Christmas Book Pick of the Day: Christmas in the Trenches

Last night, I gathered my little boys and we read Christmas in the Trenches--the story of German and British soldiers in WWI singing carols to each other across the battlefield, and eventually calling a truce for the night so that they could celebrate the Savior's birth together.  If only for one night, these young men were friends. This story jabs me in the softest place in my heart--the one that is usually saved for newborn babies and tea sets; I had a lump in my throat for the entire book. But then my 10 year-old turned to me and, with his big brown innocent eyes, asked, "Mom, why does war have to tear our world apart?"  And that is when mom fell apart.  I didn't have a reasonable response for him because war is rarely reasonable.  However, we hugged and marveled at the spirit of Christmas that can make hard things soft, that can make battlefields quiet, and that can make enemies friends.  It is a beautiful truth wrapped in a beautiful book.  Good reads to you all . . .

Christmas Book Pick of the Day: The Legend of The Candy Cane

This is a favorite around our house because of several things; our love of story books, James Bernardin's beautiful illustrations, and our deep deep love of candy. Even as an adult, I feel the Lucy's excitement as she opens a box marked "Confections" and finds colorful candies of every kind.

However, I must tell you the best thing about this book; the prose is such that you can't help but read it softly and quietly. It's exciting, and yet reverent, and its message centers around the true story of Christ's birth. What more could we possibly ask for?

Christmas Book Pick of The Day: Siegfried's Silent Night

I almost didn't recommend this one because it's out of print (And probably has been for about 3 decades) but we live in the world of Amazon and Ebay, so nothing is that far out of reach.

This is a sweet story about the family Vaughn mice, set in Austria, 1818. It's supposed to be the mice who find a home in the church where "Silent Night" is composed, and it is a sweet little story. I will warn you, 3 year olds might find Uriah the Rat a little scary for their tastes. I have read this to my current 5 year old for several years in a row, and it never scared her, but also never interested her until this year. Now she wants to read it every night, repeatedly. And I am happy to oblige, because the pictures are so precious, and we get to sing "Silent Night" at the end of the book (One of my favorites!) It's been a wonderful addition to our bedtime routine, and if you ever come across it at a garage sale, I hope it becomes a wonderful addition to yours.

Christmas Book Pick of the Day

 

Ever since I read Strega Nona in first grade, I have been an ardent fan of Tomie dePaola.  And pasta.  So when I came across Paola's Legend of the Poinsettia a few years ago, I put it in my e-shopping cart so fast that I almost sprained my mouse-clicking finger.  No surprises here, the book is a charming, visually stunning rendering of a classic folk tale.  The story is set in a small Mexican town where a poor young girl named Lucida despairs over what to give to the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve pageant.  On her way to the church, she learns a lesson about the true meaning of La Navidad.  

Every year this story reminds me how grateful I am for family, for Christ's birth, and for Christmas miracles.  

(Besides, there is something about the native New Mexican in me that relishes rolling my R's and speaking with that Latin American sing-song cadence as I read the story to my kids.  They all look at me funny, but I can't help it.  It just comes out that way.  The same thing happens when I order carne asada burritos at restaurants.)  

Add The Legend of the Poinsettia to your Christmas collection.  Es muy bueno!

Halloween Books for Little Goblins

Before I had children, I sanctimoniously vowed that I would not lower my prim standards by reveling in pagan Halloween.  And then I had kids.  We have become that house that I always mocked---the one with the spider webs and orange lights and the door mat that makes scary sounds.  I do it for my little goblins, and they love me for it.  But I draw the line at blood, gore, zombies, scythes, and Necco wafers.  Some things just ruin the fun.  I have applied the same "no creeps" criteria to our Halloween book collection.  We like books that hint at mischief but don't go anywhere close.  For those of you on the same page as our lily-livered family, here are some Halloween favorites that you might enjoy: