25 Books of Christmas

Candy Cane Lane by Scott Santoro
Pictures By:  Scott Santoro
Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, September, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book, Christmas
Pages: 32
Price:  $17.99
Source: borrowed from the library

From Simon & Schuster:

A group of misfit holiday decorations come vividly to life as they try to make their way home for the holidays in this enchanting and heartwarming picture book from Scott Santoro.

The houses on Candy Cane Lane have some of the most spectacular holiday decorations around, so when a winter storm hits and damages some of the festive lawn ornaments, the residents simply can’t allow the broken figures to ruin their prized displays. Many end up in the trash, including a scuffed choirboy who is sure he’ll never have a chance to bring holiday cheer to the lane again. That is, until a little girl in the only undecorated house on the block saves him and gives him a special spot on her lawn.

But when a misunderstanding the next morning sends the choirboy off to the dump, he’ll have to team up with a plucky group of other discarded lawn ornaments to find his way back to the little girl and the one place everyone wants to be during the holiday season—home.

With classic holiday spirit and illustrations as merry and bright as any holiday display, Scott Santoro brings Candy Cane Lane to life for readers of all ages.

Review:  A little girl lives in the only house on Candy Cane Lane that has no Christmas decorations.  The day after a blizzard, the girl discovers a dented choirboy in the trash.  She rescues him and places him on her lawn, excited to finally have a lawn decoration.  However, her father mistakenly throws him out again and he is taken away by the garbage men.  The choirboy finds some other discarded ornaments who band together in hopes of finding the little girl who will hopefully love them all.

This book is filled with colorful illustrations that have a retro feel.  In today’s age of holiday decorations including the Star Shower, projectors, and Christmas inflatables I’m not sure how relevant this book is for children.   While reading this to my eight-year-old son, he questioned what a lawn ornament was and asked if it was like the ornaments on our tree.  As I mentioned, at least near us, not many people use these types of holiday decorations anymore, so he was not very familiar with them.  The overall story is heartwarming as the castoffs are finally loved. However, this book didn’t appeal to my children.

Overall Rating: Optional

Santa’s Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley
Pictures By:  Marty Kelley
Published by: Sleeping Bear Press on August 1, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book, Christmas
Pages: 32
Price:  $16.99
Source: borrowed from the library

From Sleeping Bear Press:

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa is busy getting gussied up for the big night. But when he goes to put on his warm, cozy (holey, ragged) Christmas underwear, they’re nowhere to be found! With undies for every occasion, he tries on the rest of his collection. But nothing is quite right. Just when he’s about to give up he find a surprise from his considerate team of reindeer. Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!

Review:  Santa prepares to deliver presents on Christmas Eve but can’t find his special long, red, woolly undies.  He tries on several other pairs of underwear but none of them feel right for this special night.  Will he find his Christmas underwear in time to deliver presents?!  This is a silly Christmas read that will appeal to younger children.  The humorous illustrations of Santa’s various underwear ensembles will have them giggling.

Overall Verdict:  Optional Read

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus
Pictures By:  Cale Atkinson
Published by: Tundra Books(division of Penguin Random House) on October 11, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book, Christmas
Pages: 32
Price:  $16.99
Source: borrowed from the library

From Penguin Random House:

Santa has a problem. This kid? Harold? Santa doesn’t think he’s real. He WANTS to believe in Harold–after all, Harold is one of the most magical parts of Christmas. Getting Harold’s letters, eating the cookies he leaves out, feeding his carrots to the reindeer… what would Christmas be without that? But Santa’s just not sure. Some of his friends are telling him they think Harold’s not real. And the Harold that sat on his knee last Christmas looked AWFULLY different. Santa comes up with a plan to find out once and for all if Harold really exists… with hilarious consequences.

Review:  Santa is doubting if Harold is real and Harold is doubting if Santa is real.  The two both come up with a plan to see if the other does indeed exist.  Maureen Fergus has written several children’s books, however this was our first time reading her work.  My son found the illustrations of Santa funny with his giant round belly and body and tiny legs and arms.  The story gets a plus for depicting a multiracial family.  My eight-year-old son is at the age where he may be starting to doubt the existence of Santa Claus.  As I was reading this book to him I was cringing a little inside, hoping he wouldn’t bring up the question if Santa was real.  Be wary of reading this book to children who may be doubting the existence of Santa.

Overall Verdict: Optional Read

Clark The Shark Loves Christmas by Bruce Hale
Illustrated by:  Guy Francis
Published by: Harper (imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers) on September 20, 2016
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book, Christmas
Pages: 32
Price:  $17.99
Source: borrowed from the library

From HarperCollins:
Clark the Shark loves Christmas more than anyone! When Clark’s class organizes a Secret Santa exchange, Clark decides to find out who will be giving him a present . . . and forgets to get a present for his Secret Santa! What will happen on the day of the gift exchange? Will Clark learn about Christmas giving?

Featuring bright, colorful artwork from Guy Francis and hilarious read-aloud text from Bruce Hale, this Clark the Shark picture book is the perfect story for Christmas reading fun.

Clark the Shark: Afraid of the Dark is a 2016 Children’s Choice Book Award finalist!

Review:
Clark the Shark stars in a series of books by author Bruce Hale.  However, this was our first time reading a Clark the Shark book.  My eight-year-old son read this book aloud to us and enjoyed the story and colorful illustrations.  He was quick to notice that Clark’s Santa hat doesn’t actually sit on Clark’s head.  Hmmm.  The story has characters with fun fish names and teaches an important message about gift giving.  However, as my husband pointed out, the lesson Clark shares he didn’t actually follow himself.   This a fun holiday book starring a character that many readers may already be familiar with.

Overall Verdict: Optional Read