Skip to main content

Five Faves: New Christmas Picture Books

It is that time of year where I like to snuggle up with a holiday book or two. Here are some of my favorite new Christmas picture books that you can check out from our library this holiday season. Happy reading! 

Written by Beth Ferry 
Illustrated by A. N. King 
New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2023. Picture Book.

In this holiday story, Tiny Cactus loves being the center of attention in a girl’s life. However, suddenly there is a big tree that has lights and ornaments and gifts. The cactus soon feels that she is not as loved or as appreciated and she wants to figure out a way to get decorated like the Christmas tree. This is a fun story (with a fun little ending) that shows how wishes can come true and that everyone is important at Christmastime. 

By Matt Tavares 
Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2023. Picture Book.

If you all haven’t read Dasher (that came out in 2019), then you need to go and find that gorgeous book. This is the sequel. With only one more sleep until Christmas, Dasher can’t wait for her favorite holiday. With a yearning for adventure and seeing some Christmas sights, Dasher goes off to see some Christmas festivities --only the snow starts to fall and Dasher can’t find her way back to the North Pole. This is a fun story that shows that even a reindeer can’t wait for all the happiness that Christmas can bring. 

By Amanda Jane Jones 
Petaluma, California: Cameron Kids, 2023. Picture Book.

This is an interactive holiday story. Kids will need to clap, twinkle, tap, and more to get the Christmas tree ready in time for the big day. With simple pictures and directions, this book can get even the youngest readers clapping along to help get ready for Christmas. 

Written by Mac Barnett 
Illustrated by Jon Klassen 
Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2023. Picture Book.

Have you ever thought about how Santa goes down a chimney? Have you thought about what would happen if a home doesn’t have a chimney? In this clever book readers will muse over all the various possibilities of how Santa can actually do what he does on Christmas Eve. With humor and pondering, this is a book that will make young believers think through the possibilities of what their jolly old friend can do. 

Written by Jenn Bailey 
Illustrated by Bea Jackson 
New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2023. 

In this remake of the classic Christmas carol, readers will go through the 12 hours of Christmas --from finding a kitten from Santa (1) to twelve goodbyes from all the family. The tune will be floating through a reader’s head for a long while, but the small tweaks (especially what the two dinosaurs are up to each hour) will keep readers on their toes. This is a great book to show kids that family and time just might be the most important part of the holiday.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

Review: Growing Home

Growing Home Written by Beth Ferry Illustrated by The Fan Brothers New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 261 pages. This book has some entertaining characters! We get to read about Toasty, the goldfish who loves to eat cheese puffs, Ivy, a plant with magical powers, and Arthur, the spider who ends up with a broken leg. Jillian is the main human character in the book. She loves Toasty and Ivy, and would probably love Arthur, too, but she doesn't know about him....yet. Her parents own an antique shop, but they are facing some economic hardship.  This charming story is about magic, teamwork, and friendship. I loved that there were all kinds of shenanigans happening. While we are on a journey where the fish, the plant, the spider, and the girl are working to solve one mystery after another, the author beautifully guides us to the realization that words are powerful, friendships can heal hearts, and books have their own magic power to help in all kinds ...