It's a little past the holidays, but I just read this new book from Marion Dane Bauer. It is a simple retelling of the Nativity story; how Joseph, Mary, and the donkey found a welcoming place in the stable for Jesus' birth. It also celebrates the timeless joy that families experience when they welcome a new baby into the world. With illustrations by Richard Cowdrey, this is one for families to share and enjoy.
We have a new cat at our house, and we are gradually learning her ways of communicating with her human 'mom and dad'. People who have a cat or dog may have times when they wish it could talk and describe its daily adventures. In this story, a young girl imagines a fabulous trip that her cat takes around the continent of Europe. With rhyming text by Minnesotan Caroline Lazo and collage and oil illustrations by Krysten Brooker, this book could be used to introduce European countries and geography to young readers. End notes provide additional information about the countries that this feline visits.
Kelly doesn't know how to ice skate, but all her friends can. Then she meets Snowden, a very special snowman who comes to life when Kelly hangs her Grandpa's skates around his neck. Snowden doesn't know how to skate either, so they learn together. After lots of practice, Kelly is able to return to the rink and impress her friends with some neat tricks. Written and illustrated by Nancy Carlson, this will be a fun story for winter (brrrr, it's cold today!)
