Christmases to Remember, and Inspire

 Posting this 2020 Covid-anchored note is, by now, hardly necessary. Although those protected by vaccinations are numbering in the millions, globally, we are cautioned to stay the course in safety practices. The prospect of "normal" is still many months beyond the calendar flip to 2021. With that in mind, I'm offering some look-backs to previous Christmas posts, reminding myself that memories of the past are powerful anchors. And if you continue to the end of the post, there are some recent picture books with holiday joy to celebrate. 

When it comes to nostalgia, it's hard to beat a Patricia Polacco picture book. In a prior post I featured FOUR of her glorious Christmas stories, each drawn from tender memories and illustrated with her trademark joyful colors and details. Check them out, HERE. 

That post includes links to each of the books, and they are truly timeless and comforting, with characteristic elements of humor, struggle, and satisfying resolve.  

Another throwback post also celebrates the treasure of sharing memories. In the case of A NEW COAT FOR ANNA, both the author and illustrator reflect personal insights to World War II survival. We may be feeling the stress of a year that seems endlessly miserable, but war years stretched on for half a decade, followed by years of recovery.  Severe hardships held little hope of relief. This story is a matter of making the best of a talent and  love and hard work. It has a bit of the quality of the short story, GIFT OF THE MAGI, by O. Henry.

Sometimes those who have the least are willing to sacrifice the most to find heartfelt ways to fill the wishes of loved ones. I hope you've witnessed as many examples of that in this past year as I have, and have been inspired by the generosity of others.

Now for a more recent recommendation, one  from 2019. I think of that as coming from the "before times", and it is bringing loads of joy from those times right along with it.

MEERKAT Christmas is created by Emily Gravett. Those who know me well will be grinning at this title and image, since they know I was a meerkat fanatic long before the general public became aware of these durable, social creatures. I was a fan back when anyone hearing me speak of them would ask, "What kind of cats are they?"

So, rather than praise this book personally, I'll share a post by another blogger, HERE. That way you'll know that the recommendation  is not coming from a place of bias. Anyone who knows even a bit about meerkats will find it no surprise that the book is LOADED with surprises, including clever flaps and smile-generating twists and turns. The review also links to several other recent Christmas picture books. 

So, whether you are reading this on Christmas Day or on some future day/year, I urge you to check out all of the above titles. And as you celebrate Christmas or any other winter holiday as 2020 winds down, hold on to hope and humor, generosity and memories. No matter how challenging life can be, each of these may remind you just how resilient WE can be as we move into a better future in 2021, and beyond. 

And keep your eyes peeled for humor and grace and joy.