By Tracy Grant
We suspect many of you soon will be playing with new toys that Santa has left under the tree. But if that’s not enough, we’ve put together this collection of books that will surprise, delight and keep you reading during the holidays.
No Other Story
by Cuthbert Soup
Ages 8 to 12
This is the third book in a series that tells the tale of the Cheeseman family, which is dad Ethan Cheeseman and his three “smart, polite, attractive and relatively odor-free children.” (The reason why there is no mother is central to the plot, which involves time travel, dinosaurs, vikings and, yes, gravy-flavored ice cream.) Even if you haven’t read the earlier books in the series — “A Whole Nother Story” and “Another Whole Nother Story” — you’ll find this story exciting and mostly laugh-out-loud funny. While you probably need to be at least 8 to read this book to yourself, it would make a great family read-aloud. Ask your parents if you can’t curl up on the couch or in front of a fire to read a few chapters before settling in for a long winter’s nap.
The Santa Trap
by Jonathan Emmett
illustrated by Poly Bernatene
Age 5 and older
We’re really hoping that none of you reading this is as bad a kid as Bradley Bartleby. Because even Santa finds it hard to put Bradley on a “nice” list. In fact, Santa won’t give Bradley anything but socks, and bad, bad Bradley is fed up with that. So he sets out to trap Santa and steal all the toys that Santa is carrying for good girls and boys. This funny, beautifully illustrated story will have you talking about the importance of “being good for goodness’ sake.”
Let’s Make Some Great Fingerprint Art
by Marion Deuchars
Age 5 and older
All you need to enjoy this book is your finger, an inkpad and your imagination. We bet you didn’t know that two thumbprints can create a heart or that those same two prints can create pigs, cats, bees or even the alphabet. In the spirit of the season, there’s even a way to use your palmprint to create Rudolph. The book is filled with clever ideas, but we think the best part is that it will inspire you to come up with more of your own.
Twelve Kinds of Ice
by Ellen Bryan Obed
illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Age 8 and older
This is a short (just 64 pages) and beautiful book that tells the story of one winter’s worth of ice. It starts with the thin ice that forms on a pail of water during the first freeze and continues with the ice that is perfect for a skating party. Even when winter draws to a close and what’s left of the ice are the thawed-out mittens, you know that some ice always remains: the ice of your memories. This book will have you hoping for a pair of skates under the tree and chilly days this winter.
Mira’s Diary: Lost in Paris
by Marissa Moss
Age 9 to 12
Mira is searching for her lost mother, and even if she’s looking in the right place, perhaps she is looking in the wrong time. The story moves quickly because it’s written as diary entries. It’s a very adventurous tale, but it includes some historic characters and raises fascinating questions about trying to change the past. (Mira’s second adventure, Mira’s Diary: Home Sweet Rome, will be published in April.)
The Monsters’ Monster
by Patrick McDonnell
Age 4 and older
What makes a monster a monster? Is it how big the monster is? How scary he looks? The way he behaves? That’s what Grouch, Grump and Gloom ‘n’ Doom discover when these three little monsters who live in a castle decide to make one really big, really scary monster. Older kids will enjoy the references to Frankenstein in this adorable picture book, while little kids will love the playful illustrations. Parents will love the message. That’s why if you do get caught reading a Halloween book after bedtime by mom or dad, you want to pull this one out and say, “Please read this to me like you did when I was little.”
A guaranteed treat for everyone.
Invisible Inkling: Dangerous Pumpkins
by Emily Jenkins
Age 7 and older
Inkling is an invisible, nearly extinct creature called a bandapat. This particular bandapat lives in Hank Wolowitz’s laundry basket and causes trouble. But now it’s October, and fourth-grader Hank hates October because October means Halloween and his sister always scares him half to death. Plus he’s got to find a costume. Worse, Inkling’s favorite food is pumpkins, so he’s going around the neighborhood eating up all the jack-o’-lanterns. Warning: This book is more likely to make you laugh out loud than cry out in fear. Remember to giggle into your pillow if you don’t want your parents to hear.
WP-Bloomberg
