Giving Books for the Holidays III

Tonight I just have one book to share with you.  This is a book that I found through a BLU (Blogger Link Up) post.  I am so glad that I take the time to read the issue on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  I have found some great books and contacts through there.

The Snowman's Song: A Christmas Story by Marilee Joy Mayfield

The Snowman's Song is an enchanting tale of longing and fulfillment. A little snowman yearns to sing Christmas carols, but is desolate because he hasn't a voice. From the kindness of others, he dares to believe in the impossible and experiences a Christmas miracle. Beautifully told in melodic verse, this inspirational story shows that impossible dreams do come true and reminds us of the true reason for the season.


44 pages
Ages 4-8

My Thoughts:  What a beautiful book, with a beautiful story!  The pictures are very crisp and vivid.  The snow people appear to move and act real due to the illustrations.  The blues and whites in the pictures just make it look cold!  The pages are shiny like a present at Christmas.

Young children will enjoy this one because it rhymes.  Older children will enjoy the story because of the wonderful message it brings.  It's okay to dream; you just have to believe you can and you can.  It is a great message for children, especially at Christmas.  I love how the author created this beautiful story with meaning behind it, not just a storyline.

One of the best things about this book is that it comes with a CD of the author reading the book.  I love to be read to, as an adult, and children do to.  Whether you read it to them, or they listen to the CD and follow along, they will be hearing a wonderful story.

Who on your list might enjoy this book?  For every book that is sold direct to readers, the publisher gives a book to charity.  Just click on the title of the book to take you to the website.

Giving Books for the Holidays II

Today I have 3 books to share with you, thanks to Chronicle Books, that I will be giving as gifts to my nieces and nephews.  I have shared these in my In My Mailbox/Mailbox Monday post previously, but wanted to share them here, along with my thoughts.

Creature ABC by Andrew Zuckerman
An elegant addition to any library, this deluxe alphabet book features 120 pages of Andrew Zuckerman's breathtaking wildlife photography. From alligator to zebra, each featured animal boasts two striking studio portraits against a clean white background, offering a unique up-close view of the animal kingdom. Readers can flip to a helpful glossary in the back for extra information. From the sleek beauty of a smiling hippo to the powerful majesty of a roaring lion, this gorgeous new book is both a stunning work of art and a ferociously fun way for young animal-lovers to learn their ABCs

120 pages
All ages

My Thoughts:  I love this ABC book!  The pictures are phenomenal and it is a different twist on an ABC book.  Mr. Zuckerman put a lot of thought into this book for young children.  So many times, you see the same pictures or words for letters of the alphabet, like a for apple, but this is different.  Each letter features a different animal, sometimes more than one.  The pictures are sharp and clear, just perfect for youngsters who are learning their letters.  They will be enthralled with this book!  I'm sure my nephew will love it.

Stereobook: Vehicles by Ben Grossblatt
Stereobooks feature built-in stereo speakers, so readers feel surrounded by sound as they listen to the 15 action-packed scenes in each book. Vehicles features a space shuttle blasting off and Formula One race cars zipping around a track.

32 pages
Ages 4 and up

My Thoughts:  For a child who loves any kind of vehicle, this is the perfect book!  The added bonus, is that they not only get to read about the vehicles, they get to hear them as well.   This book has bright vivid pictures that are so realistic you feel like you are there, on the street, the runway, the sky, or wherever the vehicle may go.  Boys will pick this one up again and again.

The Little Books Boxed Set by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Three adorable characters in three adorable board books! These clever twists on dinnertime, bedtime, and clean-up time will delight all the little mess-makers, picky eaters, and night owls in your life.

30 pages each
Ages 3 and up

My Thoughts:  These are cute books, each in their own way!  I love that they are packaged together, perfect for gift giving.  Little Pea will help children learn to eat their vegetables.  Little Hoot will help them learn to go to bed, and Little Oink will help them learn to clean up their messes.  All of these are situations that young children find themselves in at one time or another, and what better way to help them with them than by making them fun, in a book.

Maybe someone on your Christmas list would enjoy one of these books from Chronicle.

Giving Books for the Holidays I

I thought, that for the next two weeks, I would post daily about books that would be good to give for the holidays.  The books I will be posting are either holiday titles, or books that I myself will be giving as gifts.  If you are a book lover like me, then you probably love to give books to the people you love. 

Today, I have 3 holiday books for you, courtesy of Random House, and the great news is that 3 of you will have a chance to win your choice of these books.  I have not received my review copies yet, so I'm just going to give you the descriptions.  My hope, is that you will find a book to give to someone, through these posts.

ZIGAZAK!: A Magical Hanukkah Night
by Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Jon Goodell

On the first night of Hanukkah, two tricky devils arrive in the town of Brisk to cause mischief. They use a magic word — Zigazak! — to make dreidels dance and latkes fly. The good citizens of Brisk panic and appeal to their wise rabbi for help. He triumphs over the devils in a contest of wits, and soon sends them packing. But his real triumph is the ability to see the good in all things, even devils’ tricks, helping the townsfolk enjoy their most magical Hanukkah ever.

Doubleday 

November 11, 2009

$19.99 / $22.99 
Ages 4–8
32 pages
 
How The Grinch Stole Christmas! Party Edition
by Dr. Seuss

The Grinch has been foiled!

The Grinch hates Christmas, and wants to stop it from coming. So he forms a devious plan: to impersonate Santy Claus and to steal the Whos’ Christmas presents. But come Christmas morning, the Grinch is in for a shocking surprise. He did NOT stop Christmas from coming! And the Grinch realizes something new. That maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. That maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!

Now always available with a foil cover!

Random House
August 11, 2009
$15.00 / $18.99
Ages 6–9 
64 pages

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY 50th Anniversary Edition
by Truman Capote; illustrated by Beth Peck

First published in 1956, this much sought-after autobiographical recollection of Truman Capote's rural Alabama boyhood has become a modern-day classic. We are proud to be reprinting this warm and delicately illustrated edition of A Christmas Memory--"a tiny gem of a holiday story" (School Library Journal, starred review). Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: "It's fruitcake weather!" Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls--one young and one old--and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.

Alfred A. Knopf
October 10, 2006
$17.95 / $23.95 Can.
Ages 12 up
48 pages

Thanks to my friends at Random House, one of these books could be yours to either gift or keep for yourself.  Just leave me a comment as to which one(s) you would like, by Sunday at midnight, and I'll randomly pick 3 winners on Monday, Dec. 14th.  Winners will recieve one of the 3 books.