Pauline Chen  Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas
    133 pp. Bloomsbury 10/07 ISBN 978-1-59990-122-0 $15.95
    (Intermediate)
Eleven-year-old Peiling Wang, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, and her teacher, Miss Rosenweig, are the only two in Peiling’s class who don’t celebrate Christmas. This year, however, Peiling is determined to convince her family that celebrating Christmas doesn’t mean she’ll forget her heritage. She eventually wins over her parents but is subsequently disappointed by her mother’s turkey, with its ginger and soy sauce marinade and sticky-rice stuffing (though Miss Rosenweig, who arrives bearing Manischewitz, is impressed). While the entire Wang family struggles with their identity as Asian Americans (Peiling’s father says, “I may be a U.S. citizen but I’m not American”), Peiling also searches for her own place, as she participates in a school play and makes new friends. Peiling is realistic and relatable as a headstrong preteen looking for ways to assert her individuality while trying desperately to fit in. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

Bruce Coville, reteller  Hans Brinker; illus. by Laurel Long
     32 pp. Dial 11/07 ISBN 978-0-8037-2868-4 $16.99
     (Primary)
Mary Mapes Dodge’s Christmastime tale of Hans, his sister Gretel, and their long-suffering mother and ill father, first published in 1865, is here adapted for a picture-book audience. Hans and Gretel prepare for a skating race while Hans tries to solve the puzzle of a mysterious watch in their father’s possession. The story’s climax, in which Gretel wins the girls’ race but Hans loses the boys’ after selflessly helping a friend, is unglamorous yet satisfying. Coville’s author’s note stresses the importance of Hans as a role model, a character who is “strong of heart and true of purpose.” While this intent comes through in the writing, it doesn’t overwhelm the story. The book’s highlight is Long’s glowing oil paintings, which are equally effective in illustrating Holland’s snowy, glittering landscape and the story’s warmer, more intimate family moments. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

Mary Newell DePalma  The Nutcracker Doll; illus. by the author
    32 pp. Levine/Scholastic 10/07 ISBN 978-0-439-80242-0 $16.99 g
    (Primary)
Young ballet dancer Kepley tries out for a part in The Nutcracker. She gets a small role that involves no dancing — she’s a doll standing under the Christmas tree — but her enthusiasm is big, and ballet fans will share her excitement about being involved in a professional dance production. Airy pen-and-wash illustrations convey moments both large and small, from Kepley’s audition in the high-ceilinged hall lined with girls waiting their turn to Kepley giggling along with the other “dolls” during rehearsal. The text thoughtfully keeps the spotlight on the young dancer’s feelings in a book that’s as sweet and delectable as a Christmas cookie. J.M.B.

Susan Middleton  Elya and Merry Banks N Is for Navidad; illus. by Joe Cepeda
    40 pp. Chronicle 12/07 ISBN 978-0-8118-5205-0 $14.95
    (Primary)
“C is for campanas, / at the church down the street. / CH is for chiles, / to string, not to eat!” This rhyming alphabet book depicts the seasonal festivities and customs celebrated by many Latino families, from the preparations for the nine nights of Las Posadas that lead up to Christmas through Three Kings Day in January. An appended author’s note provides additional information, as does the helpful combined glossary/pronunciation guide. While Cepeda’s illustrations feature happy people with such gleaming smiles they could be advertising teeth whitener, the vibrantly colored oil paintings vividly capture the scenes of holiday cheer. J.M.B.

Ian Falconer  Olivia Helps with Christmas; illus. by the author
    48 pp. Atheneum 10/07 ISBN 978-1-4169-0786-2 $18.99
    (Preschool, Primary)
Although interestingly agnostic on the subject of Santa, Olivia’s latest disaster-prone caper otherwise wholeheartedly indulges in every (secular) Christmas motif: snow to be wished for, a tree to be decorated, lights to be untangled, stockings, presents, more presents, sledding — and even a dream-Nutcracker starring you-know-who. Olivia is her customary impetuous self, and Falconer strikes a spirited balance in letting the words and pictures tell the story in turn, with a particularly lively use of photocollage adding wit to the pages. R.S.

Aileen Fisher  Do Rabbits Have Christmas?; illus. by Sarah Fox-Davies
    32 pp. Holt 10/07 ISBN 978-0-8050-7491-8 $16.95 g
    (Primary)
The original publication dates of these poems span from 1946 to 1991; combined in this posthumous collection, they evocatively delineate a pastoral, slightly nostalgic conception of a peaceful winter with Christmas its centerpiece (“Winter has Christmas, and nothing, / nothing is better than that”). The child-appealing focus on ordinary wonders like frost and footprints in the snow is matched by regular meters and rhyme schemes. Moving the poems through an inconspicuous narrative arc from autumn onward, Fox-Davies’s soft-edged pencil-and-watercolor illustrations depict snowscapes populated by bundled-up children and bright-eyed rabbits and mice, along with the occasional firelit indoors or muted nighttime scene. The sparkling turns of phrase (“snow has made pompoms / with silvery handles, / and frost has made tinsel / and icicle candles”) and timeless subject matter make this well suited for the Christmas canon. claire e. gross

Barbara Diamond Goldin  The Best Hanukkah Ever; illus. by Avi Katz
    32 pp. Cavendish 10/07 ISBN 978-0-7614-5355-0 $16.99
    (Primary)
It’s looking like the worst Hanukkah ever. The Knoodle family members have given each other gifts they really want for themselves — a curling iron from teenage Shayna to her hair-deficient grandmother, a sparkly red guitar from Papa Jack to a befuddled Mama Pearl. The distraught family fetches the rabbi, who teaches the Knoodles that when giving presents, one should keep the recipient in mind. After this helpful insight, the gifts are returned to the original givers, and each ends up with just what he or she wanted. Goldin’s story is told simply, allowing the reader to figure out the solution long before the noodlehead Knoodles do. Details in Katz’s pastel-colored digital illustrations give the Knoodles real personality (Papa Jack’s ponytail, Shayna’s braces, the rabbi riding a motorcycle), and all their faces are comically loaded with emotion on the way to the best Hanukkah ever. RACHEL L. SMITH

Holly Hobbie  Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow; illus. by the author
    32 pp. Little 10/07 ISBN 978-0-316-16686-7 $16.99
    (Preschool, Primary)
Best friends (and pigs) Toot and Puddle struggle with what to get each other for Christmas. They know that “the best present was usually something you made yourself, a one-of-a-kind thingamajig, not just a whatsit anyone could buy in a store.” Hobbie infuses her holiday story of devoted friendship with cozy language (a plum pudding “kept them merrily stuffed for a month”), homey settings (inside, an armchair by the fire; outside, snowy woods perfect for an idyllic cross-country-ski outing — all evoked in Hobbie’s signature watercolor illustrations), and nods to earlier Toot & Puddle adventures. Christmas Day finds the two friends thrilled with their respective gifts. And Cousin Opal, who had earlier suggested that Toot and Puddle give each other dolls, isn’t too surprised by her own Christmas present — she’s one clever little pig. M.V.P.

E. T. A. Hoffman  My First Nutcracker; adapted by Stephanie True Peters, illus. by Linda Bronson
    32 pp. Dutton 9/07 ISBN 978-0-525-47687-0 $16.99
    (Preschool, Primary)
Susan Jeffers  The Nutcracker; illus. by the author
    40 pp. HarperCollins 10/07 ISBN 978-0-06-074386-4 $16.99 g
    Library edition ISBN 978-0-06-074387-1 $17.89
    (Primary)
Two Nutcrackers target the youngest segment of the Christmastime ballet audience, and both succeed in providing a shorter, lighter take on the sometimes-dark original. Peters supplies the more accessible pre-ballet introduction, using an assured storyteller’s voice to emphasize drama and excitement. Bronson’s accompanying illustrations are bold and jazzy with lots of turquoise, pink, and purple; energetic, swooping lines are held under control by page borders showing snow, stars, or candy. Jeffers uses a calmer, introspective tone that brings out the characters’ emotional struggles; her romantic, detail-rich illustrations are based on the Balanchine ballet, all the way down to the costumes, sets, and even some staging. Jeffers offers a satisfying extension for a slightly older audience already under the spell of the ballet. LOLLY ROBINSON

Harry Horse  Little Rabbit’s Christmas; illus. by the author
    32 pp. Peachtree 9/07 ISBN 978-1-56145-419-8 $15.95
    (Preschool, Primary)
Little Rabbit is so enamored with his Christmas present, a red sled, that he won’t let anyone near it — and he has no interest in playing with his friends’ own generously proffered holiday toys. When he crashes his sled and ends up in a snowdrift, his pals kindly come to the rescue, Molly Mouse on her nifty new snowshoes and bunnies Benjamin and Rachel with their handy new toolbox and bright new paint set. Cozy scenes both indoors (Little Rabbit’s burrow bustling with his many siblings) and out (the woodsy landscape blanketed with snow) are depicted in the pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations. Delivered in such an attractive package, the story’s message goes down as easily as a sled bearing a load of good friends. J.M.B.

J. Patrick Lewis  Under the Kissletoe: Christmastime Poems; illus. by Rob Shepperson
    32 pp. Wordsong/Boyds 9/07 ISBN 978-1-59078-438-9 $16.95
    (Primary, Intermediate)
In Lewis’s collection of poems (all but one previously unpublished), affable wit and infectious cadence bring fresh energy to traditional yuletide images. Employing a variety of poetic forms, from limerick to concrete poem, Lewis limits himself to fairly simple rhyme schemes but keeps things lively with generous dollops of enjambment. From the strong syllabic emphases of “A Brown King” (“That a new life / From a new birth / Shines a new light / On a new Earth”) to the winking partial rhymes of “Under the Kissletoe” (“A miss’ll know / To kiss hello — / The kiss’ll go / With mistletoe”), each poem is a study in expressing content through form. Shepperson’s brightly shaded, borderline
cartoon-y illustrations balance humor with warmth. CLAIRE E. GROSS

Megan McDonald  Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday; illus. by Peter H. Reynolds
    85 pp. Candlewick 10/07 ISBN 978-0-7636-3237-3 $14.99
    (Primary)
Judy needs a whole roll of toilet paper to write her Christmas wish list, but Stink wants only one thing: snow. Unlikely, that, in Virginia, but you never know when it comes to this duo. The good-natured teasing between Judy and Stink lends intimacy to the festive atmosphere of this easy chapter book; and full-color illustrations, along with a sparkly snow-dappled holographic cover, spread the Christmas cheer. R.S.

Patricia C. McKissack  The All-I’ll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll; illus. by Jerry Pinkney
    40 pp. Schwartz & Wade/Random 9/07 ISBN 978-0-375-83759-3 $16.99
    Library edition isbn 978-0-375-93759-0 $19.99
    (Primary)
“Christmas always came to our house, but Santy Claus only showed up once in a while.” Despite the harsh realities of the Depression, middle sister Nella sets her sights and her heart on a store-bought doll. Her sisters scoff (“Why you wishin’ for somethin’ you ain’ never gon’ get?”) but change their tune when Nella’s wish amazingly comes true. Awe quickly turns to anger as each girl tries to claim Baby Betty — “the color of chocolate, with rosy cheeks, black curly locks, and thick eyelashes” — for herself. Strong-willed Nella prevails but soon discovers that playing with Baby Betty alone isn’t as fun as sharing her with her sisters. Though McKissack sets this story in the past, her characters’ feelings and desires are universal. Pinkney’s warm watercolor-and-pencil illustrations portray the family’s poverty yet glow with what it is rich in: love. K.F.

Clement C. Moore  The Night before Christmas: A Magical Paper-Cut Edition; illus. by Niroot Puttapipat
    24 pp. Candlewick 10/07 ISBN 978-0-7636-3469-8 $16.00 g
    (Primary)
Any new edition of this poem is all about the illustrations, of course, and the neat, sharp silhouettes of this one prove an elegant contrast to more sumptuous renditions. Color (red, green, and a touch of gold) and occasional die-cuts are used sparingly so as to not pull focus from the flourish-filled but meticulous line work; a final pop-up spread of the reindeer in flight would make a handsome table display. R.S.

Michael Morpurgo  On Angel Wings; illus. by Quentin Blake
    48 pp. Candlewick 10/07 ISBN 978-0-7636-3466-7 $8.99
    (Primary, Intermediate)
Morpurgo’s exhilarating version of the Nativity story features the traditional elements of angels bringing tidings of great joy and shepherds watching over their flock by night — but also takes several startling departures from the norm. The angel Gabriel, for instance, is here both messenger and flying transport: when the book’s main character, a young shepherd boy, is devastated because he’s been left behind to watch the sheep while the others head for Bethlehem, Gabriel tells him to “hop on . . . we could be there and back, lickety-split, and no one would ever know you’d been gone.” The colloquial tone doesn’t feel irreverent; in fact, the familiarity of the characters’ interactions makes the boy’s adoration of the baby Jesus even more powerful. The small trim size emphasizes the intimate nature of Morpurgo’s story; still, Blake’s watercolors can rise to glorious heights, especially when depicting the heavenly host. M.V.P.

Aquiles Nazoa  A Small Nativity; trans. from the Spanish by Hugh Hazelton, illus. by Ana Palmero Cáceres
    40 pp. Groundwood 10/07 ISBN 978-0-88899-839-2 $9.95
    (Primary, Intermediate)
Venezuelan poet Nazoa’s unadorned retelling of the Nativity story offers a homely approach to the familiar tale. Searching for a place to stay, José tells his pregnant wife, María, “Don’t worry, darling . . . / We’ll see what happens. / I’m sure they’ll let us in / when they know that you’re expecting . . .” Nazao’s countrywoman Palmero Cáceres illustrates this humble text with devotional pictures inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts. Her richly colored art successfully combines traditional symbols of Christianity with images of Latin American flora and fauna. A jaguar watches José and María enter town; the three kings, following the star of Bethlehem on horseback, ride past flowering cactus plants. This import may be small in size, but its respectful reach across cultures and centuries is wide. K.F.

Janet Morgan Stoeke  Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve; illus. by the author
    24 pp. Dutton 9/07 ISBN 978-0-525-47857-7 $15.99
    (Preschool)
If ever a chicken was meant to enjoy Christmas Eve, it’s the eternally upbeat, perpetually ingenuous Minerva Louise. Here she meets a “farmer in a red hat” (Santa), worries that his “truck” has lost its wheels, follows him down the chimney (she thinks he’s accidentally slipped on the snowy roof), and admires the “pretty white hen” atop the family’s tree. As with the previous books, young listeners will delight in their own Christmas savvy but will find Minerva Louise too endearing to belittle for her ultra-limited perspective. In the end, Santa has a present for her (devoted fans will recognize the reference to A Hat for Minerva Louise), which she loves — of course — but with a twist, Minerva Louise–style. Preschooler-perfect in content, style, and humor, with easy-to-parse illustrations in Christmasy primary colors. M.V.P.