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Thankful for Wonderful
Gifts
by Susan Heyboer
O’Keefe
Our lovely
national holiday of Thanksgiving has become an afterthought stuck in
between Halloween and Christmas, at least as far as advertising and
promotions are concerned. So
most of the Thanksgiving titles -- squeezed between Halloween and
Christmas books -- are the “brand” books: Thanksgiving with Arthur,
the Berenstain Bears, Biscuit, Clifford, Raggedy Ann, Rotten Ralph,
Winnie the Pooh, and no doubt countless others.
Pick whichever character your particular munchkin likes best.
So what’s a reviewer to do? Simply
skip ahead to December gift-giving.
(Aha, the power, the power!)
Personally, I like to get all my shopping done now anyway so that
later on I’m better able to focus on the season’s deeper meaning.
This month I’m taking a look at new books that make great gift ideas. Next month I’ll look at books that help children understand
the spiritual significance of the holidays.
Will I be cheeky enough to mention my own Countdown to Christmas -- an
incredibly insightful, hilariously illustrated collection of scripture,
reflections, and activities or crafts for middle graders and their
families, running daily from December 1st through January 6th
and perfect for all denominations?
(Pause for a deep breath.) Perhaps.
In the meanwhile, here are some wonderful gifts
--
·
In
the Moonlight Mist: A Korean Tale
by Daniel San Souci with illustrations by Eujin Kim Neilan.
For sheer visual beauty, this striking book is a winner, plus the
story, too, is sweet and charming.
A woodcutter saves a deer from a hunter.
As a reward, the deer shows him where heavenly maidens come down
from the stars to bathe. Hide
the clothes of one of them, says the deer, and she will be forced to
remain on earth. But after marrying the woodcutter and bearing him a daughter,
the star maiden begins to pine for home.
She wishes she could only touch her former clothes in
remembrance. The woodcutter, moved to kindness, brings out her clothes,
she dons them and is immediately whisked away to the stars together with
their daughter. The
woodcutter gets a second chance at love, but his kindness and
self-sacrifice won’t let him use it, and for such goodness, the
third to be united with his love. Ages 4 to 8.
·
Hush
Songs: African American Lullabies
by Joyce Carol Thomas with illustrations by Brenda Joysmith.
This collection of traditional and original lullabies, selected
or written by National Book Award winner Thomas, is a delight for
everyone. no matter what your background. Each lullaby has a bit of the song’s history, its musical
score, and a gorgeous illustration, mostly of tender moments between
mothers and children. Even
for those unable to read music (like myself), the lullabies work on the
level of poetry and can be recited softly instead of sung. Ages 4 to 8
for comprehension, but even infants in the womb will love these songs.
·
Edward
Fudwupper Fibbed Big (Explained by Fannie Fudwupper) with some help from Berkeley Breathed.
Some of us penguin lovers have not quite forgiven Breathed for
ending his Bloom County comic strip and leaving us Opus-less.
But even the least forgiving among us will be moved to mercy with
Breathed's’ newest offering -- a Seuss-like rhyme about a champion
fibber whose latest whopper sets off a series of consequences that
nearly result in intergalactic war.
A very funny book, especially for any child with a sibling.
·
The
Animal Boogie by Debbie
Harter. The eye-popping
cover literally forced me to open this book; inside were children of
different ethnic groups, both abled and disabled, meeting all sorts of
jungle animals and joining together in a raucous dance.
The book’s fun-filled rhymes are perfect for getting a whole
group hopping -- or for juggling just one little bottom on your lap.
The inside illustrations were just as fabulous as the cover.
A fun book to dance to, an even better book to sit with quietly
time after time and pore over the striking colors and great details.
Children's Book-of-the-Month Club author and Bergen County resident
Susan Heyboer O'Keefe has written Countdown
to Christmas, Angel Prayers,
Sleepy Angel’s First Bedtime
Story, and Good Night, God
Bless. Visit http://www.susanheyboerokeefe.homestead.com
for fun, book info, and great parrot photos.
© 2000 by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe
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