Curious Parents Book Resources

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Add some bookish cheer to the Christmas season with some inventive ideas in these books like Halloween decorations going to war with Christmas ornaments and barnyard animals guiding Santa’s sleigh since the reindeer ate too much pudding.

An Ornaments’ Tale by Chet Spiewak

An attic can be an intimidating place, especially to the holiday decorations that it stores. Decorations wait patiently all year long until they are needed to spread holiday cheer. However, when a gang of Halloween decorations decide to trick a box of Christmas ornaments, things get a little hectic. The vivid, 3-D illustrations give the characters cartoon-like qualities that children are sure to enjoy. Still stuck in the attic on Christmas Eve, Percy the solider and his fellow ornament friends try desperately to find their way to the tree before Christmas is over. How will they ever make it?

The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll by Patricia McKissack

Even though Santy Claus can’t make it every year, Laura Pearson and her two sisters always look forward to it. They work together to prepare their home for the holiday by cleaning and insulating their home with newspaper. Laura saves an advertisement for Baby Betty, a doll she can’t stop dreaming about. Her hopes are never affected despite the discouraging remarks of her sisters. When Christmas arrives, the girls are more than satisfied with their packages filled with nuts, candies, and fruits. To their surprise, their father hands over one last present, the Baby Betty doll. They are elated with their present; however, they begin to argue over it. Will a scuffle ensue? Wonderfully illustrated and easy to read, it captures the sentiment of this underprivileged southern family struggling through the Great Depression.

The Barnyard Night Before Christmas by Beth Terrill

T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the… barn? This book offers a humorous twist on a Christmas classic. Santa’s reindeer have eaten too much sweet pudding and can’t guide his sleigh! What is he to do? Call on his barnyard friends of course. Santa seeks the help of eight barnyard animals to help him deliver the presents to all the good girls and boys. With a bright idea from Pip the mouse, all they need are some balloons and rope to save the day. At least that is what they think. Follow Santa on his adventure with the barn animals to find out if they can save Christmas.

The Candle in the Forest; and Other Christmas Stories Children Love by Joseph Wheeler

Eight short stories attempt to rekindle the dying flame of traditional Christmas spirit. In his introduction, Wheeler describes some of his personal family traditions, such as excluding the use of all electronics on Christmas. Each story, written by various authors, highlights an important component of the holiday spirit: gratification of giving, the concept of hope, the rewards of selflessness and the feeling of gratefulness. Following each story, there is a space provided for the reader to reflect and write personal Christmas memories, family activities, recipes and traditions.