Festivals Books

This book is about a poor family in New York. It is what Charlotte Mason referred to as a "living" book. When I read this book to my children, they were 6 and 7 years of age. They were spellbound and I wound up reading it in one sitting because they "begged" me to keep going! There is also a neat craft idea for making a Christmas star.

Joan Sewell

When my sisters and I were small children, my mother began to read us this story just before Christmas. We heard it read aloud each year as we grew up, and it became an important and special part of our holiday celebration. Now as a middle school teacher, I read this book to my students each December. It's a charming (and true!) tale of a loving family who experience a very special holiday. Simple but sincere, heartwarming and gentle, Lion in the Box is a book to treasure. Sharing this story each year is a wonderful tradition to start in your own family.

I remember Bill Cosby, before the hit television sitcom and even before Fat Albert was a Saturday morning staple. I remember the comedy albums and the stories about being a kid. Even though he was funny, very funny, there was such a sense of pathos when he talked about having his tonsils out, or having to share a bed with his brother. When you look at everything Bill Cosby has done, from getting his doctorate in Education to his television shows, he has never ever forgotten what it was like to be a kid. The truth of that statement is very much in evidence in "Super-Fine Valentine," one of Cosby's "Little Bill Books for Beginning Readers."

In "Super-Fine Valentine," Little Bill has developed a crush on Mia, a girl in his class. If that was not bad enough, his friends have noticed, his brother has found out, and even Mia appears to know what is going on. What will Little Bill do now that he is in love? Well, if you ever had the misfortune of being a young boy with a crush on a young girl (third grade, her name was Julia Garrow and she was the smartest girl in class), then you will recognize how much everything Little Bill goes through rings true. The going out of your way to walk by her house, trying to write the perfect card for Valentine's Day, and all the exquisite pain of being in love at an early age, are all here. In case Bill Cosby's story, which is illustrated by Varnete P. Honeywood, does not make it perfectly clear that a crush is something to be respected rather than a topic for teasing someone, there is a letter to parents by child psychiatry specialist Dr. Alvin Poussaint at the front of the book. What I liked best is that "Super-Fine Valentine" focuses on what Little Bill does and how he learns "it's good to tell people you like them." How does Mia feel about Little Bill? Well, we might have our suspicions, but that is not really important to the point of this book, which is another reason that I could not possible recommend it enough. What a wonderful book.

I've read all the Little Bill books to my four year old. He likes The Best Way To Play, but this one is my favorite. It really reminds me of my own young feelings.

I love this book because of the sweet family message that it gives. Little Bunny is greatly looking forward to Easter, but not just because of the Easter basket she'll receive. This year, little Bunny has secretly prepared Easter baskets of her own, for her mother, father, and baby brother. So after she has the fun of finding her own Easter basket, she has even more fun giving clues to her family, to help them find her gift. And at the end of the day, there is one more surprise, and this one is for Little Bunny from her baby brother! This loving little story is illustrated with soft pastels, and warmly celebrates the joy of giving.

The synopses of this book accurately describe the story line and pictures but I have to add that this story captures the sweetness of the love that can exist in a family so beautifully. The love between the siblings is particularly charming.

My kids just love the "Little Critter" series. So buying this book was a no brainer. I think my kids made me read this book to them just about every day untill christmas (and still after!). All in all you cant go wrong with any book by Mercer Mayer, or Little Critter series. My parents read them to me as a child and now I am reading them to mine. So simple and sweet, even adults enjoy the message.

"Merry Christmas, Little Critter!" is lift-the-flap fun from the popular, enduring "Little Critter" series.

In this book, Little Critter and his family go sledding, write letters to Santa, string up Christmas lights, sing Christmas carols and more. Every other page has a flap to lift, revealing a hidden surprise and/or continuing the story.

Little Critter is as cute, charming and amusing as ever. Little Critter and sister enjoy getting Christmas gifts, but also have fun spending time with family.

We received this as a gift for my 9 month old daughter and she loved it so much I decided to get it for a friend's baby as well. This well-known song has a wonderful rhythm that babies can enjoy and the illustrations are beautiful!

We have quite a large collection of christmas picture books and this one remains one of our very favorites. The pictures are absolutely breathtaking; the artist completely caught the spirit of that which he was painting. We also love the sillhoutes. Can't say enough. Get it!

This is a delightful book about a delightful person and place, and I think most kids would love it. I also think most parents (and grandparents) would love the way it imparts not just information, but understanding, without being preachy or school-bookish at all. That it is also a coloring book makes it even more fun for the little ones and even a better buy for parents (and grandparents). I don't want to give away the story, but it gives children a fresh insight into the Christmas story, as only a doting grandfather could do it. Maybe the best thing is that it "transports" kids away from the cartoons and television commercials of the season, and back to the true meaning of the holiday. I keep coming back to the word "delightful" and I guess that is my review in a single word.

The Little House on Buchanan Street is a very sweet little book that crosses the ages; small children can color the pages while being read to, older children may get a good message about what Christmas really means by reading it and adults can enjoy the book and interact with the children in their life. I loved it!

I think that Little Red is a wonderful, well written story. Sarah Ferguson really knows how to reach small children with her writings.
I would recommend this and the other Little Red books in the series.

Christmas Eve has arrived at Buttercup Cottage, and Little Red and her wonderful friends have set off on their yearly trip to Christmas Tree Wood, where they plan on bringing their favorite fir tree home for the holidays. Along their way, they work together on delivering shortbread to the robins, and sugary cinnamon sticks to the mouse family. However, as they approach Christmas Tree Wood, Little Red is shocked to find her very good friend, Santa Claus, with a big problem: One of his reindeers is sick, and now he only has seven to pull the sleigh! But with Little Red's wonderful thinking cap, and a bit of help from Roany the Pony, Little Blue, and the rest of her friend's, all of the children in the world will be able to get exactly what they wanted for the holiday, and Little Red will make it back to Buttercup Cottage in order to spend the rest of the holiday with her fantastic friends!

Sarah Ferguson has done an amazing job of creating a character such as Little Red who is utterly adorable, while at the same time sweeter than pie. The wonderful prose featured within LITTLE RED'S CHRISTMAS STORY is lovely, while the illustrations by Sam Williams, couldn't be cuter. This is a wonderful Christmas story that will live on in the hearts of readers for years and years to come.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This is a wonderful story, BEAUTIFULLY illustrated.

An adorable African-American boy who lives in a big city finds a baby reindeer. He cares for the little reindeer on the roof of his high-rise apartment until the following year, when it is grown up and ready to return to Santa.

This is an especially good book for all those kids without chimneys who live in apartments! :) The illustrations are sweet and gently humorous. You will love reading this beautiful book to your kids-- it is full of both the magic and the goodness of Christmas.

This sweet story is about a young reindeer who is accidentally left behind and the little boy who takes care of him for a year. The caring, unselfish friendship between the child and the animal is a wonderful expression of the spirit of Christmas. The snowy North Pole scenes, the colorful elves, and the magical citiscape viewed from the rooftop of the boy's high-rise are beautiful. My kids instantly loved this tale of friendship and adventure. We have read it dozens of times. It will surely be a favorite for years.

EVERY CORNER! There are games, puzzles, maps, inserts, stuff sticking in and out of things, BRIGHT colors everywhere! I can't describe how much my son can read and re-read or just sit and play with this. It's almost more game than book! It is THE perfect Halloween book, hands down. If you can get a copy of this book for yourlittle boy or ghoul....i mean.....girl they would enjoy it MUCH more than all the candy they could possibly collect on Halloween.

I got this book for my nephew and have not stopped laughing since. I can't wait to give it to him so we can sit together to giggle over the bits of hair, fluff and bee's spit that supposed fill the book. The heroine, Mona is a Vampire and this is her dairy. It follows a simple story-line, Vampire likes boy, boy likes Vampire, sticky sweet human girl gets in way, sticky sweet human girl ends up getting sick so Vampire wins boy in the end. This is accompanied by lots of thinks to read, touch, take out, and fiddle with, as well as a code to decipher and a pair of really COOL glasses to put on so as to see the secret bits in the diary. All I can say, is buy it, sit down and have a bloody good laugh.

Many travel guides can tell you locations and the history of the monuments around Jerusalem. But this one tells you the histories of the various Christian communities who worship there. Its focus is not architecture but worship. It provides insights into their traditions as well. Most importantly perhaps, it provides contact information and tells the schedules of worship services. The authors do not assume any prior theological or historical knowledge; everything is simple and straightforward. In the back of the book is a map of central Jerusalem on which most of the monuments can be located. There is a brief, helpful section on Bethlehem and Nazareth as well. In short, most travel guides are not written for Christian worshippers, but this one is. This books purpose is to enable Christian travellers to find communities, learn about them, and join with them in worship. If you want that experience to be part of your trip to Jerusalem and Israel, this is exactly the book you need.

Many travel guides can tell you locations and the history of the monuments around Jerusalem. But this one tells you the histories of the various Christian communities who worship there. Its focus is not architecture but worship. It provides insights into their traditions as well. Most importantly perhaps, it provides contact information and tells the schedules of worship services.

The authors do not assume any prior theological or historical knowledge; everything is simple and straightforward. In the back of the book is a map of central Jerusalem on which most of the monuments can be located. There is a brief, helpful section on Bethlehem and Nazareth as well.

In short, most travel guides are not written for Christian worshippers, but this one is. This books purpose is to enable Christian travellers to find communities, learn about them, and join with them in worship. If you want that experience to be part of your trip to Jerusalem and Israel, this is exactly the book you need.