A Christmas (Eve) Recap

 For those who celebrate a western tradition of Christmas on December 25 (ands also for those who celebrate other seasonal holidays or Eastern dates for Christmas or ignore holidays) this is recap of some of the picture books I've shared over the years, including the current publishing year.

If you are a fan of picture books at all, this bouquet of beauties will lift your spirits and please your eyes and ears. (For those who have yet to fall in love with picture books, this collection might win you over!)

Beaming Books, 2023

Starting with my "this season" favorite that has already landed on MANY best-of-year lists is a book that is certainly destined to be a classic, Take a look (HERE) at my glowing praise for LULLABY FOR THE KING, written by the incomparable Nikki Grimes with luminous illustrations by Michelle Carlos. 

Levine Quiredo, 2021

In recent years an equally compelling holiday picture book conveys a fictionalized version of true events, a story of anti-semitism and hate that is playing out across out country today. Of course, the ending is based on those real events and reveals the most uplifting of choices among the community surrounding the targets of such hate. RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE (reviewed HERE), was created by the immense talents of Lee Wind and Paul O. Zelinsky. I gifted this book multiple times this season because the message is both necessary and inspiring, revealed for any age through effective storytelling and illustrations that are both luminous and emotionally powerful. Sadly, the origin story for this one goes back to 1993  and the hatred is rooted many centuries earlier.

Kids Can Press, 2012

Dipping back a decade, one of my favorite characters is a perfect fit for the youngest readers, guaranteed to generate laughs on each page turn (and repeat readings, guaranteed!). Adult readers will be chuckling right along and might be surprised by the astute observations and details noticed by those little lap friends sharing the book. SCAREDY SQUIRREL PREPARES FOR CHRISTMAS: A Safety Guide for Scaredies is both written and illustrated by Melanie Watt. Whether this book introduces you to Scaredy or  brings him to a new situation for you (among the countless situations that scare the tail off of him), you'll love this one season after season.

Kalliot Books, 2023

How often have you heard (or said), "If only the Christmas Spirit could last all year. *sigh*"? This next, also recent picture book, is not actually a holiday book despite wintery scenes. In fact, OUT AND ABOUT: A STORY OF GIVING, is a tale of sustaining that giving, caring attitude throughout the year. It is also about passing down values, the concern for and action to support others and their needs, which could not only continue the holiday spirit through the year but across generations. Just imagine what that world would be like. Written by Liza Wiemer and illustrated by Margeaux Lucas, this story/family reveal the ways in which we can move ourselves from a sense of caring and empathy into action, not requiring an occasion to do so. 

To this last offering, firmly set in contemporary families and situations, I'll add one last link that I've shared several times since the first post. My childhood memory and reflections on my own family include a short poem I wrote for my own family based on actual events as a child. May anyone reading this (and everyone else!) look around in the days, past, present, and coming, to recognize and celebrate the blessings you find in your lives- even when surrounded by struggles or concerns.  I wish you all many moments of peace, joy, generosity, and security.

RED and GREEN and BLUE and WHITE: Color a Community

It's the first of December and I'm taking a side step from nonfiction reviews to feature a picture book INSPIRED BY actual events and people, but lightly and lovingly fictionalized. That approach adds to the timelessness of its message. In fact, I recall news coverage of the actual events, and was surprised to realize that they occurred so far in the past-- 1993, nearly thirty years ago. It feels much more recent to me, perhaps because of current social patterns, including the rise of anti-semitism. But this happened pre-9/11, pre-social media, pre-viral-trolling, and long before an infinite number of screens and links and countless channels invited silo-thinking and hate mongering. Even so, the event and subsequent reactions really happened, and were widely reported in national news. 

I'll back up to explain what "THIS EVENT" actually is.

RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE is written by Lee Wind and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. The cover introduces some essential aspects of the story. Viewed through a shattered window, the glorious and colorful Christmas lights are subdued, but the clear, real portion of the image encircles the families of two friends, neighbors, who gather in shock, but also in support. Careful observers will note that a menorah is lovingly held by a child. 

In Wind's retelling of actual events, Isaac is the son in the only Jewish family on his block, or much of anywhere in his little city. They live across the street from Teresa's family, and the two children are best friends. Isaac writes poetry, Teresa creates stunning art, and together they help their families decorate windows for the winter holidays. 

RED AND GREEN and Christmas trees appear in nearly every window, surrounded by strings of lights and flurries of snow. Isaac and his family trim their window with a decorative menorah and lights of BLUE AND WHITE. 

Until... the dark of night offers cover for a vicious act of hate-- a rock shatters Isaac's window, terrifying him and his family. A window can be repaired, and quickly is. But peace and security are far more difficult to restore. Should they NOT relight their decorations? NOT return their menorah display to the window? Isaac is aware that such a choice would be hiding from their Jewish identity. 

The next night, the menorah is lit. Teresa, watching from her window across the street, sees and smiles. What she does next lights up Isaac's spirit, too, and his song rings out in the night:

"BLUE AND WHITE, MENORAH LIGHT, FROM TWO HOMES TONIGHT!"

Word spreads to their school, library, block, and spirals in ever-widening waves throughout their small city. In window after window, menorahs are added to the lighted displays, until the entire community glows with RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE. Watch the trailer HERE.

A short note from the author indicates that Isaac and Teresa were the actual childhood friends, and that only a few minor details were changed for the sake of storytelling. Wind points out that the satisfying conclusion is fully authentic, and was the result of individuals who chose not to be BYSTANDERS. Instead, one by one, near and far, they chose to act, publicly, indicating their community support. They chose to be UPSTANDERS, knowing that silence or inaction would lend passive but powerful support to the hate-filled vandals. 

I'm an unabashed fan of all illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky, whose art is distinguished by excellence, though not by a single or characteristic style across his many books. Instead, the quality that shines through every project is how perfectly he pairs his approach to the heart and spirit of each particular story. In this case, with the lights of the season, of the holidays (Hanukkah celebrates the MIRACLE OF THE LIGHTS), and of friends and neighbors, the art achieves a distinctive look of winter nights with twinkling bulbs. The end papers extend that celebration symbolically, with bands of the four colors and interwoven swirls. These are embraced, literally, by a border formed by diverse people, arm in arm, facing the reader as a community with the confidence of mutual respect, tolerance, and love. UPSTANDERS all. Click HERE to learn more about ideas for teaching this approach to UPSTANDING  with young people.

This new book takes its inspiration from a positive community and amplifies it, shining it into our lives and into the future. It's the season for faith, and I choose to believe that the good in each of us can turn the darkness that seems to permeate society into light. One choice at a time. One light at a time. One book at a time. 

Start with this one.