Festivals Books

I looked forward to getting another book by this author after reading Silver Slippers. My daughter loved that one, and was quite happy with this one as well. I love the way the author writes the story...the main character (little girl) is referred to as "the little girl" (not by a name) and it is perfect because my daughter likes us to replace "the little girl" with her name when we read it to her!

I ordered this sight unseen for a Christmas present just because of the author and Barbara Firth's pictures. My 2year old granddaughter likes this one even better than the Bear books. It's easy to read and she already can tell you what comes next. The illustrations are so sweet she hugs and kisses every page. It was well worth the price.

Being lost can be frightening; being found and returned to safety is warmly reassuring, as Tom Rabbit, an adorable plush bunny discovers.

Sammy and Tom Rabbit live on a farm. Early one day Sammy takes his beloved floppy eared toy to the back field so Tom Rabbit can see real rabbits. But, there's so much to do on a farm that when Sammy sees the cows being moved to another pasture he runs off to help, leaving Tom Rabbit perched on a stone wall.

Tom Rabbit knows that Sammy will come back for him, but as the day turns into evening and Tom Rabbit sees the moon for the first time his long ears seem to droop even more. Then, his eyes widen in alarm as he finds himself surrounded by real rabbits.

But Sammy hasn't forgotten his favorite toy - he returns for Tom Rabbit so they can both snuggle safely in bed.

Children who have waited to be picked up will easily relate to Tom Rabbit's predicament, and be reassured by a happy ending. Barbara Firth's soft watercolor illustrations add depth to this gentle story.

A sweet story about a little girl who imagines that the Nativity Scene comes to life and she holds the Baby Jesus and makes a promise to Him.

This book is so dear! We can all relate to going to see a nativity scene with our parents, and the wonder of this visit stays with you after you read this book. Make sure to read this book, especially around Christmas time.

Written by journalist Nancy Zubiri, the newly updated second edition of A Travel Guide to Basque America: Families, Feasts, and Festivals is an amazing guide to Basque-American communities, particularly the ones found in California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana. From a brief history of Basque immigration and culture, to traditional Basque recipes, customs and polite rules of etiquette to abide by in Basque communities, and more, A Travel Guide to Basque America is the "must-have" reference for anyone interested in experiencing this unique and proud culture. A conversational narrative style spells out the locations of restaurants and popular festivals, while black-and-white maps and photographs serve as visual aids.

This is one of the best "Basque" books I have read. Being Basque I am always curious to find out where Basques live and their history. This books tells all. It tells where Basques lived in the late 1800's and early 1900's and where you can find them now a days. I will definately take this book with me when we go travelling around the U.S. I am also going to purchase a few more copies for my relatives. I know they'll love it as much as I do!!!!!

Although I read and reread all of the author's Betsy-Tacy books as a child, I had never heard of "The trees kneel at Christmas" until it was rescued and rereleased by Abdo and Daughters several years ago.

The story was inspired by a legend the author heard from a Lebanese immigrant woman while living in New York. She kept the legend -- that the cedar trees in Lebanon kneel down at midnight on Christmas Eve -- in her mind for quite some time, until a visit to a local school matched the face of a young girl with the story.

The story is told quite simply and timelessly. Young Afify hears the legend of the kneeling cedars from her grandmother and wonders if the trees kneel in Brooklyn, too. The remainder of the story follows her as she sets out in search of a miracle.

This book is a must read for anyone familiar with Lebanese/Syrian immigrants to the US in the last 100 years.

The characters and customs in the book are so much like the people and things I remember as a child.

If you are of Lebanese/Syrian descent, you should read this book to your children/grandchildren. It's a great way to keep the values and customs alive of our parents and grandparents.

Let me tell you a feel-good story. It involves love - the love of a mother for her daughter, and a child's passionate, exhilarated, uncomplicated love for books. This is the true story of Deb Raymer, and her daughter Sabrina, and how I came to know them. This holiday season, I am grateful that Deb has shared parts of her story, and that through her mom, Sabrina has shared a wonderful cast of characters previously unknown to me.

A couple of months ago, Deb asked me to help her find a series of books. All Sabrina wants for Christmas is "Gilbert". Deb needed to order multiple copies of each book in the collection, she explained. Sabrina loves the "Gilbert" books so much, that she reads them to pieces. Literally. While I am always thrilled to see someone who loves books that much, that's not even the best part of the story. Sabrina is mentally and physically handicapped. She has a job at Partners in Progress that she enjoys. Whenever she rides to work on the bus, she has a "Gilbert" book - or two, or three - in her bag, and she "reads" them to the other passengers. Sabrina has memorized her favorite books. Her mother needs to keep buying new copies of them because Sabrina pages through them so much and so often that they fall apart.

Gilbert, the hedgehog, and his sister Lola, are creations from the paintbrush and pen of Diane de Groat. This author/illustrator started working in children's literature by doing the artwork for some well-known children's authors, such as Lois Lowry and Eve Bunting. De Groat started on her Gilbert series in 1996 with "Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink", which is still Sabrina's favorite.

I hadn't heard of de Groat, and Deb gave my literary ego a boost by reassuring me that I'm not alone. Often, when Deb and Sabrina have searched for Gilbert in libraries and bookstores, he is nowhere to be found. So, it's time to spread the word. Diane de Groat has created a fun, inexpensive series with sympathetic characters, situations that kids can relate to, and a little lesson that doesn't come across like a 2"x 4" to the forehead. The titles themselves produce a smile for kids and adults alike. Now there's a Gilbert for every season in a child's life. A reader can start school with Gilbert in "Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books" and end the school year with the companion volume, "No More Pencils, No More Books! No More Teacher's Dirty Looks!" In these final months of the year, we have been enjoying "We Gather Together, Now Please Get Lost" for Thanksgiving, and "Jingle Bells, Homework Smells" for Christmas.

The Gilbert books have been so successful that now his sister Lola has her own series, books for slightly younger children, that often include Gilbert, but from Lola's point-of-view. When Lola can't decide what to be for Halloween, she finally decides to be "a Gilbert", because she knows he's an original. I think Sabrina and Lola are on to something good.

Author,"Hobo Finds A Home"

This is a terrific book, and not just for Halloween. The story of Gilbert the opossum and his mishaps was cute enough to reread several hundred times. I know this because my 3-year-old fell in love with Gilbert and Lola and we're still reading the book in May. I'm looking forward to reading deGroat's other Gilbert books, but it took me a long time to find them online. If you're looking for more Gilbert books, here's the list: Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink (1996), Happy Birthday to You, You Belong in a Zoo (1999), Jingle Bells, Homework Smells (2000), We Gather Together...Now Please Get Lost! (2001), Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite! (2002).

A beautifully illustrated book - a must have for those whocollect books on the twelve days of Christmas. For those who don't,you will still enjoy the artwork, and the fresh look at this traditional theme.

My four year old son loves to count the objects on each page and sing the last verse on every page. It's kind of a memory game, counting, singing, cultural and Christmas book all in one.

Against the backdrop of the approaching Christmas holiday, her role in the church play, and her family's wonderful holiday traditions, young Vicky Austin experiences feelings of rivalry for a sibling not yet born, and whose impending birth threatens to disrupt the holiday. This is a warm, loving book. It is an excellent story for older children, and I would recommend making the reading of it, chapter by chapter, part of a family's preparation for Christmas, like a literary advent calendar

If you love Madeleine L'Engle's books, then this is a definite "must have" for the holidays. Read about the Austin family as they prepare for Christmas, the church pageant, and a new addition to the family. Their warmth and love for each other are contagious, and yet they are a "real" family, growing pains and all. This is a fabulous book for young girls - and one to read every year in preparation for the holiday season.

Since Roger Ebert covered this festival so well in 1987, I feel as if I've already been there without having to experience any of the annoyances of trying to do it in person. He does a bit of everything while there, from covering the obvious stars and star-studded events to seeking out the unknown, eccentric, artistic characters, plus fast buck artists, who also attend. He even admits he has to view the movies again back in the USA because the conditions of seeing them at Cannes tend to be adverse. Ebert, known primarily for his television review show, is even a better writer than he is a speaker. You will treasure and keep this book.

It is easy to see why Roger Ebert is such a beloved and praised writer. Reading through his book, the reader is instantly befriended by this smart, witty and poetic author. Roger Ebert provides readers with an in-depth look at the most famed film festival in the world, held in a place that is as charming as the crazy as Ebert's old friend Billy "Silver Dollar" Baxter. After this book, you too will feel as though you have been dragged through the starlit and utterly dazing world of jet lag, royal dinners, mid-night screenings, and the occasional topless starlet. Bon voyage!

We have read this book every year since 2001 with our children, now ages 8 and 10. We all love this book- it is a reminder that Christmas is about family, love, traditions and faith. We have taken on two of Uncle Vova's traditions in our family- we set a place at the table for those who can not be with us and we put a gold dollar coin in someone's soup. Beware: if you lost a loved one recently, you may not be able to get through the end.

This book is about Patricia Polacco's Christmas traditions. I think this book will teach you a lot about Patricia Polacco. This book would interest elementary kids the most. I really liked this book.