater darkness, we also move into a season of greater light. It's a time of the year when our holidays remind us to look beyond ourselves and into our hearts. A time of hope, traditions, of family and of giving.
In my family we have a long tradition of giving books. My hardcover copy of Little Women is inscribed "On your 12th birthday, Love, Mother and Dad." My copy of Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes inscribed, "To a dear little girl, from Mother," was given to my mother from her mother in 1930. And a book called Just Patty by Jean Webster with the simple legend "To Dorothea Nilsson, Morris, Ill" was given to my grandmother in 1911. All of them are definitely "keepers," as we say, family history written right there on the cover pages.
I suspect many of you have the same tradition in your families. If not, this holiday season is a fine time to start -- suggestions to follow, of course. I've been scouring library and bookstore shelves for selections old and new, I read some wonderful stories, and (yes) even bought a few!
This year Chris Van Allsburg's Polar Express comes to life on the big screen. The classic book along with many movie tie-ins will be front and center in stores. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events will be in movie theaters too, so a boxed set of the Baudelaire's adventures is a sure-fire gift. I also recommend The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony Di Terlizzi and Holly Black -- no movie here, but the adventures of Mallory, Jared, and Simon Grace, after moving to an old estate plagued with Faerie folk, are sure to please. For older children, Ursula K. Le Guin's The Earthsea Trilogy, just made into a cable mini-series, presents a fantasy world as engaging as that in Lord of the Rings.
Classic stories are always great gifts. A hardcover edition of Tolkien's tales is sure to be cherished, or choose your own favorite from the Illustrated Junior Library editions and pass it on to a new generation. Very young children can enjoy Clement Moore's classic The Night Before Christmas in a board book with new illustrations by Bruce Whatley which will also delight adults.
For Hanukkah, The Magic Menorah by Jane Breskin Zalben tells the story of Stanley, a young boy who feels family holidays are more annoying than nice. When he's polishing an antique menorah, a genie named Fishel appears and, while granting him three wishes, slowly changes Stanley's views. For young children, The Hanukkah Mice by Ronne Randall is a real treat. Foldout illustrations reveal surprises the mice find as they go through the house -- one for each night, of course.
I'm sorry to say I have no gift-giving recommendations for Kwanzaa or Ramadan. There is a good selection in our libraries (please do take a look), but the market for books on these two holidays is so new that most of them are informational stories, not heart-warming holiday classics. (To all writers and illustrators out there: time to get busy!) The bulk of books this year are still for Christmas, so forgive me for mentioning even more...
One book I love from our library is Carol of the Brown King: Nativity Poems by Langston Hughes. Bright, jewel-toned illustrations by Ashley Bryan add to this wonderful poet's words.
In the stores, four books in particular get my vote:
Elf Elementary by Edward Miller follows Franklin through elf-school where he must pass required courses so he can travel in Santa's sleigh. Historical facts about the holiday are cleverly illustrated in posters and decorations along the school's halls and classrooms.
Santa's Secrets Revealed by James Solheim is for those who, like the boy in the story, are becoming a bit skeptical about Santa. I loved Mrs. Claus's new image: she's Santa's personal rocket scientist who runs the "Spacetime Scruncher" so he can get all the gifts delivered in one night.
In Shall I Knit You a Hat? A Christmas Yarn by sisters Kate and M. Sarah Klise, a bad snowstorm is predicted for Christmas Eve so mother Rabbit knits a hat to keep her Little Rabbit warm. He then insists she knit hats -- from his own unique designs -- for all their friends.
Last is the book that I just had to buy for myself. Santa Claustrophobia. In a town by the North Pole called Stinky Cigar, the psychiatrist, Doc Holiday, tries to help Santa face the stress of another gift-giving marathon. This humorous story told in verse by The Simpsons writer, Mike Reiss, is definitely on the top of my list as the new millennium's The Night Before Christmas.
I hope that some of these books will make your list for reading this season. And if you choose to buy them and wrap them as presents, I'd like to leave you with this reminder: while the books themselves are gift enough, how much more they can become with a few words from you tucked inside the cover. This, my friends -- if you ever do -- is the time to write in books. Add your own words to those of the stories within and your hopes and wishes can become part of a treasured history for those you love.
-- Dorothy Emry
About our new feature writer:
Dorothy Emry, a library employee and fellow book lover, has a lifelong interest in children's literature. Not only is she knowledgeable about children's literature, she also owns an impressive collection of children's books. Hopefully, she will become a regular feature writer, contributing articles about all aspects and types of children's fiction and nonfiction books and authors. - Susan McGoldrick
footnotes books featured: The books reviewed in footnotes are available in the lobby of the library for patron checkout. The bookcase is located just before entering the adult reading section next to the copy machine. Many thanks to staff member Karen Blackful for assembling, displaying, and maintaining these books for us.