November is Picture Book Month! Review: Latkes for Santa Claus by Janie Emaus

Image: Sky Pony Press

Latkes for Santa Claus by Janie Emaus. Illustrated by Bryan Langdo. unpgd. Sky Pony Press, October, 2020. 9781510759886. (Review of finished copy courtesy of the author.)

Anna emails Santa for the first time on her iPad. She informs him that she's celebrating Christmas for the first time with her new dad and stepbrother and thinks he might be tired of cookies, so she's planning on leaving him the best treat ever. The only problem is, she's not sure what. It doesn't help that Michael, her stepbrother assures her that his cookies are the best Santa treat ever. He also informs her that Santa doesn't answer emails.

At first, she zeroes in on matzo ball soup as the best, but Michael reminds her that, "Santa can't eat soup with his fingers."  When Anna imagines Santa attempting this, she realizes that matzo ball soup won't do. How about Aunt Bea's noodle kugel? That can't be eaten with fingers either. Tzimmes? Nope!

Finally, Anna realizes the perfect finger food! Her mom's potato latkes are the perfect treat for Santa. She adds them to Michael's plate of cookies. Not only is the plate empty on Christmas morning, but Anna receives an email from Santa!

Ah, the December dilemma. Thirty-five years ago, I married a Jewish man in a civil ceremony. He wasn't particularly religious and both of his older siblings married outside the religion. His parents were accepting and welcoming. I suggested that we choose the Jewish holidays over Christmas and Easter. I was not at all religious and didn't mind. My husband did. He adored Christmas. He wanted a tree and presents. He also wanted Hanukkah, so we merged the two holidays. Our tree doesn't go up until Christmas Eve and all our decorations are decidedly secular - Santa, snowmen, birds, and the like. Years when Hanukkah and Christmas overlap are challenging. We found our way. We also celebrated others and observed Shabbat in our own way. 

I would've loved to have had this book when my kids were small. The cheery, energetic illustrations are appealing, as is the rhyming refrain each time Anna imagines Santa handling the various foods. The recipes for sugar cookies and potato latkes are an added bonus! This is such a fun book and not just for families who merge the two holidays!

Picture Book Review: Santa's Story by Will Hillenbrand

Santa's Story by Will Hillenbrand. unpgd. Two Lions/ Amazon Publishing, September, 2019. 9781542043380. (Review of finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

In addition to already being a fan of Will Willenbrand, I fell instantly in love with the cover! The snow, Santa's jaunty walk, the light from the lantern, everything just warmed and tickled. I don't know about you, but I am a faithful reader of dedication pages. Reading the author's touching dedication to his dad, who read the poem, "Twas the Night before Christmas" each Christmas Eve certainly stole my heart.

So. Santa is ready to launch on Christmas Eve. His sleigh is stuffed but the stable is empty. Where are the reindeer? As Santa searches, the reader sees what alliterative activity each reindeer is involved in frosty mostly double-page spreads featuring a variety of endearing woodland creatures as well as the eight reindeer. "Vixen vexed, "More snow!" as a snowman pushes a snowblower. Hilarity ensues. The illustrations are filled with little bits of visual humor.

Just in time, Santa remembers! Storytime! He forgot the reindeer's story! And what better than, Clement Moore's, Twas the Night before Christmas?

Santa's Story is an excellent addition to the Christmas holiday rotation!

Author bio: Will Hillenbrand has written and illustrated many beloved picture books, including Snowman’s Story, Down by the Barn, Mother Goose Picture Puzzles, and the Bear and Mole series. He has also illustrated dozens of books, including the Big Bear series by Maureen Wright. Will lives with his wife and son in Terrace Park, Ohio. You can find out more about him at www.willhillenbrand.com.
On Instagram: willhillenbrand

Picture Book Review: Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht

Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht. Illustrated by Jarvis. unpgd. Candlewick Press, September, 2017. 9780763695712. (Review from finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

In our family, we have a section of our home library devoted to holiday books. We read to our boys each night at bedtime and had a tradition of reading holiday favorites* each year while trying on some new books to see if they would become new traditions. 

When I reviewed Red and Lulu earlier this month, I said that it would've made the cut. This one would've as well. The cover of Pick a Pine Tree reminded me of one of our holiday favorites, Night Tree by Eve Bunting (1994) in which a family "decorates" a tree in the woods with edible ornaments each Christmas. Closer examination reveals that the tree is decorated with lights, not food. Yet, it's still a gorgeous cover, literally wrapped up with a sparkly, red bow and featuring lush and lovely pine trees. 

This story of a family of four who sets out to choose a Christmas tree is told in jaunty rhyme and the gorgeous illustrations of pencil, chalk and paint lend a retro feel. The palette of colors is rich and vibrant featuring verdant greens and warm Christmas colors. It's a lovely story of choosing and decorating a tree. My only quibble is the timing of placing the tree topper. We do it first. But this is a small detail in an otherwise warm and lovely addition to the holiday cannon.

*Some of our regular holiday reads:
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present by John Burningham
The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman but we have a collection illustrated by different artists
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Uncle Vova's Tree by Jan Brett
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Again, we have a few editions of this by various artists, but perhaps the recording narrated by Patrick Stewart is the family favorite.
Silver Packages: an Appalachian Christmas story by Cynthia Rylant
Christmas at Long Pond by William T. George
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore. Again, several editions of this by various artists including a hysterical one featuring little green goblins.

Picture Book Review: Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares

Picture Book Month Day 3:

Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares. unpgd. Candlewick Press, September, 2017. 9780763677336. (Review from finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

I have a personal collection of holiday books within my home library. Since our family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, we have collected stories about both holidays over the years. The collection is fairly large and quite varied but there were favorites that were requested each year. Were my sons still small, Red & Lulu would become a fast favorite and one of those requested frequently. It's totally lovely.

Red & Lulu are a cardinal couple who make their home in the branches of a huge Norway spruce conveniently located in the backyard of a family with a bird feeder in the yard. It's an ideal home for the devoted couple being close to a reliable food source and densely branched so that they are protected. Their favorite season is winter because of the Christmas caroling and lights that are strung. O Christmas Tree is their favorite carol. They sometimes even sing along.

On one chilly morning, Red sets out to find some food. A spot illustration reveals that the feeder appears to be empty and a squirrel is perched on it scavenging for seed. A glance at the full-page recto illustration shows a top-down, bird's eye view of the yard, the tree, and Red flying off. But the family is gathered in the yard and one of the children appears to be flagging something down. Two trucks are trundling down the street.

The family's tree is being cut down and for some reason, Lulu doesn't fly away but hunkers down in a cavity. When Red returns, he finds his home strapped to the flatbed of one of the trucks and Lulu singing. He follows the truck to the George Washington Bridge but soon can't keep up.The city is a strange place to this suburban bird and a series of luscious illustrations depict a variety of New York City locations, including one of the lions in front of the New York City Library as well as Times Square. Soon he hears the sound of O Christmas Tree being sung and Red finds his way to Rockefeller Center where his tree is being lit with thousands of colored lights. The double-page spread depicting Red & Lulu's reunion is one to be lingered over. But what happens when their tree is taken away on the day after New Year? Read this instant Christmas classic and find out. 

A page at the end of the story provides information about how the tradition of a decorated tree at Rockefeller Center began. Don't forget to turn the page though. A final illustration provides the perfect environmentally friendly wordless ending as the copyright/ dedication page. It is hard to rush past the watercolor illustrations. They come in a variety of sizes and feature nifty little details and perspectives. Eagle-eyed readers have much to spot, including the family taking a selfie at Rockefeller Center in front of their tree.

Red & Lulu is a first-purchase and a much needed addition to any library collection. I wish I had a little one to curl up with to share this heartwarming story.