meg writes

i've moved!

I've moved this blog.  I keep trying to put in the link, but for some reason it is broken.

So here's the address (nice and easy to remember)

megwrites.com

Head on over and take a look!

shoemaker martin

For the last day of my Christmas book series, I want to share a book that is not technically a Christmas book: Shoemaker Martin.  Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy and illustrated by Bernadette Watts, this picture book captures the beauty of service, which for me is the spirit of Christmas.  It centers around the scripture, "Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me."

Toodle-oo for now!  It's been fun sharing some of my favorite Christmas books with you.  I am checking out of this blog until after the holidays.  I have some fabulous plans in store for this space for the new year, so see you in the 2011!

the twelve bots of christmas

If your child loves robots, gears and all things mechanical then they will love The Twelve Bots of Christmas, written and illustrated by Nathan Hale.  Hale is also the illustrator of the fabulous Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack.  If your child is into things lego-ish, then check out his blog, right now he is recreating all of his Twelve Bots creations in lego form.  

little tree

Little Tree, with pictures by Deborah Kogan Ray and words by e.e. cummings, is a lovely little book.  To read the text of the poem, you can go here.  I love the whimsical and lyrical nature of this poem and the soft, understated illustrations complement it perfectly.  

the year of the perfect christmas tree

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story, with words by Gloria Houston and pictures by Barbara Cooney, has the flavor of an old folktale.  My six-year-old loves the fairy and folk tale section at the library, so this was perfect for her.  Every family in this Appalachian town takes turns each year donating a tree from their property for the church Christmas tree.  This year it is Ruthie's family's turn, but her father is away at war.  It's up to Ruthie and her mother to find the perfect Christmas tree.  

who is coming to our house?

Today I want to share another great book we found at the library yesterday: the board book version of Who is Coming to Our House? written by Joseph Slate and illustrated by Ashely Wolff.  The brief, rhyming text and animal-centered pictures make this a great Christmas read aloud for very young children.  

christmas in the country

Today at the library I discovered Christmas in the Country, written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Diane Goode.  My six-year-old and I enjoyed reading it together.  Both the words and the pictures manage to be nostalgic without crossing the line into syrupy-land.  

 

carl's christmas

Have you read any of the Carl books by Alexandra Day?  "Take good care of the baby, Carl," the baby's parents always say before leaving Carl, the dog, as the babysitter.  Obviously not a realistic parenting technique, but lots of fun as Carl and the baby embark on various adventures.  In Carl's Christmas they get involved in all kinds of holiday merry making and end up giving Santa a helping hand.  

christmas is here

I've been wanting to add a religious book to our Christmas collection.  I'm so glad to have stumbled upon Christmas is Here in my local bookstore.  The illustrations by Lauren Castillo show a family visiting a live nativity, which transforms into the real nativity and then back.  The watercolor and ink pictures are accompanied by brief text from the King James Bible.  Simple and beautiful.

the friendly beasts

I love this gentle Christmas lullaby, The Friendly Beasts, illustrated by the amazing Tomie dePaola.