What Is Christmas?

October 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 2-A simple introduction to the holiday, illustrated with full-color photographs showing attractive children and adults writing to Santa, lighting candles, decorating cookies, singing in a church choir, and sharing dinner. Each spread includes one or two photos and a brief paragraph of text. One page referring to Christians states, "For four weeks before Christmas, they get ready," which is strangely definitive, considering that some families don't get ready until a few days before, and some start in late October or early November. Also, the popcorn-and-cranberry chain, which requires the use of a needle, seems like an odd choice for a book aimed at very young children, even though it does suggest adult assistance.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Stock photos illustrate very simple and bland introductions to familiar holidays celebrated in the United States: "Lights are hung on trees. What time of year is this? It must be Christmas!" "You do not have to be Irish to love this day. On this day, everyone is Irish." A related project is appended in each volume. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)