Book 142

Christmas Lullaby, written by Nancy Jewell, illustrated by Stefano Vitale, Clarion Books, 1994.  Baby to Toddler to Preschool.

Two years ago, I checked Christmas Lullaby out from our local library.  I thought it was a charming poem with lovely illustrations.  My then two-year-old son thought we needed our own copy.  I ordered one before the three-week check-out period elapsed. 

Christmas Lullaby IS a charming poem.  It is simple, sweet, poignant and even funny.  It could easily be read to the very youngest of listeners.  And older ones will enjoy reciting it or reading it to you.

The illustrations ARE lovely.  The medium looks like a water color or gouache on grained wood.  The effect is stunning, especially for the night sky.  Each page turn progresses the action closer and closer to the true reason for celebrating Christmas.  The artwork, like the text, is simple, sweet, poignant and even funny.  In short, the illustrations match the text perfectly. 

We've been reading this book for three Decembers.  I predict that we will be reading it for many more.

Thomas' December stories -- Part II

 8.

Once upon a time, there was a robot bunny.  He was lost.  He was sad.  He was raining inside.  He had no eyes, no mouth, no nose.  He had little bear ears.  A bear found the robot bunny.  He’s a robot ghost now.   The End.

9.

Once upon a time, there was an ice cream prince.  And there was a plane.  The ice cream prince went through the door to the plane.  And he was flying.  To the shooting moon.  But the moon was falling.  The moon fell to the ground.  The End.

10.

Once upon a time, there was a band.  It was a space shuttle band.  Full of monkeys.  The End.

11.

Once upon a time, there was a firefly.  He lived in a garden.  His name was Pinocchio.  He hung on a tree and wouldn’t let go.  Like a star.  The End.

12.

Once upon a time, there was so much love.  The End.

13.

Once upon a time, there was no story.  There was shadow-dancing music.  And the shadows danced.  The End.

14.

Once upon a time, there were shadow feet.  And they jumped on water lilies.  Fifty thousand water lilies.   The End.

15.

Once upon a time, there was a crystal ball.  A magic crystal ball.  It made music.  It made Christmas.  The End.

16.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas Molly.  He was lost and crying, “Meow, meow.”  He heard a “Whoo, whoo.”  It was an owl kitten.  The owl kitten found the Thomas Molly.  The End.

Stream of consciousness poem, part IX

October 14, 2011 – That night, at the hotel

Where’s Luna?

She’s been driving

For thirty hours

Straight

From Colorado –

Just she and

Her dog

She reached

North Carolina

Three hours ago

She should be here

By now

Can’t call her

Because her cell

Phone died

Where’s Luna?

Every vehicle

In the hotel

Parking lot

Could be her

But they are not

Luna

Book 141

Bear Stays Up For Christmas, written by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman, Simon & Schuster, 2004.


Before I found Karma Wilson on Facebook earlier this year, I thought she must be a lovely older lady with a beautiful spirit because her writing is so perfect and wise.  I was a bit wrong.  She is lovely and she does have a beautiful spirit, but she is actually a few years younger than I am.  Sigh.  I have forgiven her for being younger than I am because of the beautiful spirit that infuses all of her books for children. 

I fell in love with Karma Wilson's "Bear" books early on in my years as a children's librarian.  They are a joy to read out loud, either to an audience of one or thirty.  The rhythm, meter and word choice is always perfect.  And there is always a "heart-tug" moment.  Karma Wilson paints with her words:  every one is needed, not one is wasted.  In this book, Bear takes time away from his hibernation to give his friends a special surprise at Christmas.  He succeeds, but he, also, is surprised.

Jane Chapman's beautiful illustrations give even more life to Bear and his woodland friends.  I don't know how she does it, but she manages a realism that is not frightening and a sweetness that is not twee or precious.  Her animals are instantly recognizable for what they are, with expressions that completely match the actions and words that Karma Wilson gives them.  Her artwork is also instantly recognizable as her own.

So far, we have four "Bear" books in our house.  We won't be stopping there.

Book 140

The Mouse Before Christmas, written and illustrated by Michael Garland, Puffin Book 1997.  Preschool to Early Elementary.


When I was growing up, beside the Biblical account of Jesus' birth, two books were read in our house every Christmas Eve:  The Night Before Christmas and Santa Mouse.  I think Michael Garland grew up with the same two stories. 

The Mouse Before Christmas feels like a loving homage to both Christmas classics.  It also feels like a fresh, new tale (pun slightly intended).   It is charming and sweet, lyrically perfect, and just the right length for Christmas Eve reading. 

Michael Garland's illustrations are also charming and sweet.  His Santa Claus has the kindest eyes I've ever seen in illustration.  And the world tour is stunningly beautiful. 

My little boy just turned four last month.  This Christmas Eve, beside the Biblical account of Jesus' birth, we will be reading The Night Before Christmas, Santa Mouse AND The Mouse Before Christmas.  It is good to have traditions.  It is even better to make them your own.

Thomas' December stories, part I

Thomas’ December Stories

1.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy.  He lived in the garden.  He painted.  He painted flowers.  He painted trees.  He painted the sky.  He painted fingers and cereal.  He painted happy.  The End.

2.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  He climbed up a sit-down.   And waited.  He was lost.  He went into a truck.  He stood up.  He was lost.  And sad.  And crying.  And Sophie was crying.  Sophie found Thomas.  The End.

3. 

The Prince’s Story, Part I

Once upon a time, there was a story.  It was a Prince’s story.  He was a handsome prince.  He lived in a garden.  And had a magic wand.  But he didn’t have a mommy.  He was lost and sad. 

4.

Once upon a time, there was a flapping-wing Thomas.  He was flapping his wings.  But he couldn’t fly.  He was sad.  Then he played candy cane music, and he was happy.  The End.

5.

The Prince’s Story, Part II

The Prince was lost.  The lost prince found a castle phone box.  He went through the door to happy.  The End.

6.

Once upon a time, there was a froggy.  He wanted to be clean.  So he flip-flopped in to the shower.  And washed his hair.  The End.

7.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Thomas.  And there was a book.  Thomas was lost.  In the book.  He was hungry.  Very hungry.  So he got out of the book and ate ice cream.  Lots of ice cream.  The End.

Thomas' November stories -- Part VIII (and The End)

57.

Once upon a time, there was a monkey.  He said, “Good morning, Thomas.  How are you?”

Thomas gave him a kiss.  Two kisses.  The monkey like candy.  Lots of candy. 

Thomas said, “I’m keeping my eye on you!”

The End.

58.

Once upon a time, there was a monkey.  And there was a 1.  The monkey saw the 1, and the 1 saw the monkey.  They ate colors and had a big party.  The End.

59.

Once upon a time, there was as Thomas.  He built a pillow ladder.  To go up.  To go up to the sky.  To go up to the stars.  He slid down a fish pillow.  Into a fish’s cave.  The End.

60.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Thomas.  He wanted to play candy cane music.  Like Mommy does.   The End.

61.

Once upon a time, there was a sad stone.  The End.

62.

Once upon a time, there was a soap.  Named Soap.  It was outside.  And it was raining.  The soap got wet and slippery, and slipped away.  The End.

63.

Once upon a time, there was a shadow.  He had a shadow.  There were two shadows.  One shadow opened a door and went into a phone box castle.  The other shadow stayed here with wind-up birds.  And blue monkeys.  And the shadow came back.  The End.

64.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Thomas.  He had a shadow.  He chased the shadow.  And tried to take off her head.  The shadow was hiding.  The shadow jumped out and she chased Thomas.  She ran into Thomas’ mouth and was gone.  The End.