Children's Books of Light

There are quite a few really spectacular Christmas books, so I will point out only a very few hidden treasures. The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber, illustrated with gorgeous miniatures by Nicola Bayley, is a longish picture book redolent with Cornish colour and lore, full of light, telling how old Tom the fisherman and his cat Mowzer saved the village of Mousehole from starvation at Christmastime

Behold That Star(J 808.8 SOCIETY) is a collection of fiftenn stories for Christmas, a publication of the Society of Brothers (makers of Community Playthings). Here are fifteen distinguished stories imbued with a deeply spiritual sense of Christmas.

Mary of Nazareth by Cecile Boedker (J 232.91) is a poignantly illustrated story of the birth of Jesus told from the perspective of Mary, a provincial young Jewish girl. This sets the Christmas story firmly in its historical context.

It is harder to find a really outstanding Kwanzaa book, but one worth noting, a novel for young readers, is Have a Happy...by Mildred Pitts Walter. Young Chris struggles with many hardships. His birthday coincides with Christmas, his father cannot find work, and the family cannot afford the bicycle that Chris wants desperately and unselfishly. This touching story of extended-family solidarity and keeping the faith,"imani."

The absolute best book I have ever read for Hannukah is It's a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook by Stephanie Spinner.This is an imaginative collection of stories of family and faith and miracles that happen to us all, if only we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear . And what is a miracle? "Something unexpected and amazing....Whatever it is, a miracle makes you glad to be alive."

Not knowing where else to put this link, The Ritual Slaughter of the Latke may appeal to your Hannukah sense of humor.I hope so!