Submitted by Ms. Sue!
Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be by John Harris and illustrated by Adam Gustavson. In 1857, John Lord Pierpont was inspired to write a new Christmas song during an unusually hot Savannah, Georgia day for the Thanksgiving concert at his church. He was telling is daughter Lillie about the cold and snowy winters in Boston when he was younger, and realized she had never seen or felt snow. “What’s snow like exactly?” asked Lillie. He started describing the crisp, cold air, and a sleigh with sleigh bells. Later, while at the keyboard of the church’s pipe organ, he tapped the keys three times plink-plink-plink, then did it again. Jingling bells, that’s what they sound like. He sang along, and before you know it he wrote a song originally called “One Horse Open Sleigh” for the children of the congregation to sing. As they finished the song, complete with strands of bells, and feathers thrown like snow, the audience burst into applause. See this book listed in our catalog
Music
The Twelve Days of Christmas and One Christmas Night
Submitted by Ms. Allana!
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long is the traditional Christmas song with nothing added or adapted, however it is set in the most beautiful full page illustrations. From cover to cover it looks like one spectacular holiday or post card after another, with blended tones of gold, silver, red, blue, and green. It is a delightful book for the season. See this book listed in our catalog
One Christmas Night by M. Christina Butler and Tina Mcnaughton is a very simple and heartwarming tale of how a hedgehog begins to appreciate the importance of having friends around his house at Christmas time, and how special they are. His tree has no sparkle, and his house does not look very “Christmasy,” but with the help of his rabbit and mice friends, and even the fox, it all comes together for a glittery, sparkly, happy ending. See this book listed in our catalog
What Animals Really Like
Submitted by Ms. Tess!
What Animals Really Like is a book by Fiona Robinson, and a song by Mr. Herbert Timberteeth *wink wink* the beaver. This ambitious beaver has composed an operetta about what animals like most, starring all his friends. Lions like to prowl, wolves like to howl, pigeons like to coo, cows like to dig. Wait, what? Cows don’t like to dig! But apparently they do! The animals begin informing their frustrated conductor of the things they actually like to do, which aren’t in line with what the beaver, and the rest of us, might assume. For instance, the warthogs like to blow enormous bubbles! (They’re going for a world record!) And the shrimp like to ski! (Really! They just got back from Switzerland and had amazing weather.) Mr. Timberteeth finds out you can’t judge a book by its cover as he learns his song is all wrong and his friends have diverse hobbies and interests he’d never dreamed of! (Except the mice. They really do like cheese!) The book features fun fold out illustrations, and will hopefully inspire you and your little one to laugh and sing along to one of the silliest musical productions ever staged in children’s literature! See this book listed in our catalog
Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes
Farmyard Beat
Submitted by Ms. Amanda!
The whole farmyard is awake in Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig. The chicks, sheep, cat, cows, and dog can’t sleep. Why? Because they have the beat, the Farmyard Beat! Farmyard Beat is a fun and bouncy story of a farm dance party of animal sounds. The farmyard is filled with Peep, Tat, Puuurrrr, Swish, Clank, Woof, and Whoo, then Farmer Sue joins the romp when all the racket wakes her up. The Farmer and her animals party till they drop… off to sleep. The repetitive, predictable text makes for a fun read, while the colorful collage art adds to the joyful mood. Farmyard Beat is a great book to sing along with. This book is a hand clapping, feet stomping good time, that you will want to read over, and over again! See this book listed in our catalog
The Croaky Pokey
Submitted by Ms. Janis!
The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long. As you may have guessed by the title, this is the Hokey Pokey amphibian style, which has lots of kid appeal. As the story/song begins, children are invited to join the frogs and follow the lyrics and movements (“Put your right hand in, / Put your right hand out”) but then the words change: “Hop the Croaky Pokey / As we chase a fly around, / Right in the frog’s mouth! WHAP!” The cute cartoon illustrations feature animals at a pond, including a number of frogs, none of whom are skilled at catching bugs. The humor continues as the fly stays just out of reach and can’t be caught. Children will be giggling, singing, and dancing in no time. They will especially like the surprise ending. A great choice for humor and fun. See this book listed in our catalog