Monday, November 9, 2009

Two Special Holiday Books Review & Giveaway

I am so pleased to bring you another great giveaway from Scholastic Books. This time, it's 2 holiday books, just in time for Christmas. These would make great gifts or additions to a classroom or home library.



Review Copy Provided by: Scholastic


About the Book: Far, far North, when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa begins to prepare for his big night of giving. He gathers his reindeer, feeds them parsnips and berries, and polishes his bells and his sled. Then lovingly, he chooses toys for every child in the world. For Santa loves them all, and he knows what each child at heart wants most. Then, with the thrum of magic that makes reindeers fly, he spreads the Christmas joy and warmth throughout the world--as he always has -- and always will until the end of time. From best-selling author Lauren Thomas, and Caldecott Honor Artist Jon J Muth.



My Review: Really a quaint little book! Not your typical Christmas story and that's what makes it good. Jon Muth paints Santa in a different way than I've seen him depicted before. Not the typical red and white suit, but a blue and white one as well, and it looks victorianesque. The story takes the reader with Santa as he prepares for Christmas. How does he prepare? You will have to read it and find out. What is the Christmas magic? Well, I'm not giving it away but saying that it doesn't really tell you; it leaves it up to the imagination. As an educator, I could see teachers using this as a springboard for writing. The students could write their interpretation of what the Christmas magic is. There's also some vocabulary in this book that children may be unfamiliar with, so teaching can occur there as well.

The illustrations are muted, using watercolors and pastels. That only adds to the antique, victorian look and fell of this book. It is one that I will be adding to my collection of holiday stories and reading year after year.



Author: E.T.A. Hoffman
Review Copy Provided by: Scholastic

About the Book: On Christmas Eve, Godfather Drosselmeier has arrived with gifts of marvel and enchantment for his young godchildren. Goddaughter Marie falls in love a bewitching nutcracker doll and claims him as her own. Yet when the clock strikes midnight, something terribly amazing happens to Godfather’s handcrafted toys…they come alive. Marie is swept off her feet on an incredible journey with the Nutcracker in this astonishing classic story by E.T.A. Hoffman. Critically acclaimed artist Gail de Marcken’s stunning illustrations bring this spellbinding tale to life.

My Review: Beautiful book! This is the original Nutcracker story that I'm sure many of you are familiar with. I was, through the ballet, but had never read the original story. It is a good one! It is rather long for a children's book, but one that is worth sharing. I am a firm believer in reading the original stories to children so that they know where other renditions came from.

The illustrations in this book are just gorgeous! Sure to be looked at again and again as a coffee table book during the holiday season. It would be beautiful under a tree as a gift; wrapping paper not needed. Watercolor and ink works were used to create these beautiful, vivid pictures. Children will enjoy looking at them as you share the story.


The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

The Christmas Magic
HOLIDAY BOOK RELEASES FROM SCHOLASTIC
ONLINE PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY



Two (2) winners will receive both copies:
  • The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
  • The Christmas Magic

Just leave a comment on this post for your entry. To earn extra entries, spread the word about this contest and let me know about it by posting the link in the comments. Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you should you win.

Contest runs from today through Monday, Nov. 23rd. Open to US/Canada residents only.




57 comments:

Nancye said...

Wow! I get to be the first commenter. Cool! Theses books look great! Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Miss Remmers said...

These look some awesome reads! Thanks for the chance!

Miss Remmers

missremmeres@gmail.com

Jess (The Cozy Reader) said...

Adorable books!

bookreviewsbyjess (@) gmail.com :)

Anonymous said...

I would love to win these books for
my children. Please count me in on this super giveaway.

jsrogers at shaw dot ca

Gina said...

Oh how I love the holiday season! Not only do you get the wonderful spirit that comes even stronger at this time of year, but all the fabulous themed books that emerge as well. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of these! The reviews definitely make them sounds magical.

+1 - tweeted! (http://twitter.com/GRgenius/status/5560750841)
+1 - adding to sidebar under contests! (http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com)

grgenius(at)go(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

I'd love to be entered for these books since I love holiday books!

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

Please enter me for this giveaway. My daughter would love these books!
ludeluh at yahoo dot com

Tami said...

These would be great for reading to grandkids. Thanks for the opportunity.

Tami said...

Retweeted link - @mrschupa

Lucy said...

I would love this for my Sophia! Please enter me:)
lucy_bertoldi@hotmail.com

Thanks!

KayeDean said...

Please enter me for this giveaway. My granddaughter would love these books!
sandym204@gmail.com

KayeDean said...

tweeted - http://twitter.com/LMsMeeMaw/status/5563661295
sandym204@gmail.com

Jonnie (JB) said...

These books look beautiful. I would love to read them with my boys
dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Irene said...

I know a three-year boy who would love these. He has a brand-new baby brother, and is trying his best...

cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Katy said...

How fun! My kids would love these books!

srfbluemama at gmail dot com

Fokxxy said...

I would love to be entered please.

ssummmer(at)gmail(dot)com

Would make great Christmas gifts!

Unknown said...

Please enter me in the giveaway.

kolists a/t gmail d\t com

pippirose said...

What gorgeous illustrations. The books look fantastic.
:o)
pippirose59 at gmail dot com

Terry Doherty said...

Wow! I had to click over from the reader when I saw that cover! These look wonderful, and I love the idea of not-your-usual Christmas story. Thanks Shelly!

Terry Doherty said...

Wow! I had to click over from the reader when I saw that cover! These look wonderful, and I love the idea of not-your-usual Christmas story. Thanks Shelly!

Betty said...

Nice website. These books sound great. I've started my holiday reading with a humerous satire called "Cancel Christmas" by Rocco Leonard Martino. It's an engaging story of what greed can lead you to do. I'm enjoying the the fast paced wheeling-n-dealing between government officials and big business. It's quite funny!

holdenj said...

Both of these look wonderful and the illustrations are marvelous. Thanks for the chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Katie said...

Shelly, I'd love to win this package!

The1stdaughter said...

I love these books! I've actually already added them to my kids' wishlists. So, this would be great to win! Thanks for the chance and sign me up.
daniellems78 at gmail dot com

Marilu said...

These books look great. I would love to win them to share with my children. Please enter me. Thank you
lovemykidsandbooks At gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

What a great giveaway!!

readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

Pam said...

I love Christmas books. They just bring back lovely childhood memories and make me all warm and fuzzy inside.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

3carnations said...

I would love to add these to our Christmas library. :-)

Pam said...

Oh I LOVE Muth! These both look great.

Unknown said...

I love Christmas books!

mearley@twinlakes.k12.in.us

vvb32 reads said...

nice xmas treat. thanks for the giveaway offer.
vvb32 at yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I've been enjoying your blog! Please enter me in the contest! My family would love the books!
~Bookmom

dellrf@yahoo.com

KR said...

I'd love these.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Colleen said...

These looks great...I love having lots of holiday books to read to my kids.

Beth (BBRB) said...

These look lovely! Please enter me!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Nicole said...

My daughter loves Christmas books.
nicole at momsavesmoney dot net

Aimie said...

What a lovely give away! I would love to win!!

Please enter me!! I would love to share these with my munchkins!!

amemkl@aol.com

Gwendolyn B. said...

Ohhh, I'm really wanting these -- I've got a thing for Santas dressed in blue! Thanks for the chance.

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Charleydog said...

I love Christmas books.
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Kerry said...

I'd love a chance to win! kerrybu AT gmail DOT com

Sue said...

Thanks for the giveaway. These look great.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Jem said...

These two books look lovely for Christmas time. My two daughters would love them.

thereadingjourney[at]gmail[dot]com

Dolphin Girl said...

I would love to win these for my kids.

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

I love xmas books


melissa@gingerhigh.com

Winning Readings said...

Would love to win these for my daughter!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

We posted about the giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/two-christmas-books_6688.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

wmmahaney said...

These look beautiful. I know my kids would love them.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

betsy said...

The Christma Magic looks like a wonderful book.

plb8156 said...

These books look great. Thanks for the chance.
plb8156@aol.com

librarypat said...

What lovely books. The Christmas Magic would be nice for my story times. Scholastic does a good job of getting more kids reading, by making affordable books available to them.
librarypat AT comcast dot net

Belinda M said...

Please include me in your giveaway


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Belinda M said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/5949307147


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Deb K said...

Please enter me in this great giveaway~as this would be great to read with my grandchildren :)


deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

Deb K said...

Tweet!
http://twitter.com/Deb55106/status/5990635450


deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

Anonymous said...

My granddaughter would love both of these books—thanks for having this great giveaway! Happy holidays to you and all my fellow book-lovers!

Sheila
skkorman@bellsouth.net

Wickdogg said...

I would love to win this for my son who is soon to be born..thanks for the chance.

wickdogg AT gmail dot com

 
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