December 2012

Jeanette’s Favorite: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry This is a Christmas classic that I can re-read every year without fail. The rhyming tale tells of a rich man who orders the biggest tree you’ve ever seen. Too big for the parlor, the top of the tree is trimmed and the smaller tip is given to… Read more »

Kristen’s Favorite: Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters

Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters by K.G. Campbell (Kids Can Press, 2012) I adored the sly humor of “Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters” and the fantastic language K.G. Campbell uses. When Cousin Clara comes to stay (after a crocodile consumes her cottage), Lester’s problem begins. Cousin Clara is a curiously speedy knitter, and what she loves most to knit… Read more »

The Comfort of Books

Never have the children in our country needed the comfort of books more than now. The comfort of books in which the children are protected or safe, with happy endings and familiar characters to whom good things happen; or books in which children or animals face great danger with courage and determination; or even the… Read more »

A List of Lists: All the Best Children’s Books of 2012

All month, the ReaderkidZ have been picking our favorite books for the holidays. Funny enough, many other esteemed organizations are doing the same thing.  Below are several excellent lists of the best children’s books of 2012 that we thought you might like to check out. Happy reading and happy holidays! Horn Book Fanfare Our Choices… Read more »

Required Reading for the Season

THE CHRISTMAS QUIET BOOK by Deborah Underwood  Illustrated by Renata Liwska (Houghton Mifflin, 2012) The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood and illustrator Renata Liwska is more of a good thing from the team that brought us The Quiet Book and The Loud Book. The whole idea of getting young children to even think about quiet, especially… Read more »