Following up on last week's blog, I have two more picture books for you from Sleeping Bear Press for presents for a little reader in your life. Enjoy!
REVIEWS
MISS MARY'S CHRISTMAS MITTENS
Written by Trinka Hakes Noble and illustrated (so very colorfully!) by Renee Andriani.
This opening page sets the tone for the entire book:
Just before Christmas vacation, the first snow fell.
On her way to school, Miss Mary tested the snow for good packing.
She designed amazing snowmen and snow angels in her head.
Excitedly, Miss Mary gave her students an extra long recess.
Their little cold hands were frozen--nobody had any mittens!
Miss Mary would take care of that.
What was Miss Mary going to do? Her students needed mittens!
On the way home from school a piece of yarn from her hat came loose. That gave her an idea. She ran home and started unraveling her hat, scarf, and gloves.
But the best thing of all appeared in Miss Mary's front yard.
Her students spelled out, "We love our Mittens in the snow outside her door.
Miss Mary's Christmas Mittens is more than a Christmas book. It's a story about a teacher's generosity and what it looks like when a person put others' needs before her own. And although the book revolves around an adult, (contrary to popular recommendations to writers that the protagonist must always be a child) Miss Mary is kid-like in her imaginings about playing in the snow. Plus, she had a problem and solved it in a very unique way.
Back matter includes instructions on making a mitten ornament.
CHRISTMAS WITH AUNTIE
Written by Helen Foster James and with endearing illustrations by Petra Brown, this is the latest book in this family love series (my title!). I have reviewed Welcome to the World, Daddy Loves You in previous blogs. Every picture celebrates love within a family.
Here is the opening page which invites Auntie into the rabbit's home and the reader into the bunny family:
We go together like ribbons and bows,holly and jolly,and tickles and toes.
Together, Auntie and bunny do make crafts, bake, decorate the Christmas tree, and make snow bunnies.
Family and friends with holiday wishes.Mistletoe comes with big hugs and kisses.
Sugarplum sweetie, on this merry night,we'll wish on a star and its twinkling light.
The book includes a place where the child's aunt can write a note as well as a place for a picture of the two of them.
GIVEAWAY
Miss Mary's Mittens belongs in every school library and every aunt needs a copy of Christmas With Auntie. If you are a librarian you will get an extra chance for Mittens and if you're an aunt, you get an extra chance for Christmas With Auntie. If you're both--I'll put your name into both giveaways. Just make sure you tell me in the comments who you are and what book you want. Please leave your name and email address if you are new to my blog. The giveaway ends November 30th.
Congratulations to Connie Saunders who won Monster in the Briny, and to Emily Weitz who won Pirates Don't Dance from last week's blog.
23 comments:
I'm no longer a librarian but I am an aunt! Please enter my name for Christmas with Auntie.
Thanks for sharing!
Connie Saunders
cps1950atgmaildotcom
Your name starts the Christmas with Auntie list, Connie. Thanks for commenting.
awww, both are so cute. But I love the mitten story! I know folks who take apart old sweaters to knit new things. Not me; I wouldn't know which end of a knitting needle goes up.
Thanks for commenting, Sue. YOu're in for Miss Mary's Mittens!
I would love to win! My grandkids and I could have a green time reading these. Thanks for the post!
Both of these books are so heartwarming and would make excellent gifts (I always give books as presents). I'm an aunt many times over. My first choice of these two delightful books is Miss Mary's Mittens. Librarians are awesome!
Any preference on which book, Barbara?
I have no doubt that you give books as presents, Danielle! Since you're an aunt, I'll put your name in twice for Miss Mary.
These books both look fantastic!! I love Christmas stories with heart that highlight special people & relationships. No need to enter my name in the drawing this time, but thank you for sharing!!
Awww, both of these are so heartwarming. I am not an aunt, so Miss Mary's mittens would be my choice.
Unknown--please leave me your name and email address. I can't enter your name without that information.
Thank you, Marci, for leaving a comment anyway!
Would love Miss Mary's Mittens for myself or the library! Thanks for the giveaway!
You got it, Tiffany! Thanks for the comment.
I'm an Auntie and a former first grade teacher. Christmas with Auntie sounds delightful and I'll look to buy a copy a copy Miss Mary's Mittens.
I would love to enter your name, UNKNOWN, but I need your name and email address to do that!
These both sound like wonderful books. The spirit of generosity is inspiring, and universal, and independent of season and reason.
I don't have littles in my life of the right age for this, so if you draw my name, please donate "my" copy to a school library of your choice.
Thanks so much for doing these giveaways!
I'm an auntie to my 2 little nieces! Please put my name in the pot for Christmas with Auntie. Thank you! :-)
I am a recently retired school librarian and I am an aunt. I would LOVE to have Miss Mary's Mittens!! When we lived in NJ in the 1980s, my daughters had the great fortune to attend a school where Trinka Hakes Noble made an author visit. She made an amazing impression on them and one of them has a signed copy of The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash from that visit. I hope that I win.
That is so cool, Gwen!!! Trinka would love to hear that. I'll put your name in twice for Miss Mary.
Thanks, Eileen, I'll do that! Appreciate you commenting.
Adorable books, Carol! Thanks for featuring this author for us to learn more.
~Rosie Russell
Thanks Rosie!
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