Month: December 2016

A Fairy’s Gift (Disney:  The Never Girls) by Kiki Thorpe
Illustrated by:  Jana Christy
Published by: Random House, September 8, 2015
Genre:  Children’s Chapter Book (fiction), Christmas, Series, Media Tie-in
Pages: 224
Price:  $14.99
Source: borrowed from the library

From Penguin Random House:

Enjoy twice the fairies, twice the adventure, and twice the magic, just in time for the holidays. In a beautiful jacketed hardcover edition packed with illustrations, this special new Never Girls story by New York Times bestselling author Kiki Thorpe is the perfect gift for readers ages 6 to 9.

Review:  Kate, Mia, Lainey and Gabby are the Never Girls.  They believe in fairies because they can visit Never Land anytime they want and visit Tinker Bell, Fawn, Prilla and the other fairies.  On one of their recent visits  they learn that there’s a bad case of Disbelief.  Without children believing in them, the fairies are losing their magic.  They can’t fly or use any of their special abilities.  The girls convince Queen Clarion to let a couple of the fairies through the portal to try to get children to believe.  Mia and Gabby’s older cousin Angelica is visiting for Christmas and seems to be one of the biggest disbelievers.  Can the girls convince Angelica and others in time to save Pixie Hollow?

There are currently twelve books in Thorpe’s The Never Girls series, with A Fairy’s Gift being a holiday special.  This was the first book that I’ve read featuring the Never Girls and I think that it can be read as a stand-alone.  This isn’t much of a holiday read, as Christmas isn’t celebrated until the very end of the book. However, the overall theme of “believing” is relevant to the holiday.

This series is targeted to readers ages 6-9.  My 10 year-old daughter never got into this series, however, I think it’s a cute series for the targeted age group.  The cover is decorated with gold glitter and the book comes with an attached ribbon bookmark.  There are lots of illustrations and each page is outlined with a red snowflake and flower border.

Overall Rating:  Optional Read

What I Love About Christmas by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Pictures By: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Published by: Sterling Children’s Books, October 18, 2016
Genre:  Board Book, Christmas
Pages: 22
Price:  $12.95
Source: read in-store

From author’s website:

This irresistible board book—with a pop-up, pull-tabs, flaps to lift, and wheels to turn—captures both the excitement of Christmas and the joys of being with family for the holiday. There’s a festive flurry as a bear family makes presents, bakes cookies, decorates their tree, and visits Santa, but most important of all: “What I love about Christmas / is time with YOU!” Every spread has at least one interactive element, and a beautiful final pop-up shows the bear family snuggled together.

Review:  I had to get some new Christmas book releases in for the younger readers!  What I Love About Christmas is a cute holiday read.  It’s an interactive book and kids will enjoy pulling the tabs, lifting the flaps and more.  The text is short rhymes, describing all of the fun things to do at Christmas time with a sweet message at the end.  The illustrations are bright and colorful.  This is a great holiday read for toddlers.

Overall Rating:  Recommended Read

How To Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace 
Illustrated by:  Andy Elkerton
Published by:  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, October 4, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Picture Books, Christmas
Pages: 32
Price: $10.99
Source:  borrowed from the library

From Sourcebooks Jabberwocky:

You’ve been waiting all year long, and now it’s finally Christmas Eve! Is this the year you’ll finally catch an elf? Start a new Christmas tradition with this hilarious children’s book from the creators of the New York Times best-seller How to Catch a Leprechaun!

“It’s Christmas Eve! Hip hip, hooray!
Yes, Santa’s coming ‘round.
He’s bringing toys to girls and boys
in every house in town.”

“Some kids have tried to catch him,
but Santa’s fast, you see!
So they’ve set their eyes on a smaller prize,
and now they’re after me!”

Review:  It’s Christmas eve and the elf has teamed up with Santa to avoid the kids’ traps.  The title is a bit misleading as there is no explanation of how to catch an elf.  It’s really how the elf avoids being caught.  The book is very colorful and children will enjoy seeing the different traps that “naughty” children have set.  The story is told in rhyme, with several rhymes being quite a bit of a stretch.  While this book has a cute overall concept, it wasn’t executed well.    I have not checked out Wallace’s other books in the series, How to Catch a Leprechaun and How to Catch the Toothfairy.

Overall Rating:  Optional Read

Giselle the Christmas Ballet Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Illustrated by: Daisy Meadows
Published by:  Scholastic, 2016
Genre:  Chapter Book, Christmas, Series
Pages:  176
Price: $6.99
Source:  borrowed from the library

From Scholastic:

The Rainbow Magic Fairies have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads—it’s Christmastime in Fairyland!

Jack Frost is on the naughty list!

Each year, Giselle the Christmas Ballet Fairy’s special magic helps every holiday ballet show run perfectly. But when Jack Frost crashes a performance and steals her magic objects, it looks like everything will be ruined!

Rachel and Kirsty need to get the magic objects back in time for the Fairyland Christmas Eve ballet performance. They’ll have to harness all the magic of the season to help Giselle. If they don’t succeed, holiday shows everywhere will be ruined by Fairyland’s biggest grinch!

Find the magic objects in all three stories inside this Rainbow Magic Special Edition and help save the Christmas magic!

Review:  Rachel and Kirsty won a Best Friends Forever competition and get to spend the day at the Crystal Springs Ballet School as their prize.  Jack Frost is angry at Giselle, the Christmas Ballet Fairy and is trying to ruin her Fairyland Christmas Eve ballet.  He  steals Giselle’s magic objects, which in turn also have negative effects on the dancers at the Crystal Springs Ballet School, who are preparing for their performance of Swan Lake.  Giselle visits Rachel and Kirsty at the ballet school to enlist their help in getting her magic water bottle, dance bag and ballet shoes back.  Will they be able to help Giselle and ensure that both performances go smoothly?

Daisy Meadows is actually a pseudonym for the four English writers of this series.  The books are targeted towards readers ages 7 to 10.  There are over 200 books in the Rainbow Magic series including subseries of Weather Fairies, Party Fairies, Jewel Fairies and more!  Giselle the Christmas Ballet Fairy is a special edition book in the series.  The book consists of  three stories, each five chapters long.  I found the format of the stories to be a bit repetitive.  This is also not very Christmas-focused, except for the Christmas Eve ballet performance.  My daughter never really got into these books.  However, fans of the series will most likely enjoy this book as well.

Overall Rating:  Optional Read

The Great Spruce by John Duvall
Illustrated by:  Rebecca Gibbon
Published by: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (imprint of Penguin Random House), October 18, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book, Christmas
Pages: 40
Price:  $17.99
Source:  borrowed from the library

From Penguin Random House:

Together with his grandpa, a young boy finds a way to save his favorite tree in this heartwarming Christmas tale
 
Alec loves to climb trees—the little apple trees, the wide willow trees, even the tall locust trees. But his favorite is the great spruce, with its sturdy trunk and branches that stretch up to the sky. Alec’s grandpa planted it as a sapling years and years before Alec was born, and every Christmas, Alec and his grandpa decorate the tree together, weaving tinsel and lights through its branches, making it shine bright.
 
But one day, a few curious men from the nearby city take notice of Alec’s glistening great spruce, and ask to take it away for their Christmas celebration. Though it’s a huge honor, Alec’s heartbroken at the idea of losing his friend. With great courage and creativity, Alec comes up with a plan to save his favorite tree in this joyful holiday tale.

Review:  Alec loves to climb trees, but his favorite to climb is the Great Spruce that his grandpa transplanted years ago.  Alec and his grandpa love to decorate the tree every Christmas, but this year is different.  Alec’s family is asked if the tree can be taken and used in a Christmas celebration in the city.   His parents are honored and agree.  But Alec cannot imagine life without his tree!  When the men come with saws to cut down the tree Alec comes up with a creative solution that’s a win for everyone.

We live in the suburbs of New York City and every year take a visit down to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree there.  This story is relevant to us, since the tree we see has to be cut down and transported to the city.   There’s an environmental-friendly message in this book about tree preservation.  The author includes a note at the end of the book about the tradition of Christmas trees and information and photos about how a tree is transplanted.  This book isn’t really Christmas focused but is a nice non-religious holiday read.

Overall Rating:  Recommended Read

The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy
Pictures By: Emily Sutton
Published by: Candlewick Press, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book, Christmas
Pages: 32
Price:  $16.99
Source: borrowed from the library

From Candlewick Press:

It’s late on Christmas Eve, and the little fir tree is the only tree left in the shop. What a poor thing I am, it thinks. But then a young boy enters the store, drawn in from the damp by the warmth and lights and the wonderful smell of Christmas, and he doesn’t seem to mind that the scrawny tree isn’t tall and straight like the others. . . . This magical story, beautifully illustrated by Emily Sutton, captures an unexpected and unforgettable moment of happiness that brings a whole city together.

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
Illustrated by:  Chris Mould
Published by: Alfred A. Knopf (division of Penguin Random House) on November 1, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Middle Grade Fiction, Christmas
Pages: 240
Price:  $16.99
Source: borrowed from the library

From Penguin Random House:

Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Elf in this warmhearted Christmas caper.
 
Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. 
 
Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late. . . .
 
Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould.

Review: This book begins with Nikolas, an eleven year old boy, living with his father in the woods of Finland.  They are very poor and the only presents Nikolas ever received in his life were a wooden sleigh and a doll carved out of a turnip.  The only friend he has is a mouse he named Miika.  His father, Joel is a woodcutter and spends his days chopping wood.  One day a hunter named Anders asks Joel to accompany him on a trip north to find Elfhelm, the Elf Village.  The king is offering a huge monetary reward for anyone who can bring back proof of the village’s existence.  While his father’s away, Aunt Carlotta comes to take care of Nikolas.  She doesn’t like Nikolas very much and treats him badly.  After some time, Nikolas fears his father might be missing and goes on a journey to find him.  On the way, he befriends a reindeer whom he names Blitzen.  The two find them themselves on an adventure where they eventually find Elfhelm and reconnect with Nikolas’s father.  However, tough choices must be made and Nikolas must stand up for what he believes in.

This book is a fictional story of Father Christmas.  While reading we discover the origin of Santa’s red hat, the elves and reindeer and the delivering of presents on Christmas eve. It’s a magical story filled with adventure that will appeal to most readers.  Nikolas was a very likable character who perserveres through some difficult times. On the other hand,  Aunt Carlotta was very unlikable and the way she treated Nikolas reminded me of how Cinderella was treated by her stepmother.  This book included several memorable quotes including, “An impossibility is just a possibility you don’t understand yet,” “You can’t see something you don’t believe in,”  and”We must never let fear be our guide.” This book has short chapters that are filled with Mould’s black and white sketched illustrations.  I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, The Girl Who Saved Christmas.

Overall Review:  Recommended Read