Book Review: 'My First Kwanzaa' by Karen Katz

✰✰✰½  Follow along as a little girl celebrates her very first Kwanzaa and learns about the traditions associated with the holiday. As each of the seven days goes by, she learns about the Seven Principles including the importance of unity, community, helping others, and family. On the very last day, it’s finally time for a celebration including music, dancing, and a feast of delicious African food.

The Bottom Line: A very basic introduction to the African-American cultural holiday, Kwanzaa, and the Seven Principles. Ideal for little ones in PreK – K and useful for teachers. Includes a note about Kwanzaa on the last page.

Details: My First Kwanzaa (My First Holiday) written & illustrated by Karen Katz. Picture book published by Henry Holt & Company in 2003. 28 p. ISBN: 0-8050-7077-X 

Book Review: 'Santa's Story' by Will Hillenbrand

✰✰✰✰✰ It's Christmas Eve and Santa is ready to go, except for one thing...No reindeer! Now where did all the reindeer go? Santa searches and finds that Dancer is dancing, while Prancer is busy prancing. Oh My! What is Santa to do? The all-call on the horn and jingling of the bells fail to bring in the missing reindeer, but there's something else that just might work. Will Santa get the reindeer to focus,so all the toys can be delivered on time? Check out this charming, seasonal tale to find out.

The Bottom Line: Hillenbrand has woven a treasured childhood tradition into a holiday story with colorful, digitally rendered drawings in large two-page spreads. This picture book is so much fun to read and enthusiastically recommended for storytimes or bedtime reading.

Details: Santa's Story written & illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Picture book published by Two Lions in 2019. 32 p. ISBN: 978-1542043380

Book Review: 'Hanukkah in Alaska' by Barbara Brown

✰✰✰✰✰ Things are different in Alaska. Daylight in winter is very short, there are moose, and it snows...a lot. When one particular moose camps out in a little girl’s backyard, she is not happy. She tries everything to lure the moose away, but nothing works. It looks like the stubborn moose is there to stay. Then on the last night of Hanukkah, something magical happens. Under the spectacular northern lights of the season, the little girl finds a solution to her dilemma. What could possibly make a big moose move? Check out this holiday picture book and find out!

The Bottom Line: Beautifully illustrated in soft shades of acrylic & gouache, this delightful tale will become a holiday tradition to read with your family. Enthusiastically recommended holiday reading for the young and the young at heart.

Details: Hanukkah in Alaska written by Barbara Brown & illustrated by Stacey Schuett. Picture book published by Henry Holt & Company in 2013. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-8050-9748-1