Friday, December 15, 2017

Harper Collins 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids / Book Reviews @HarperCollins #KidLit


Harper Collins has some fantastic new releases this holiday season. This collection of holiday books has a little something for everyone. From beginning readers, to picture books, the classics and more. More details below. You can also read my review for a few of these titles here.


2017 HARPER COLLINS HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR KIDS



Written by: T.E. McMorrow
Illustrated by: James Ransome
Released on: 9/26/18
Ages: 4 & up
Rating: 5 Owlets
Where to buy details here

This jazz-inspired reinvention of The Nutcracker is a worthy tribute to the dreamlike wonder and magic of the Christmas season.
In this original retelling, set in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, one little girl finds her voice as a musician thanks to her enchanting adventures with a magical toy.
This quintessential holiday tale is brought to vivid life by debut picture book author T. E. McMorrow and Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator James Ransome. An author’s note at the end provides additional information about the history of the Harlem Renaissance, and about the author’s inspiration for this musical retelling.
A beautiful and diverse retelling of a masterpiece. This is a Nutcracker story with a lovely reminder about how the power of music and dance can inspire and transform people. Much like it did to this story's main character, Marie. This is one of my favorite holiday books I've read this year. I highly recommend picking this one up! McMorrow's retelling is simply lovely. 



By: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Illustrated by: Renne Graef
Released on: 9/19/17
Ages: 6 & up
Rating: 5 Owlets
Where to buy details here

This hardcover, full-color treasury includes six picture book stories adapted from the classic Little House books.
The Little House series introduced generations of readers to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life on the frontier. Now with this illustrated storybook collection, the youngest readers can share in her world as well.
Laura Ingalls lives in a snug little log cabin with her ma, her pa, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their dog, Jack. Almanzo Wilder lives on a farm with his family and lots of animals. These pioneer children have all sorts of adventures, including trips to town, county fairs, cozy winter days, and holidays with family. 
The six stories included in this treasury were originally published as stand-alone picture books: A Little Prairie HouseGoing to TownCounty FairSugar SnowWinter Days in the Big Woods, and Christmas in the Big Woods.
A must have for Little House on The Prairie fans of all ages! This collection of six short stories is a great introduction for young readers to the series, as the wording is perfect for elementary school aged readers. I loved hopping back into a series I absolutely loved as a young reader. Graef's beautiful illustrations are reminiscent of the original series's illustrations. I loved that this book has that same feel as reading the original series. This book is definitely a treasury worth owning! 



By: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Illustrated by: Ji-Hyuk Kim 
Released on: 9/19/17
Ages: 6 & up
Rating: 4 Owlets
Where to Purchase details here 

Join the original pioneer girl in this Little House chapter book, adapted for younger readers from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved classics.


Illustrated with beautiful new black-and-white artwork, this repackaged edition includes bonus material such as games, activities, and more!
For Laura Ingalls, Christmas means good things to eat, visits from friends, and special gifts to give and receive. As Laura grows up, every Christmas is better than the one before.
Great for younger readers, this easy to read chapter book features Christmas stories from Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Little House on the Prairie. Each Christmas is better than the last for Laura. As she grows up, celebrating Christmas takes on new meanings, and sometimes new places to live. No matter where they are, Christmas is most important being with her family. This is a wonderful new repacking of the book that features black and white illustrations through out the short book, along with some fun actives found at the back of the book, and a brief history of the author. 



Written & Illustrated by: Syd Hoff
Released on: 9/19/17
Ages: 4 & up
Rating: 4 owlets
Where to buy details here

A holiday classic by the author of Danny and the Dinosaur, available again—and now with full-color art!


Milton the moose wants to help pull Santa’s sleigh. “I have never used a moose before,” says Santa, “but I’m willing if you are.” At first, clumsy Milton is not very good at landing on roofs. But when Santa’s sleigh becomes too heavy for the tired reindeer, Milton comes to the rescue. This reissued edition is a funny holiday twist on Santa and his reindeer by Syd Hoff, celebrated author of Danny and the Dinosaur.
Santa’s Moose is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
Milton The Moose loves Christmas. He loves it so much that the helps Santa and the reindeer deliver presents around the world on Christmas Eve. Just hen he starts to feel like he's not good enough to help, Milton gets a lot of encouragement from Santa and the reindeer. We loved how they all rallied around Milton. Cute, beginner reading book. The illustrations where just as I remembered Syd Hoff's from when I grew up reading his books as a kid. 



Written & Illustrated by: Syd Hoff
Released on: 9/19/17
Ages: 4 & up
Rating: 4 owlets
Where to buy details here 

Celebrate Christmas dino-style with Danny the Dinosaur!

Danny’s friend the dinosaur has never experienced Christmas before, so he and Danny decide to celebrate—dino-style! But what will happen when the museum director isn’t so happy with the new museum decorations? 
Find out in this Danny and the Dinosaur 8x8 adventure, complete with 8 holiday cards, a poster, and stickers. This brand-new story is based on Syd Hoff’s beloved classic.
A fun story that teaches young kids about the traditions of Christmas as Danny teaches his Dinosaur all about Christmas, and the traditions they have. Like decorating a Christmas, hanging stockings, and more. This is an easy to read, engaging book that even toddlers will enjoy. The bright, simply illustrations add to the story's over all appeal. I love that these illustrations are similar to the original Danny and the Dinosaur I remember reading as a kid. Included with this fun read are holiday cards, a poster and stickers. This is a great book for any beginning reader and fan of dinosaurs! 


Written & Illustrated by: Gergely Dudas
Released on: 9/19/17
Ages: 4 & up
Rating: 3 owlets
Where to buy details here

If you’re searching for Where’s Waldo? for the next generation, this holiday seek-and-find from internet sensation Gergely Dudás will have you—and your kids—busy for hours.

Bear loves the holidays, and this year he's throwing a party for all his animal friends. But there's so much to do to get ready—and he is only one very little bear! Can you help Bear find all the secret treasures he needs for his party?

Readers of all ages will find this lush, charming illustrated wonderland irresistible—and irresistibly challenging—and will return to it again and again. 


A fun, engaging holiday look and find book. Great for young readers, this brightly illustrated book interacts with kids as they help Bear find the item hidden on each page. He gives readers a clue to help them find the items he needs for his holiday party. With a repeated color scheme, and simple illustrations make it fun for kids to find the hidden objects. 



Illustrated by: Mary Engelbreit
Released on: 9/20/17
Ages: 4 & up
Rating: 4 owlets
Where to buy details


Deck the halls with Mary Engelbreit's classic Christmas images, ready for your coloring touch!
Color ME Christmas contains Mary Engelbreit’s signature renderings of classic Christmas images, like Santa’s workshop, snow-filled nights, and stockings hung by the fireplace. This workbook will inspire not only creativity but a yuletide spirit that will the last the whole year.
Like all of Mary Engelbreit’s coloring books, Color ME Christmas features a full-color cover with glossy finish, heavy stock that can hold the ink of a marker, and forty-eight single-sided perforated pages. Whether giving or receiving, this festive coloring book will be a holiday favorite.

With New York Times bestselling artist Mary Engelbreit’s Color ME Christmas Coloring Book, you can deck the halls with the holiday scenes that have made her artwork renowned the world over.
This Color Me Christmas from Mary Engelbreit is an interactive activity style book for kids. It features black and white illustrated post cards, gift tags and ornaments for kids to color. There's something for kids of all ages to color. With heavier card stock paper make it easy for kids to pull the pages out, color and cute out their ornaments and gift tags. The post cards are made for mailing if chosen too. Some illustrations feature Engelbreit's heartfelt messages. No matter what kids choose to color, this is a fun way to decorate for the holidays. 


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Thank you to Harper Collins for this fabulous holiday gift guide. Each book featured was received from Harper Collins, in exchange for my honest review. 

JINGLE BELLS Illustrated by Susan Jeffers / Book Review #JingleBells


Illustrated by: Susan Jeffers
Published by: Harper Collins
Released on: September 26th, 2017
Ages: 2 & up
Purchase from: Harper CollinsAmazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 3 Owlets
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Susan Jeffers, the Caldecott Honor and New York Times bestselling artist of The Nutcracker and The Twelve Days of Christmas, takes readers on an enchanted journey set to lyrics from the beloved holiday song.
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way…
Ride along with a girl, a boy, their pony, and a mischievous dog as they travel to Grandma’s house. With playful animals in their path, their journey gets a bit sidetracked. But soon enough they arrive at Grandma’s—where an unexpected visitor fills them with holiday cheer!
A classic Christmas song in format, Jingle Bells will become an instant hit for readers of all ages as they read the lyrics for the song, and enjoy Jeffers illustrations. Bringing the song to life, Jeffers infused some wintery mishaps and fun on the sleigh ride journey through the woods. Kids will enjoy looking for some winter woodland animals featured on each of the pages through out the book. They'll also enjoy the surprise guests at the end of the sleigh ride journey.  This is another holiday book we'd recommend picking up this holiday season. 

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~