Readathon: Children's Christmas Stories

I’ll be reading the enormous stack of children’s Christmas picture books for the rest of the day. I’ll read each book twice and then write a Tiny Review for each.

I’m off!



The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll written by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

The family is oh-so poor, but it’s Christmas and the three girls desperately want a Baby Betty doll. Best part: Sharing is more fun than hoarding. Ages 6-10. 8.5/10.



Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don and Audrey Wood

Little Mouse has quite the stack of presents under the tree—for himself---but what about Big Hungry Bear who never gets a present and would do anything, ANYTHING, to get one? Best part: Sometimes things that look scary aren’t what they appear. Ages 2-8. 8/10.



The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuah Chen

Father Bear has lost his job. Santa comes anyway, bringing things the family has lost during the year. Best part: The 3 R's of recycling. Ages 5-10. 7/10.



Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

Say tells the story of his first Christmas, when he was a boy in Japan. Serious. Thoughtful. Ages 6-10. 8.5/10.



A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas by Philip Yates and illustrated by Sebastia Serra

A fun parody of the old poem, told in pirate jargon from a pirate’s point of view. Best part: Pirates. Ages 2-10. 8.5/10



Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas written by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

A wonderful new Fancy Nancy story, the best of the Fancy Nancys. Best part: Nancy’s love of big fancy words and the warmth of her family and Nancy’s ability to create beauty from bits of this and that. Ages 2-10. Girls, mostly. 9/10.



Great Joy written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Frances is learning her lines for the Christmas pageant, but she is worried about the organ grinder and his monkey sleeping every night in the cold. Best part: Compassion. Ages 4-10. 9/10.



What Dogs Want for Christmas by Kandy Radzinski

Who could resist these adorable dogs with their letters to Santa? Best part: Wonderful dog pictures. Ages 4-10. 9/10.



The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Teeka must get these wild reindeer ready to pull the sleigh, but screaming at them is not working. Best part: Beautiful pictures, learning how to teach. Ages 5-10. 8/10



The Peterkins’ Christmas adapted by Elizabeth Spurr and illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin

The Peterkins are a mess. They want to surprise their neighbors and relatives with a beautiful Christmas tree, but the tree is too tall and they have no ornaments and it’s hard to play the piano sitting outside in the snow….but there is always the Lady from Philadelphia to help them. Best part: humor. Ages 8-12. 8/10.



Uncles and Antlers written by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Brian Floca

The reindeer gather, eight in all, seven uncles and one niece, clever and cool, with unique talents. Best part: Cool talents of each uncle that correspond to the number of tines on each set of antlers. Ages 8-12. 8.5/10.



How Santa Really Works by Alan Snow

All your questions about Santa are answered here. Best part: Diagrams about Santa and elves and presents, including little balloons of conversation. Ages 8-12. 8.5/10.



Snowmen at Christmas written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner

How do snowmen celebrate Christmas? Just like we do, really. Best part: Hidden pictures to seek on each page. Ages 4-8. 8.5/10.



An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco

An old family story of the author’s. Frankie shares the sweater his sister gave him with a hobo. His father is delayed by snow and the train engineers, grateful for the meals Frankie’s family always provides, gives Frankie’s father a ride home in time for Christmas. Best part: Sharing the orange. Ages 8-12. 9/10.



Pooch on the Loose: A Christmas Adventure written by Steven Kroll and illustrated by Michael Garland

Bart loves his home, but he longs to be free. One Christmas, he escapes out the door and visits all of New York’s landmarks. Best part: Dog of Liberty. Ages 4-10. 8.5/10.



The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus’ Birth written by Dandi Daley Mackall and illustrated by Deborah Chabrian

Jack longs for Christmas cookies, but his mother only has enough money to make them for the poor. As she makes the cookies, his mother tells Jack the true story of the Christmas cookie. Best part: Sharing his cookie. Ages 4-10. 8/10.

NOTE: A winter storm has unexpectedly knocked out our Internet connection. I am posting this from Starbuck’s. I’m not sure when the connection will be restored.