Over and Under the Snow

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Art by Christopher Silas Neal
Published by Chronicle Books
2011

     On a winter day, as you venture deep into the woods to go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, you can hear the crunch of the snow beneath your feet.  You might see a deer or a red squirrel and everything seems quiet and still. But "under the snow is a whole secret kingdom, where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm."  There are little tunnels where tiny shrews hide from predators, where voles looks for food, and fat bullfrogs snooze. Under the snow a bear sleeps with its belly still full of berries and trouts from the fall, and a queen bee "drowses away December, all alone."
     It's hard to write about Over and Under the Snow without wanting to just quote the whole book. It's that good! Its beautiful language quietly flows from page to page, with a lyrical tone mirrored by the beautiful art created by Silas Neal. The images created by Messner's text place us inside the snowy forest, along for the ride with the father and daughter exploring the wonders of nature on a winter's day. And at the end, we can feel the slumber brought on by the trek, and "lean back with heavy eyes", enjoying a roasted marshmallow as the fire makes the "shadows dance in the flames."
     Over and Under the Snow will open readers' eyes to the world of wonders that nature offers every winter. I doubt I'll ever walk through the woods of the Hudson Valley and not think about all that's hidden under the snow.  At the end of the book, Messner has added a detailed explanation of the facts included in the book, with descriptions of each animal from the tale (as well as other resources to explore).
     What a quiet gem! Simply beautiful.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
Publisher: Holiday House
1985

     It was the first night of Hanukkah and Hershel of Ostropol was walking in the snow towards the nearest village. He was tired and hungry and looking forward to celebrating Hanukkah with lights, songs and plates of potato latkes.  But when he arrived to the town, he found not a single candle lit and learned that the villagers were not allowed to celebrate Hanukkah.  Goblins had harassed them for years.  They haunted the old synagogue, they would blow out the candles as soon as they were lit and throw out their potato latkes.  Hershel offered to get rid of the goblins.  The rabbi told him he had to stay at the old synagogue and light the menorah for eight consecutive nights, making sure that the last candle was lit by the king of the goblins.  Each night Hershel confronts a different goblin and rises to the challenge of outwitting each one of them.  He even tricks the king of the goblin to light the eighth candle, hence disarming him of all his powers.
     Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a thrilling read aloud.  The illustrations by Hyman are wonderful and the text by Kimmel is completely enthralling.  There is an appendix at the end of the book here Kimmel explains the meaning and history of Hanukkah, the menorah, dreidel and latkes.  This is a great addition to the holiday libraries at home and at school.  

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: a Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket

Illustrated by Lisa Brown 

Publisher: McSweeney's Books

2007

     In a tiny village a terrible noise is heard coming from the one of the houses.  The house was "already regarded with some suspicion, as it was the only place not decorated with flashing colored lights at this time of the year."  The noise is a loud scream, and the one screaming is a latke -a potato pancake.  The latkes are a traditional part of the celebration of Hanukah.  This night, a latke was thrown into a pan full of hot olive oil, and as soon as it felt the heat, it jumped back out and ran away screaming.  On her way out of town, the latke runs past colored lights who are annoyed at her for making so much noise and stealing the spotlight from them. "We're the ones who are supposed to be dominating the neighborhood with our cheerful glow!"  As the latke explains to the lights the origins of Hanukah, they seem to completely miss the point: "so you're basically hash browns." The Christmas lights try to fit the latke into their holiday framework, while the potato pancake tries to explain that she's something completely different.  She has the same problem when she runs into a candy cane and a pine tree.  Thankfully, a family who celebrates Hanukah finds the latke in the forest and brings her back to their home. Where, unfortunately, she screams again as she's being eaten.

     The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming is one of the most original and thought provoking holiday books I've ever read.  It's quirky but full of message.  Snicket uses some advanced vocabulary, followed by their definitions (a reminder of his work in A Series of Unfortunate Events...which I guess it's exactly while this was for the poor latke....)  The story manages to entertain while teaching the story of Hanukah.  The book opens up a door to a discussion in the upper elementary classrooms about diversity and different religions; about respect, restraint and community.  There are a couple of nuances that only adults might catch.  Overall, a fantastic find to bring to my students and everybody else this time of year.  

Reindeer Christmas

Reindeer Christmas by Mark Kimball Moulton
Illustrated by Karen Hillard Good
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2008

     On a winter night, two children and their grandmother step out into the snowy field with baskets full of treats for the forest animals.  They noticed a deer laying in the snow, its eyes closed and a faint glow around him (in the illustrations we can also see a sleigh bell next to him).  They bring the deer inside and take care of him, making sure he's fed and warm.  Later that night, as the children are falling asleep in the room, one of them sees the deer flying across the sky.  When Christmas day arrives, the children find that aside from the presents by the tree, there is a letter from Santa Claus, thanking them for having taken care of Donner. There had been a bad storm and Donner had lost his way. As a special gift of thanks, Santa Claus gives the family a little box filled with magic reindeer glow.  "Hold this box and make a wish, then close your sleepy eyes, and you will see your wish come true before the next sunrise." What wish would you make?
     Reindeer Christmas is a tender and touching book to add to the holiday read aloud shelf.  It's written in rhyme.  The rhymes and the beautifully illustrations with a frosty sepia touch give the book a timeless feeling. Heartwarming and sweet.

Neville

Neville by Norton Juster

Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

2011

     He has just moved into a new neighborhood.  He wasn't happy to be there. "Nobody had asked him about moving." And they told him he would love it. "That's what they always said when they knew he wouldn't love something."  So now he would have to face going to a new school and having no friends. And "that was the worst part, no friends." His mother told him to take a walk around the block. "Like you can make new friends just by walking down the block." But he did anyway. And the he stopped, took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of his lungs: NEVILLE.  Over and over. Until other children joined him and started calling out "Neville" along with him. Soon, they were all talking and wondering where this boy Neville might be, looking for him and imagining what he must be like.  Who's Neville?  As he walks back to his new home, the boy has to admit the day turned out to be a lot better than he had first thought...

     I love Neville.  I've been a lifelong fan of Juster (The Phantom Tollbooth is one of my all time favorites), and Neville did not disappoint me in the least.  He captures the feelings of a new kid on the block perfectly: the fears and the frustrations of not being totally in control of certain life changing decisions.  The ingenuity of Neville to find new friends will delight readers of all ages.  The illustrations by Karas are a perfect companion.  Great read aloud! One of my favorites this year (I could read the first two pages over and over again...wait, I did).

Tree of Cranes

 

Tree of Cranes by Allen Say
Illustrated by Allen Say
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
1991

     A japanese boy narrates a story about the memory of his first Christmas.  He comes home wet and chill after playing in a forbidden pond.  He knows his mother will be upset with him and as he gingerly approaches her, he finds her folding origami paper into cranes.  "Why are you making cranes?" the boy asked his mother. She explains that she wants to make a big wish. Before she explains what her wish is, she notices the boy is wet from the pond and with a frown and a silent stare, she sends him to a hot bath and bed.  The boy wonders about his mother's silence and distance and his curiosity only grows when he sees her digging a whole by a tree in the garden.  As the mom comes into the house carrying a tree they had planted to celebrate the boys birth, she explains that back in her homeland, America, they were celebrating Christmas and she wanted him to have that experience as well.  They decorate the little tree with the paper cranes and candles as the boy learns about the Christmas tradition.  Next morning, the kite he wished for as a gift is sitting by the tree.
     Tree of Cranes is beautifully illustrated.  The images as well as the text have a serenity about them.   It's a good example of personal memoir to share in the classroom, and a nice addition to a multicultural holiday library.

Santa Duck

Santa Duck by David Milgrim
Illustrated by David Milgrim
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
2008

     Nicholas Duck has only one day left to find Santa and let him know what he wants for Christmas before it ends up being "another year of socks and underwear." As he heads out the door he finds a wrapped box at his doorstep. Inside the box there is a red coat and an "official Santa hat!"  Singing Jingle Quack all the way, he looks for Santa, but instead of the big man, he runs into other animals who don't waste a second to start sharing with him all the things they want for Christmas.  After all, he looks like Santa Duck!  Fed up with all the animals never ending requests, he runs and runs until he runs into Santa himself.  Santa Duck shares with Santa all the animals' lists and the big man is thankful and impressed with the duck's keen memory.  Too bad he forgot to share his own list.  But maybe being Santa's helper is gift enough.
     Santa Duck is a blast.  The cartoon illustrations by Milgrim are whimsical and joyful.  The dialogue bubbles that accompany the illustrations, add to the personality of each character and offer plenty of funny exchanges (love to see a duck say "Whoa baby!" and "Has everyone gone bonkers?").  This is a fantastic read aloud for the home and the classroom.  So glad to find this one to add to my holiday shelf.