All I Want for Christmas Is You


Mariah Carey - 2009
    And now its classic lyrics will bring that same holiday spirit to readers of all ages in this one-of-a-kind picture book about a young girl whose greatest Christmas wish is for a new puppy! Full of festive December moments with family, friends, presents, and of course, Santa Claus—and featuring lively yuletide illustrations alongside the complete song lyrics—All I Want for Christmas Is You will become a cherished part of your family's Christmas traditions for many years to come. Includes a special Christmas letter from Mariah to her fans!

Babushka


Dawn Casey - 2015
    When they leave Babushka stays behind cleaning and tidying, and preparing a gift for the baby. Next morning when she starts to follow the men she finds that the snow has covered their tracks and she doesn't know which way to go. But she keeps on searching, and as she goes she gives a gift from her basket to every child she passes who is hungry, or cold, or has no toys. This retelling of a traditional Russian folk tale is accompanied by glowing illustrations from an award-winning artist.

Hug?


Charlene Chua - 2020
    After coughing up a hairball, a girl's cat doesn't feel well. So the girl offers to give her cat a hug, which makes the cat --- and the girl --- feel better. A dog notices and asks for a hug, too. Then some ducks come along asking for hugs. And a skunk . . . and a bear --- and a porcupine! One animal after another comes asking the girl for a hug until she's simply had enough. How much more of this can she take? With spare text and wonderfully expressive illustrations, Charlene Chua has created a playful, funny picture book with an original premise. The story shows how important hugs can be to our happiness --- even the most unlikely of creatures sometimes need one! --- but that doesn't mean they're always welcome.The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments, most of which are found in illustrations that vividly portray the girl's emotions as she grows more worn out with every encounter, encouraging visual literacy. Each spread also shows a hint of the animal that will appear next, building anticipation for what's to come. There are character education connections here to compassion, tolerance and empathy, and a terrific opportunity for discussions about boundaries.

Franklin's Christmas Gift


Paulette Bourgeois - 1998
    In a touching denouement, he discovers that generosity has rewards that more than compensate for the pain of parting with a beloved possession. Full-color illustrations.

Piggy Bunny


Rachel Vail - 2012
    Not Liam. He wants to be a bunny. Even if it takes a lot of practice to learn how to hop...and to eat salad. Even if no one believes that a piggy can be a bunny. With a lot of determination, and a little help from his grandma, Liam is determined to make his dream come true.For children who put on a cape or a tutu, who dream of being someone or something different, Piggy Bunny by Rachel Vail, with illustrations by Jeremy Tankard, offers a reassuring and fun opportunity to believe in themselves.This picture book is perfect for families looking for LGBTQ-friendly children's books. The sweet story about about identity, acceptance, and coming out to family members speaks to the queer and transgender experience, as well as the experience of any children who know they're different.

Santa from Cincinnati


Judi Barrett - 2012
    His first words were “ho ho ho!” By five he was wearing a fake beard and mustache, and could rarely be found without his favorite stuffed reindeer. It was clear from a very young age that he was destined to be unique... Despite this, his parents went to great lengths to maintain normalcy in his life. They had him learn guitar (he was in a rock band!), and play baseball (he had quite an arm), and even do chores (okay—here he was like any other kid on earth—he hated chores). But there was no stopping Santa from being Santa, and one winter, he began to make his lists. He checked them twice, and delivered toys to children all over Cincinnati. Then, all over Ohio. Then—the world. Compiled from his baby book, family photos, and report cards, Santa from Cincinnati provides a full-spectrum view of the boy who grew to be the man who grew to be Santa.

Pax and Blue


Lori Richmond - 2017
    Pax is the littlest everywhere he goes. In school. At playtime. On the train. Then Pax meets a pigeon at the park—he names him Blue and makes a friend who knows what it’s like to be small. And understanding each other can lead to the best friendships.

How to Trap a Leprechaun


Sue Fliess - 2017
    And with a craft included in each book, young readers will be engaged long after the story ends. The perfect storybook for boys and girls of the parents to capture the spirit of the Irish or make St. Patrick’s Day special.Legend has it that if you catch a leprechaun, he’ll grant you a wish. But, be careful! Leprechauns are full of trickery. To catch one, you’ll need to be clever in crafting your trap. Grab some glitter and glue and get prepared for your wily holiday visitors!On the night before St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns show up to steal your treasures and then disappear as quickly as they came. However, if you’re careful you might be able to catch one and then he’ll grant you a wish. You’ll have to be sneaky and set just the right trap to trap a leprechaun.Sue Fliess’s read-aloud text and Emma Randall’s whimsical illustrations will provide much fun for young readers eager to catch their very own leprechaun! But beware: leprechauns may leave you with nothing but a cardboard box and a shoe or two.

The 13 Nights of Halloween


Guy Vasilovich - 2011
    From singing skulls to demons dancing to icky eyeballs, each one is spookier and slimier than the next!This holiday mashup is the perfect way to gear up for Halloween celebrations. Filled with tricks and treats, laughs and smiles, this picture book’s catchy text and whimsical illustrations are sure to make the Halloween season even more fun!Perfect for fans of Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell!


Lucille Colandro - 2006
    A wacky new Christmas version of the classic "There Was an Old Lady" song!This time, the hungry old lady swallows a bell, bows, gifts, a sack, a sleigh, and some reindeer! She's about to swallow a candy cane for dessert, when she hears a jolly "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Santa Claus is waiting for a ride! Watch what happens when she whistles, with amazing results!With rhyming text and funny illustrations, this lively version of a classic song will appeal to young readers with every turn of the page--a fun story for Christmastime!This is a wonderful companion to Colandro and Lee's other Old Lady books!

Dear Santasaurus


Stacy McAnulty - 2013
    Spinosaurus is already dreaming of the present Santasaurus will hopefully bring him next Christmas. This means, of course, that Ernest will have to stay on Santasaurus's "nice" list all . . . year . . . long. But how will Santasaurus know? By Ernest's letters! This hilarious story is told entirely through the seventeen letters that Ernest writes to Santasaurus, detailing the whopping 257 nice acts (and the mere 256 naughty acts) he racks up through the year. Santasaurus even sends a letter in reply! Fresh and funny, this countdown to Christmas is a journey through the year that readers will want to take over and over again.

This Book Is Gray


Lindsay Ward - 2019
    But the other colors are always leaving him out. So he decides to create his own project: an all-gray book. Once upon a time, there lived a wolf, a kitten, and a hippo…Gray just knows it’s going to be perfect. But as he adds page after page, the Primary and Secondary colors show up…and they aren’t quite so complimentary.A book within a book, this colorful tale explores the ideas of fitting in, appreciating others, and looking at things from another perspective and also uses personality and wit to introduce basic color concepts.

The Littlest Viking


Alexandra Penfold - 2018
    He has the loudest warrior cry and the fiercest set of teeth. He loves to pillage and plunder. But there's a new kid in town--a warrior princess, who is smaller than Sven and even louder. What's a little Viking to do?"Penfold folds in fun ancient analogues to tried-and-true methods of appeasing cranky little ones, and Roxas's liberal use of a color perhaps best described as neon snot brings a punk edge to her scenes of Viking family life. Irreverent yet tender."--Publishers Weekly, Starred review"A warm tale of family togetherness."--Kirkus"A spirited tale about stopping a tantrum with a story, perfect for storytime or one-on-one sharing."--SLJ

Unicorn Day


Diana Murray - 2019
    But when it's revealed there's an impostor in their midst, the party comes to a screeching halt...Will the unicorns welcome all and continue their fun in all its glittery glory?A clever, colorful, and over-the-top picture book about unicorns, celebrations, and most importantly, friendship.

A Christmas Dress for Ellen


Thomas S. Monson - 1998
    Her heart was full of sorrow, for there was nothing to fill the stockings, and there would be only a little mush for breakfast. Mary had written to her sisters in Idaho, asking for help with such necessities as wheat, yeast, flour, and cornmeal. She had also asked for clothing and some old, used quilts, for all of hers were thin and full of holes.At the close of the letter, she had written, "If you could just find a dress that someone has outgrown, I could make it over to fit Ellen. She is far too somber for such a young girl. She worries so about the family and about our needs. She has only one dress that she wears all the time, and it is patched and faded."Her letter had gone unanswered, it seemed, and their Christmas would be far from merry. But George Schow, their mailman, had a surprise in store. Could he brave the coming storm and bitter cold to deliver a Christmas miracle? And would there be a special present for Ellen? Find out in this classic tale of Christmas sacrifice and service.About this book: President Thomas S. Monson told the story "A Christmas Dress for Ellen" at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in 1997, and an adaption of his address was published as a Christmas booklet in 1998. The story was related to President Monson by Marian Jeppson Walker (now deceased), a daughter of Mary Jeppson, the mother in the story. Sister Walker and her husband, William, also exchanged correspondence about the story with President Monson over the years. Additional details were obtained through correspondence with descendants of George Schow, the mailman who delivered the long-looked-for packages to the Jeppson family on Christmas Eve. In addition to other family members, those descendants include Mark Schow (now deceased) and Gayla Woolf Holt. The help and information from all these family members is acknowledged and appreciated.