Tick…tick…tick, the clock is counting down to the Holidays. We have several organizations in our area which collect gifts for kids. I always buy a heap of children’s books, and distribute them to anyone who asks.
Harry Connick, Jr. is a major recording star, a fine TV and film actor, and he’s appearing on Broadway. As if that weren’t enough for one man, this season he’s written a delightful book called THE HAPPY ELF. It’s based on Connick’s song of the same name, features a CD, and even has a photo of Handsome Harry on the back.
Mary Higgins Clark has written five Holiday suspense novels with her author daughter, Carol Higgins Clark. She’s flying solo with THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS HORSE. This is the story of Johnny, who loves going to visit his grandparents in New England. He can’t wait to smell the cookies baking, and to see the festive evergreen trees. But most of all, he wants to make his brother’s dream come true.
FANCY NANCY SPLENDIFEROUS CHRISTMAS, by Jane O’Connor, is a must have for the little girly girl in your life. Even the cover is covered in glitter! Nancy loves everything to be sparkly and bright, so decorating for Christmas comes naturally to her. The peppy youngster even bought the tree topper last summer with her own birthday money. Putting sprinkles on homemade cookies, adding lace to a quilt, making a tiny greeting card for her sister; what could be more fun?
Another character children love is Olivia, the mischievous piglet. Farrah McDoogle has adapted OLIVIA AND THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT from a screenplay. Olivia and her dog Perry must hide the present she has bought for Ian, Olivia’s little brother. A surprise snow storm almost ruins her plans, but the plucky little porker saves the day.
The only thing better than giving one Olivia gift is giving two. OLIVIA AND THE CHRISTMAS PARTY, by Tina Gallo, is a coloring book which includes two pages of stickers. Olivia and brother Ian decide to decorate their home and throw a party for all their friends. Olivia writes a message with cookies, but Perry the dog eats two of them. Guessing which letters are gone is only one of the activities for children in this sweet little paperback, which also includes cut-outs to put over the light switches.
Zoe Evans has written a paperback for older kids called CHEER! CONFESSIONS OF A WANNABE CHEERLEADER. Maddy has a life full of dilemmas. She loves the idea of going to New York with her dad and his girlfriend, but freaks out when her father talks about living there- and asks Maddy to come, too. And what will happen to the cheerleading squad now that Katarina is flunking social studies? Drama, drama, drama.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, the latest offering in Heather Vogel Frederick’s popular “The Mother-Daughter Book Club” series, focuses on the holiday adventures of Becca and her friends during a time of happiness and misfortune. There’s a tropical cruise and a ski trip on the one hand; on the other, Becca’s dad has lost his job. There’s also a sledding mishap, and way too much snow. Fortunately, there are also miracles in the forecast.
Although this is author William Joyce’s first novel, NICHOLAS ST. NORTH AND THE BATTLE OF THE NIGHTMARE KING is labeled Book One of The Guardians series. Ambitious, yes, but compared to the wonderful imagination and creativity of the Emmy Award winning writer, no surprise. Outlaws, fighting shape shifters; this book is marketed for ages seven thru nine, but I have a feeling it will become a favorite with grown-up boys, too.
So don’t put off your search for Christmas presents for kids. Everything you need to enchant youngsters is between the pages of a book.
Michall Jeffers is an accomplished Cultural Journalist and an avowed bibliophile. She writes extensively, both in print and online. Her eponymous cable TV show is syndicated throughout the tri-state area, and features celebrity interviews, reviews, and commentary. Michall is a voting member of National Book Critics Circle. www.michalljeffers.com
