Christmas is just around the corner. If you need help with your shopping list, here are a few excellent choices for you, your child or grandchild. These offerings, almost all from Maine authors and illustrators, will make someone very happy this season.
Written by Robin Hansen
Illustrated by Jamie Hogan.
Downeast Books, 2010
Hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95
Robin Hansen, the author of the popular pattern book Favorite Mittens and Sunny’s Mittens has written another wonderful story that incorporates the art of knitting with a little magic.
Josiah will be starting his first winter as a sternman for Sam Eldridge when Aunt Agnes informs him that he will need a pair of compass mittens to keep his hands warm in the fridged winter waters of Ice Harbor.
Sam, Josie’s older cousin has a pair of sawtooth mittens that he got from a woman in Woolwich paying five dollars for them. Right away Josie wished he had a pair of the red mittens instead of the compass mittens that were too big for him. But when he asked Aunt Agnes if she would knit him a pair of sawtooth mittens she does not respond well: “‘Sawtooth!” she said. ‘Sawtooth is for farm boys. You’re a fishing boy, about to be a fisherman, Josie Eldredge. You go get yourself sawtooth mittens from Amelia Perkins over to Woolwich if you want, but don’t you trust them like compass mittens that shrink and mold to your hands, with lines that point north and south and east and west.'”
As they set out on a foggy day the value of the compass mittens is proven true.
This is truly a magical book with text that would challenge a third grader but should be comfortable for the fifth grade child. The story would be lovely for a knitter to read to their child or grandchild. The illustrations are a wonderful wash of color as the characters play across the pages with whimsical reality. Another wonderful offering that gives folks a little glimpse of the working families that populate the coast of Maine.
Written by Katie Clark
Illustrated by Amy Huntington
Downeast Books, 2010
Hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95
Katie Clark also wrote Grandma Drove the Garbage Truck and this offering takes Grandma on another journey, this time in a snow plow. A blizzard has hit the tiny community that Grandma lives in with her three sons as well as her youngest grandson Billy. The trouble is that the annual community carol-sing is scheduled to take place in the village that evening. Little Billy is very concerned but Grandma assures him that her sons will take care of the snow and make all things clear so folks can get to the church. But as the day wears on the storm puts two of Grandma’s plows in the ditch. With son number three home with a broken leg, it is left to Grandma to save the carol sing. With Billy as her sidekick Grandma moves through the town helping other folks dig out along the way. With each side swing of the plow Grandma picks up various Christmas ornaments that get tossed into the truck. When Grandma finally arrives at the church she has also brought along all the things to decorate and make the party extremely festive.
With Katie Clark’s illustrations the story is brought to life in a whimsical array of pictures that will keep younger children entertained for hours. Full-page spreads give ample room to depict the hilarious results of Grandmas’ foray into the blizzard. The final spread depicts the whole village as they sing carols including a few pets. A wonderful aside for this book is that it includes a variety of ethnic peoples that is so often not found in children’s books. A lovely gift to put under the tree for children ages 3-12.
Written by Kristin Kladstrup
Illustrated by Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press, 2009
Hardcover, 32 pages, $16.99
This charming book of imagination and dreams is like a new twist on The Little Gingerbread Man or The Nutcracker. A mother and her son Jim were busy making gingerbread pirates for Christmas. Jim decided to make a captain complete with a peg leg and cutlass. As Jim falls asleep he makes a wish that his pirate cookie has a ship.
In the dark of night “Captain Cookie” comes to life and decides to explore and rescue his crew. He heard Jim talk about putting out some cookies for Santa Claus to eat. On his search for his crew he encounters a mouse (that nibbles his cutlass) and finds cliffs (stairs) he must climb down. He then encounters the most frightening creature of all, Santa Claus, the one that wants to eat his crew. However he finds a friend in Santa who helps to get his crew out of the cookie jar. Santa also puts a pirate ship under the tree and the little boy gets his wish as along with Captain Cookie who gets his full crew aboard and begins a long journey with his ship and a little boy. A wonderful imaginary tale that every child can relate to and will love. The Illustrations beautifully enhance the story. This book would be good for any girl or boy that simply enjoys a good story and has a vivid imagination. Recommended for children ages 5 and up.
Written by Donald Hall
Illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Viking Books, 1st ed. 1979, Puffin Books,1983
Softcover, 40 pages, $6.99
The seasons go round and round in this reprint of the Caldecott Medal book from 1979. This is a wonderful story of a farming family and the work that they do throughout the year to make a living off their small farm. Listing the items as they load them in the wagon the sparse dialog depicts all the work that the family has done throughout the year. At the market the Ox-Cart Man sold everything including the wagon and Ox. With the money in his pocket he buys a needle for his daughter and a carving knife for his son and an iron kettle to hang over the hearth along with two pounds of wintergreen peppermint candies and heads home to begin the cycle over again.
The illustrations are classic Barbara Cooney paintings and enhance the text in a way that show what it was like to live in the time when work was done by the entire family and with little mechanical help. Her attention to details helps one understand the life of this family as they go through the year working the farm for the one trip to town in the fall. A story for all ages, especially children from four to twelve.
This is a wonderful collectors item that should be on everyone’s bookshelf and in all Maine libraries.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee
Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Chronicle Books, 2010
Hardcover, 36 pages, $15.99
Another hilarious adventure with the lovable Mr. Magee and his dog Dee as they venture out in the snow to learn how to ski. In an easy flow with rhyming text, we follow Mr. Magee as he climbs a small hill next to his home to practice skiing before taking a longer trip to Snow Mountain. “‘We’ll practice up there ’til we learn how to ski, Then we’ll head for the mountain,’ said Mr. Magee.”
Needless to say the mini ski trip turns out to be more than Mr. Magee bargained for. After encountering a moose, nearly falling into a deep ravine, and finally getting back on their feet (or skis) Mr. Magee decides that perhaps it would be best to take a lesson. He then lends his skis to someone that can enjoy them a bit more than he and his dog Dee.
The text has the names of Mr. Magee and Dee in bold letters highlighting them so young children would be able to recognize those names and help with the telling or reading of the story. The illustrations are charming and classic Van Dusen with bright colors and the most wonderful expressions on the faces of all of the characters.
After reading this to first- and second-grade students there was a resounding cheer for the book. This will be one that will fly off the shelf in any library and will be reread many times by all children. A must have for everyone from 1-100.
Written by Peter Yarrow
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet.
Sterling, 2009
Hardcover, 24 pages, $16.95
Includes a c.d. with three songs “Day is Done”, “I Know Where I’m Going” and “Dona, Dona, Dona” sung by Peter Yarrow with his daughter Bethany Yarrow.
Remember the tune Day is Done by Peter, Paul and Mary? Peter Yarrow and Melissa Sweet have created a charming children’s book based on the classic song from the 60s. “Do you know why I’m sighing, my son? You shall inherit what humankind has done.”
Each two-page spread depicts a different animal with every lyric that is read. With the sparse verse on each page and the beautiful illustrations giving children plenty to look at this is a sure winner. A wonderful bedtime story for all youngsters. This would make a special gift for any child age 1 to 10 and all parents or grandparents, especially those that remember this song from their youth.
The Blizzard Wizard
Written by Lynn Plourde
Illustrated by John Aardema
Downeast Books, 2010
Hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95
A wonderful new book from Lynn Plourde that includes a forgetful wizard and a few snow spells that go all wrong make for a wonderful winter tale. As winter goes through the months the children make annual visits to the Blizzard Wizard to see if he has found his spell for snow. “‘Still no snow?’ sighed the kids one mid-winter day. ‘So sorry,’ apologized the Blizzard Wizard. He knew a winter without snow was like riding a bike without wheels.” And so goes the quest of the children with the Blizzard Wizard to find his spell for snow. With each new inquiry the Wizard attempts to create snow from his memory with some very different results. With fluffy sheep for snow men and bananas for a slippery slope the children make do with the unusual snow. The story ends with an unusual twist where the Wizard finally finds his spell pinned inside his wizard’s robe. This will be a fun story to read aloud to a group or as a one on one story for any child from 1-10 and beyond.
Lynn has included some interesting facts about blizzards and snow. From Great Lake snow bursts to the blizzard of 1888, which prompted New York City to build its subway system. This is a fun book for all ages.
Illustrator John Aardema has created a comical pallet with each new spell that is cast. Children will enjoy the way the children manage to take advantage of each misquoted spell. They will have fun looking for the littlest one that spends most of his time on the big white dog.
Herbert: The True Story of a Brave Sea Dog
Written and Illustrated by Robyn Belton.
Candlewick, 2010
Hardcover, 40 pages, $15.99
This story is based on a true event that occurred off the coast of New Zealand in the French Pass, a narrow inlet that has treacherous tidal and water movements. A young boy and his pet dog Herbert are separated when the boy’s father is hired to take passengers in his boat to a cottage in Marlborough Sounds. Herbert decides he will go along for the ride and jumps aboard the boat. The sea is calm and all seems well until the weather changes and high winds whip the sea into frothing waves. The boat is in danger and must make it through the French Pass before the tide turns. In the effort to keep the boat on course those on board do not notice that Herbert has lost his footing and has fallen into the water. The boat makes it to shore safely, but when they notice the dog is missing there is nothing they can do. They cannot go back out in the storm or with the tides at the wrong time. They must wait for daytime to go search for the dog.
With the help of a fisherman that lives at the Pass they go out the next morning in search of Herbert. They spend the morning searching with little hope of finding the dog. The captain is ready to give up but, with the insistence of the boy, they make one more pass to the Outer Sounds. It is there that the little dog is spotted after spending thirty hours in the water. They get Herbert out of the water and wrap him in dry towels to get him warmed up.
The illustrations are wonderful and show all the calm and fury that the sea can give. The New Zealand coast gives one a glimpse of how rough and harsh this country is. Belton has created, through soft colors and lines, the feeling of what it might be to navigate a small boat through the waters that are found in this part of the world.
This book would make a great gift for all children especially those who have a pet or enjoy boats. This is a good story for children from 3 to 12 and beyond.
Kate Quinn is the librarian at the North Haven Community school and at the North Haven libarary.