It’s that time of year to temporarily eliminate commentary to make room for an additional book recommendation for the holiday season. Happy reading!
Books to borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“The Chanukah Guest” by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Giora Carmi, Holiday House, 32 pages
Read aloud: age 2 – 3 and older.
Read yourself: age 7 – 8.
Bubba Brayne was 97 years old. She lived in a little house on the edge of the forest, and every year at Hanukkah all her friends would make their way to her house to eat her delicious latkes. This year she made twice as many latkes as usual, because this year the rabbi was coming.
While Bubba Brayne cooked, the delicious smells of her latkes wafted through the forest. Old Bear, in the middle of his winter sleep, was awakened by the smells and followed the wonderful scent right to Bubba Brayne’s house. Bubba Brayne didn’t see or hear very well at her age, and thinking the knock at her door was the rabbi, welcomed Old Bear into her home.
After lighting the menorah and a game of dreidel, the two feasted on latkes until they were all gone. Old Bear left, and Bubba Brayne began washing the dishes when she heard another knock at the door. It was the rabbi — the real rabbi — along with everyone from the village!
A wonderfully entertaining story with delightful illustrations, this book is a great choice for Hanukkah, the holidays or anytime.
Librarian’s choice
Library: Mifflin Community Library, 6 Philadelphia Ave., Shillington
Library director: Natasha Donaldson
Youth services: Andrea Hunter
Choices this week: “But Not the Hippopotamus” by Sandra Boynton; “My Friend, Rabbit” by Eric Rohmann; “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster
Books to buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
“Santa’s First Christmas” by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Sydney Smith, Viking, 2024, 40 pages, $18.99 hardcover
Read aloud: age 3 – 7.
Read yourself: age 6 – 7.
Long ago, Santa did not privately celebrate Christmas. He had two missions in life — to make toys all year long at the North Pole, and on Christmas Eve to deliver those gifts. When he woke up on Christmas morning, he began making toys again.
A bear who lived near the North Pole suggested to the elves that they should all work together and do something special for Santa. The elves agreed, and they got to work. From breakfast in bed, picking out a tree and decorating it, baking cookies and making a sumptuous meal to share, gifts for Santa and more, Santa was delighted with every bit of the celebration. In fact, it was such a merry Christmas, he decided they should do that every year.
Charming illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to this delightful story of kindness, making “Santa’s First Christmas” certain to become a Christmas classic.
“The Other Side of Perfect” by Melanie Florence and Richard Scrimger, Scholastic, 2024, 256 pages, $18.99 hardcover
Read aloud: age 8 – 12.
Read yourself: age 8 – 12.
Cody’s father had beaten him more times than Cody could remember, but this time was the worst. When Cody came to, and his father was missing from their filthy apartment, Cody knew he had to get away from the threat for good. And so, Cody ran away, making it as far as the wealthy neighborhood where he slumped to the ground, unable to go any farther.
Footsteps startled Cody awake and he was surprised to see a girl from his middle school — Autumn — a rich cool kid from a wealthy Indigenous family. Autumn was shocked to come across him and even more shocked by his badly battered face.
Not knowing what else to do, Autumn offered to take Cody to her house and shelter him in her father’s art studio. What would come to transpire were a series of unexpected things neither Cody nor Autumn could have imagined possible.
A powerful story of identity, compassion and what it means to belong, “The Other Side of Perfect” is a real gem of a novel.
“No, Nancy, No! A Dog Chase in New York” written and illustrated by Alice Tait, Walker Books, 2024, 24 pages, $18.99 hardcover
Read aloud: age 4 – 8.
Read yourself: age 6 – 8.
Nancy and her little dog, Roger, have arrived in New York City to see the biggest show in town — “Dogs! The Musical!” — and as they stand in front of the theater, they see the sparkly poodle, Candy, the star of the show. Nancy wants to pet Candy, but when she holds Candy’s leash, Candy bolts away.
It’s up to Nancy and Roger to chase her down through the streets of New York, but they aren’t the only ones racing after Candy; dogs throughout the city join them as well.
Get ready for a Lift-the-Flap madcap adventure with the spunky Nancy and her dog, Roger, in this entertaining book, “No, Nancy, No! A Dog Chase in New York.”
Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached at [email protected].
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