Being a librarian it seems appropriate that I should be posting more about books here on Kremb de la Kremb. What a better way to start than with the family’s favorite Christmas titles. Each year, these books get brought out of storage and are placed under the tree. There are a few that get ready each and every year–even if they’re for younger readers. They’re just that special!
The Night Before Christmas
Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Mary Engelbreit
The Night Before Christmas is a classic story that must be told annually—however it is best told when accompanied by amazing illustrations. For this reason it is important to tell the story with Mary Englebreit’s edition. It is beyond cute and very clever. The details in each picture cause multiple readings from the first day of Christmas on December 1st straight through to the morning of Christmas Day on the 25th with many tellings in-between. The highly saturated depictions are of cute little elves and colorful trees, perfectly wrapped presents and a beautiful Santa Claus. There’s even a little game to play: see how many times the little mouse can be found. This book is such a sensation in our household that I usually stock up on this title and bring it to holiday parties as a host gift. Really, THIS edition is the BEST edition of Moore’s The Night Before Christmas.
The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry, illustrated by Shelley Freshman
The Gift of the Magi is another classic tale that should be told during the Christmas season. Of course, the story is old enough that a simple Google search will provide plenty of PDF versions since it’s in the public domain. What’s best is if you can find a beautifully illustrated edition, and if you ever happenstance upon Shelley Freshman’s copy, grab it fast! (I found some copies here on Alibris or here on Amazon!) While the story is so simple and special on its own, the black pen drawings of Freshman’s version make the tale come alive! Now for the story… The Gift of the Magi is the ironic story about the act of giving. Giving takes sacrifice, but this sacrifice is easy to commit for those we love. Della and Jim, a young married couple hopelessly in love, sacrifice their treasures in order to enhance what the other loves, yet in doing so the irony lies in each of their losses of their individual treasured items. Yes, it’s a tricky plot, but oh, it’s such a special story to tell each Christmas season. Because really, it’s all about giving isn’t it?
Lulu the Hong Kong Cat: Christmas in Sham Shui Po
Elly Wy Leou
True to the concept of giving at Christmas Lulu the Hong Kong Cat: Christmas in Sham Shui Po explores the attitudes that accompany not knowing what or how to give to a loved one. Luckily in the end Lulu the Hong Kong Cat figures it out. Although Lulu begins the story filled with self-doubt and a “Miao humbug,” attitude it is through a series of encounters of wise and sometimes discouraging animals that set her on the right path. Lulu comes to realize that giving comes from the heart, and she could in fact make a present rather than purchase one. It is in her creation and self-sacrifice that she ends up coming to love and embrace the Christmas time of giving—not to mention the ways of Hong Kong. The references to HK and the culture shocks that accompany Hong Kong living make this a perfect book for a newbie to this bustling city.
Stick Man
Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Sheffler
“I’m Stick Man, I’m Stick Man, I’M STICK MAN, that’s me!” Julia Donaldson has made the perfect travel story with Stick Man and Axel Scheffler illustrated each and every scene perfectly. Poor Stick Man! He’s on an unexpected journey, yet he just wants to get home, home to the family tree. But as a stick, he’s bound to wander. He’s thrown for a dog, he lands in a river, he floats to the banks—on it goes, but meanwhile this determined stick just wants to get home to his family in time for a special day… Just when he’s about to burn up in flames as kindling for a fire, Stick Man is saved, saved by the very best. Santa Claus makes dreams come true, and in this delightful story Christmas for Stick Man and his family is indeed saved!
Bear Stays Up
Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
From the Bear Wants More series comes the Christmas version of the Bear Stays Up. Toddlers and early readers love the repetition of Wilson’s bear stories. The singsong that accompanies reading these tales helps for sleeping at bedtime or learning to read. Bear has a problem: it’s wintertime, and he’s ready to sleep. It’s his good animal friends though who are determined to keep him up this Christmas. In this Christmas story friends are most important which is parallel to real life where a community generates Christmas spirit. Everyone puts in his or her part contributing to the ultimate event of Christmas day. Since Bear definitely just wants to sleep—similar to the jetlag experience—this story would compliment the trouble of sleep during holiday travel. Of course, Santa Claus makes a guest appearance in this book, so look out for him!
*These reviews have been cross posted as they were originally written for Sassy Mama HK along with seven other titles.
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