Saint Nicholas: The Story of the Real Santa Claus

TITLE: Saint Nicholas: The Story of the Real Santa Claus
AUTHOR: Mary Joslin
ILLUSTRATOR: Helen Cann
PUBLISHED BY: Pauline Books
ISBN: 0819870978
PURCHASE: Abe, Amazon, IndieBound

Of all the Christmas books I've told you about in this all too short "Christmas in July", this one is the one most worthy of tracking down.  It's been out-of-print for a year or so, but still easily found on Abe, or via IndieBound/Amazon (see links, above).  And it is well worth your time, for it is a lovely retelling of the legend of Saint Nicholas, who becomes, of course, Santa Claus.  There are several other books about Saint Nicholas (Demi's is beautiful visually, but leaves something to be desired story-wise; Julie Steigmeyer has one, and Dandi Daley Mackall wrote one as well), but this one, I love, because of the vibrant immediacy of the story, and the lovely illustrations.

We know the legend, right?  There was a family of three daughters, and they were so poor that no one would marry them because there was no money for a dowry.  They were good girls, and did not complain, worked hard, loved their father, and acted in charity and good faith, never despairing.  Nicholas, their priest, rewarded their charity with a gift of his own: he threw gold coins down their chimney (and they landed in their shoes and stockings drying by the hearth).

Joslin writes the story from the perspective of the family, which allows us to see exactly how the legend began (without being pedantic about it).  They are given this great gift, which will allow them to live comfortably, get married, and thrive, but they do not know who gave it to them.  We carry on the tradition, either on St. Nicholas' Day or Christmas; we wake up to find our shoes (or stockings) full of candy and treats, anonymously given.

This lovely retelling of the legend of St. Nicholas will remind us, with its warmth, character, and cheer, that it hardly matters who gave us the goodies, since, as Nicholas teaches: all our gifts come from God. 

Yesterday at the Church Nicholas told me that all our blessings come from God.  So today we shall
thank God for this deed of kindness, and we shall look forward to making our lives happier.

Nicholas crept along, chuckling like a mischevious boy.

p.s. Mary Joslin has written a great number of wonderful children's books with religious subjects, including The Paraclete Treasury of Angel Stories, The Good Man of Assisi, Mary, Mother of Jesus, and The Lion Day-by-Day Bible. 

Winter's Tale by Robert Sabuda

TITLE: Winter's Tale
AUTHOR: Robert Sabuda
PUBLISHED BY: Little Simon, 2005
ISBN: 978-0689853630
PURCHASE: Amazon

I wish I knew how to create videos easily with my new camera.  Because then I wouldn't have to try to find words to describe this magical book--I could just show you all the wonders hidden in its page.  (Frankly, I am surprised there isn't a video somewhere online of someone flipping through this book.)

This isn't, strictly speaking, a Christmas book.  But it is about the wonders of a deep winter, and it is so cozy and exciting that I feel it is perfectly suited to reading by the light of the Christmas tree.  Golly, I wish it were Christmas right now, so I could settle down on the wool rug, with a big blanket, and dive into Sabuda's detailed, delicate, perfect pop-ups.

You've heard me praise Sabuda and his often collaborator Matthew Reinhart before, but this is the first Sabuda book I have owned.  That I got it at a thrift store and Every Single Pop-Up still worked perfectly as if it were brand new should be enough to recommend this book to you.  I assure you, your children will never cease to be amazed by the worlds Sabuda has created with a cut here and there.  (What I want to know is how you construct so many so perfectly.  That would be an awesome feature on that Discovery show with the boring announcer...oh what is it called?..."How Do They Make That?" or something.  Help me out, Mom.)

Well, enough of my blabbering.  Here are some photos:

The Story of Christmas, by Barbara Cooney

The Journey to Bethlehem

TITLE: The Story of Christmas

AUTHOR: Barbara Cooney

ILLUSTRATOR: Loretta Krupinski

PUBLISHED BY: Harper Collins, 1995

ISBN: 978-0060234331

PURCHASE: Amazon

Well, as long as we are talking about Barbara Cooney (who, I am discovering, had quite the Christmas Book repertoire), I thought I'd like to bring to your attention her The Story of Christmas.  Originally, she wrote and illustrated this book (though, I understand, it is very difficult to find her original).  In the 90's, HarperCollins decided to republish this, with illustrations bu Loretta Krupinski (who is clearly indebted to Cooney's style). 

My first few readings of this book left me rather ambivalent.  It tells in simple unadorned prose the story of Christmas, as celebrated through history.  Starting with the actual birth of Christ, she also tells of the "pagan" mid-winter festivals, Saturnalia, the legend of St. Nicholas, and the Scandinavian Santa Lucia tradition, concluding with the quiet religious joy of Christmas Eve.

Her prose is not thrilling (I always thought she was more eloquent with her paintbrush than pen), but somehow by the end, I could myself moved by her straightforward tone and obvious love of the season and its traditions. I knew all the things she talked about (and knew them at a young age), and think that her presentation would be a lovely way to begin to talk about the history of the Feast, and the different traditions that inform our celebration of it.  An obvious believer, she always speaks with reverence toward Christ and his Birth, but also finds captivating the different rituals of the pagans that we brought into our celebration of Christmas (like the Yule log, evergreen mantles, and the lights representing both the sun and the Son). 

Krupinski's illustrations are very pretty compliments to this book.  This isn't a book you'll want to curl up and read with a cup of cocoa by the light of the Christmas tree, but it is no less worthy for being a sober appreciative account of the traditions that have been carried on through the 2000 years of celebrating the Brith of Christ.

Collecting the Yule Log

Santa Lucia

The Story of Holly and Ivy

TITLE: The Story of Holly and Ivy
AUTHOR: Rumer Godden
ILLUSTRATOR: Barbara Cooney
PUBLISHED BY: Viking Juvenile, 2006
ISBN: 978-0670062195
PURCHASE: Amazon

Rumer Godden is in the air, of late.  People kept mentioning to me her novel In This House of Brede, which is on my summer reading list, and her children's novels are seeing a bit of a resurgence: the New York Review of Books Children's Selections has published The Mousewife and Bethlehem Books has just reissued The Kitchen Madonna.

Her children's books are a bit too sentimental for my tastes (though I have no real objections to them), but, as we might expect, that sentimentality seems just right for a lovely Christmas story, like The Story of Holly and Ivy.  It is about expectation, about love, about generosity of spirit, about finding a home.  In it a little orphan girl wishes for a family, and for a doll of her own, like the one in the window of the shop.  The doll, in turn, wishes for a little girl to take care of her.  And a sad couple wishes for a family of their own.

Wonderfully illustrated by Barbara Cooney (who, you might remember, created one of my favorite Christmas stories, How the Hibernators Came to Bethlehem), this is a must read for any girls ages 4-8. They will treasure it.

Toy Story 3: A Linked Review

I am going to interrupt this Christmas in July to share with you an outstanding review of Toy Story 3 written by my friend Santiago Ramos for the Kansas City Diocese paper, The Catholic Key:

Restless is my heart until it rests in thee: such is the prayer of every toy. And when a toy rests - in the arms of a child - it doesn’t truly rest: it plays, and is played with. There are only three elements to toy happiness: presence, play and permanence. The child must be there; he must play with the toys periodically; he must promise never to abandon them. If he does abandon them (or threatens to, or appears to), then we have a story.

The first scene of Toy Story 3 is a flashback of sorts, because it begins with a fast-action imaginative play-session featuring Woody (the cowboy), Buzz Lightyear (the astronaut/laser-wielding superhero from the future), Jessie (the cowgirl), and Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead (the most realistic, happily-married couple Disney has produced in twenty years). The play-session is orchestrated by the toys’ owner, Andy. With this scene, we have the quintessential picture of toy happiness. But the story quickly jumps forward in time to a present where Andy is 17 and getting ready to leave for college - and here the story begins. The toys are neglected and haven’t been played with for years. Rumors circulate that they are headed for the trash; Woody, ever faithful to Andy, insists that they are actually headed for the attic. Yet though the attic is better than the trash bin, neither alternative is what a toy actually wants.

Read the whole review here.  It sums up almost perfectly my own feelings with regards to this great film (the best I've seen all year...I'd like to say its time for Pixar to finally win that Best Picture Oscar).

I have only two things to add, and they are of a semi-technical nature:

1) There are some very very intense scenes in this film.  I found myself at the edge of my seat even the second time, when I knew how everything would turn out.   Some children will find it distressing, and others won't appreciate its gravitas.  Had I children, I would probably bring them, but, I recommend to all you parents--make a date night and go yourselves to see.  Trust me, you won't mind seeing it again, should you think it is appropriate for your kids.

2) I've seen this in both 3D and regular, and I highly recommend the regular.  There were moments in the film where the animation was so real and so beautiful that I thought I was looking at film, not animation.  They are masterly in depicting light, inanimate objects, and even fire (my goodness, the fire is breathtaking!)  The 3D, one would expect, would feel more real.  But it doesn't at all--its dimensionality is so artificial that what was shockingly real in 2D was dull in 3D.  Use the cash you save for popcorn.

And finally, for those who have seen it, isn't Andy such a refreshingly example of a male teenager?  I was so moved by his behavior in the final scene.

Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti and Michele Lemieux

TITLE:  Amahl and the Night Visitors
AUTHOR: Gian Carlo Menotti
ILLUSTRATOR: Michele Lemieux
PUBLISHED BY: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0688054269
PURCHASE: Amazon

I have raved on before about Amahl and the Night Visitors--the film/stage version.  But if you can't find a live performance, or don't like the DVD much--or the music at all (which is silly of you), then I must recommend to you this beautifully illustrated text version.  Using the original story, by Gian Carlo Menotti, Michele Lemieux has created stunningly beautiful watercolors to help bring this story to life. This is up there with The Gift of the Magi as my favorite Christmas tale--for it captures (I hate this phrase) the true spirit of Christmas: a humble heart and loving devotion to our Lord.  And at times it is as funny as it is wise:

Amahl approached Balthazar.
"Are you a real king?" he asked, leaving on his crutch.
"Yes," said Balthazar.
"Have you regal blood?" asked Amahl.
"Yes," Balthazar answered.
"Can I see it?" Amahl asked.
"It is just like yours," said Balthazar.
"What's the use of having it then?" asked Amahl.
"No use," was Balthazar's answer.

Ok now, here are some pictures:

Harold at the North Pole by Crocker Johnson

TITLE: Harold at the North Pole
AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR: Crockett Johnson
PUBLISHED BY: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0060586287
PURCHASE: Amazon


Harold and the Purple Crayon is, of course, a classic.  With one color and one line, Crockett Johnson gave us the perfect illustration of the imaginative life of a little boy.  It is an absolutely must own for any family.

But did you know, Johnson didn't stop at just one volume.  Indeed, he made an entire series.  They don't have the same immediacy and charm of the first book, but they are still quite good.  One of my favorites happens to be a...Christmas Book.  Sort of.

In Harold and the North Pole we find Harold waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.  He decides if he really wants to see Santa, he must travel to the North Pole.  So he draws the moon and big dipper, and many more stars.  Then, because the North Pole has snow, he begins to draw a snow storm (and a grumpy snow man).  But the blizzard is worse than he imagined.  As he climbs a big drift, all he sees is snow--and then he realizes he's actually on Santa's workshop, and poor Santa is snowed in.  Will Harold, and his trusty purple crayon save Christmas?

The narratives of Johnson's books feel like reading the minds of a 5 year old.  There are certain things that are true and real and absolutes (like Santa's workshop is in the North Pole, and there is snow there too), and other things that adapt to changing circumstances (the snowman is grumpy because its too cold even for him.  He obviously needs a muffler).  His restrained simple drawings are a perfect balance to the imaginative (but not fantastic) workings of young Harold's mind. 

When I found this on the shelf of my library, I realized that it was a rediscovery for me.  We had this book growing up (or some friend did), and it is as dear to me as Harold's first adventure.

Christmas In July

From now through the end of July I'll be hosting LLB's Christmas in July. I wanted to do this because I hate starting to do holiday books before the start of advent, though, obviously, shopping for Christmas must come as early as possible. So why not July? Besides...I could do for some cold weather for a change.

August will be dedicated to books released in 2010, so I hope you'll be looking forward to that (and send along your recommendations, if you have any favorites of the year).

Don't forget, you can always find Christmas Books at the Little Lamb Bookshop, under the heading Christmas Selections. They are, alas, in no particular order.

William Steig's Caldecott Acceptance

If you follow my other blog of miscellany, Ten Thousand Places, then you should already know about the great blog Letters of Note.  Well, a couple of weeks ago they had a real treasure, that I want to share with all of you: a letter from William Steig upon receiving the Caldecott Medal for his now-classic Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.  This letter shows his great and candid fear, which makes his acceptance speech (much loved among the ALA community) all the more endearing:

May 10, ’70

Dear Mr. Heins,
Bob Kraus just read your letter to me (the one about my Caldecott acceptance speech) over the phone. I’m afraid now that in addition to having to make a speech, which for me will be like walking on red hot embers & broken glass, I will have the additional burden of feeling that my speech will leave people dissatisfied & make me seem both ungracious & ungrateful. I sincerely meant what I indicated in the opening of my speech: I would almost rather die than have to formally address a group of people larger than two in number. I’ve successfully avoided doing so for 50 years; I’ve been depressed ever since January & will not realize happiness again until after June 30th when my trial is over. I’ve told this to many people, but no one believes me & I feel like a character in a Kafka novel. Please believe me when I say that speaking only a few words will require a superhuman effort for me; that I can no longer, in my sixties, hope to change my character; that I am making this effort only out of genuine gratitude; and also because I worry about my publisher, who could be an innocent victim of my neurosis.
I want to make more books, books good enough to win prizes, & I’m hoping that my inability to make speeches will not hamper my progress.
Sincerely yours
William Steig

The acceptance speech is also posted on Letters of Note, so please check it out.

Peter Paul and Mary and Gilbert and Sullivan

Just checking in.  My week has been awesome, but I miss you guys. So here's a song for you and your kids! See you Monday!

ps. Chronicle Books Friends & Family Summer Sale! 35% off + Free Shipping with promo code FRIENDS (ends 07.28.10)

Christian Young Adult Novels

Hot on the tails of our discussion of this week's discussion of Young Adult Fiction, Cate brought to my attention this article in Slate about Christian Young Adult books: 

Even in matters of the heart, these Christian books are encouraging girls to have personal agency. Take Candace Thompson, the protagonist of Debbie Viguié's 2008 novel The Summer of Cotton Candy. "We're not kids forever," she tells her summer fling, discouraged by his aimlessness. "I may not know what I want to do with my life yet, but I know I want to do something. ... Sooner or later you have to take responsibility for your own life, and I'm trying. What are you doing?" When he asks what this means, her answer is "I want a guy who values the same things I do"—a pretty excellent guideline for teens of any religious background.


Make no mistake: Christian novels written for young people are still primarily developmental tools rather than literary efforts. They're often didactic and formulaic, and a secular parent should think twice before buying them for his or her child. Evangelical publishers and authors say that what sets their books apart is how they show "natural consequences" of vice, which, in effect, means that no young person has sex without life-altering regrets or worse, and no one has a sip of beer without becoming a full-blown alcoholic.

I'm not going to recommend that you go out and purchase a bunch of young adult christian books, but it is interesting to note that in a world of Gossip Girl and Carrie's Diaries, you can find something that is a little more edifying.  I was thinking about this recently, as I reflected on what young adult books I read as a kid.  I read all the Babysitter's Club books, and while I regret in may ways all that lost time, I also think they were mostly harmless. They even taught me a thing or two about work, friendship, family, and creativity. 

Anyway, one thing is certain: I need to read more young Adult books, so I can contribute to this conversation more effectively.  In the meantime, I want you all to know that I will not be posting next week.  I finally got an awesome awesome new computer, and am going to spend my evenings next week getting it all set up and hopefully tweaking the blog as well.  Have a lovely week.

Some Responses to "The Trouble with Vampires"

Yesterday's post garnered a lot of discussion, via facebook, and other various feeds and locations. 

On my friend Sylvia's "wall" we got into a long discussion about Harry Potter, Philip Pullman, and adults self-censoring.  This was a bit beside the point of the article, but interesting nonetheless.  I am a fan of Harry Potter, and, while I find some things rather troubling (Harry uses repeatedly an "unforgivable" curse.  Why does this not matter?), I would not shy away from reading them with my kids--and discussing them.  It has been a long time since I have read any of Pullman's works, so I cannot say that I'd let my kids read them, but I certainly would not shy away from them as an adult educated and secure in her faith.

Mills argued that the popularity of these books is a good sign for Young Adult Literature:

This suggests that not every child is satisfied with the self-centered, unheroic stories to be found in the young adult section. They are more realistic and more interested in reality—of “real reality,” if you will—than the makers of the “real life” books realize.

I'd count it as a mixed sign.  While what he says above is certainly true, I think its pretty lame if the best we can do for young adult fiction is Harry Potter or Philip Pullman. 

Interestingly, there is a new trend in young adult fiction that blends the sharp "reality" of most teen fiction with a fantasy.  Post-apocalyptic dystopian teen fiction has both the uber-realistic emotional territory of a teenager's heart and a rebellious fantasy, which teenagers love to explore.  (For more about these books check out the fascinating article in The New Yorker). 

My friend Amanda (a librarian) had these comments, whch she kindly allowed me to post here on the blog (as she has much more experience with this field than I do, though, clearly, I need to change that!):

I have never been naturally drawn to that type of "realistic fiction"; as my sister and I have often said, only somewhat jokingly, the main characters in these books often seem to go through every bad thing imaginable rolled into one--familial abuse, rape, discrimination, drugs, abortion--and is that REALLY a realistic depiction of the average teenage reader of the story?

I also read a ton of kids and young adult books, for personal interest as well as to vet possible recommendations as a librarian, and there are so many books, especially for teens, that as he said, you can find some value in and I may even enjoy, but to be honest I can't in good conscience recommend to a teen. At best I can recommend it to a fellow adult with reservations. I also like his nod to the greater themes present in Harry Potter and The Golden Compass, despite some reservations with the latter. I think that's why I've always been drawn to fantasy; even at its most simplistic it deals with greater themes of good and evil rather than simply the self. I think that's also why I have a new found fascination with post-apocalyptic dystopian teen fiction. Again, the characters are placed in situations where the norm of apathy and selfishness just aren't going to cut it anymore, and as an excellent article my sister posted on my wall about this genre a little while ago points out, what makes teen dystopian fiction different than most adults is that some sort of hope is presented--in order to do that, the main characters have to move beyond selfishness and simple survival mode to work together for a greater good.

I'd also like to expand Miss Chamber's excellent observation in the comments section yesterday.  She notes that teachers are being encouraged to have their teenage students read these books, because they represent what real teenagers are feeling.  But I can't imagine (as a recovering teenager myself) wanting to encourage the self-obsessed worldview of a teenager by giving them these books.
 
I am glad to say I never experienced this, as I was reading "adult" books by the time I was in junior high (and even a few when I was in middle school).  Our highschool literature curriculum had everything from Socrates and Homer to Ambrose Bierce to Austen to Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Graham Greene (though our teacher got in a little trouble for that one). 
 
I always count among the biggest blessings and gifts from my parents was to travel when I was in Highschool.  As a teenager I went to London, to Rome and Paris, and to Quebec City.  While I obviously loved all those places, they had the most influence on me simply by assuring me that the world is bigger than my home town, and filled with fascinating things.  When a teenager's natural inclination is to be self-absorbed, and think that highschool IS THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, then the most important and educative thing one can do for a them is broaden their worldview.  And if you can't travel, at least you can read.

The Trouble With Vampires etc.

I wanted to sahre with you this lecture by David Mills, editor of Touchstone Magazine, about "Bad Books for Kids".  He is primarily talking about teenage fiction, a genre I know little about since it didn't interest me as a kid and still doesn't as an adult.  I don't agree with all of his prudential judgements, though he certainly has much more experience than I in these matters.  And I really applaud his hands on approach to finding out what is good fir his kids to read by reading these books himself. 

You may be surprised, if you don’t keep up on these things, and few of us have any reason to, how tawdry and sometimes depraved are the kinds of books being offered to teenagers by the major publishers and bookstores, and even the schools. This is true especially of the books supposed in some way to describe “real life.”


Before I came across a short essay on what’s called “young adult literature” a few years ago, I couldn’t imagine that the books were more than mildly offensive, with a few news-making exceptions. (The popular Face on the Milk Carton describes the main character’s increasing intimacy with her boyfriend, utterly unnecessary to the story, with lines like “She could touch him in places she had never touched another human being.”) I was shocked, and I think of myself as someone who is not easily shocked, by the evidence of commercial depravity.

And these books sell in huge numbers, mostly, judging from the books on the tables at our local chain bookstore, to girls. So many books read by so many will have their effect, and it is not likely to be good.

I encourage you to read the entire article, here. (HT: Joe Carter in First Things)

Sale at Chronicle Books

In honor of their new site launch, Chronicle Books is having a sale of 25% off everything in the store (Enter the code NEWSITE at checkout).  Stop by for great titles from my favorite contemporary kid-lit publisher, including Tortilla Sun,  some awesome board books, as well as the bestselling Little Books by Amy Krause Rosenthal and Jen Corace.  I think their concept books and reissued classics really are the best.  (And while you're there, grab a few cookbooks for yourself!) Through July 9.

For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre

 

TITLE: For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre
AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR: Timothy Decker
PUBLISHED BY: Calkins Creek
ISBN: 978-1590786086
PURCHASE: Amazon

In the Kirkus Review of Timothy Deckers visually stunning account of the Boston Massacre, the Kirkus Review said:

"In a few lines of terse prose illustrated with densely hatched black-and-white pictures, Decker lays out the causes of the tension between Bostonians and British troops, and then delivers a blow-by-blow account of events on that March night and the ensuing trials. Along with casting a grim tone over all, his dark, crowded illustrations capture the incident's confusion and also add details to the narrative."

They rightly highlight Timothy Decker's illustrations; richly imagined and graphic, they provide just the right amount of terror, confusion, atmostphere, and shock.  I can't help but thinking this book would have been better had it been wordless.  His prose has no narrative flow or suspense, or even much pertinent information.  In trying to be fair to all parties (and, its true, the Boston Massacre was a mess of a situation, and hard to clarify), he fails to tell a cohesive story.  And since his illustrations are graphic and the situation violent, they are intended for older children.  Thus he could have managed with much more detailed text. 
His illustrations were enough.  In fact, I'd get it for the illustrations.  But learn the story elsewhere.

The declaration of independence

Today I am testing out an iPad. I like it...but not for blogging. Though, seriously, it would free me up to do a lot of interesting things while on the go. But you know me: I like to read the paper and watch the people on the metro, and I really don't need to be connected all the time.

Anyway, I can't really blog from an iPad. For example: I would really like to share with you an awesome illuminated, or should I say illustrated, book of the Declaration of Independence. But I have no idea how to get you to pictures of it.

So I shall just have to tell you, if you want to teach your kids about the founding of our country, I highly recommend the illustrated version of the declaration by Sam Fink. He hand writes all of it, and breaks it down into short phrases, with illustrations on facing pages. And he really is good at making sense out of hard words and concepts.



Have a happy fourth! I am taking Monday off and will see you all on Tuesday!

Jack Jouett's Ride by Gail E. Haley

TITLE: Jack Jouett's Ride

AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR:  Gail E. Haley

PUBLISHED BY:

ISBN:

PURCHASE: Amazon, Abe

We all know (thanks to Longfellow) the story of Paul Revere's ride through the countryside in Massachusets.  But that wasn't the only important ride executed by a brave man in the night as the British approached.  Jack Jouett, a Captain of the Virginia Militia, rode 40 miles to Charlottesville to warn Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Harrison, and other members of the Virginia Legislature of the approach of Tarleton's Raiders.

The story is less well known that Paul Revere's, probably because it took place in the midst of the war, but it is surely taught (I hope!) in the Virginia schools--though, I confess, I have not seen a "Jouett Street" anywhere.  Have we forgotten this hero?

I'm awfully glad, then, for Gail Haley's picture book, which shares this captivating story of valor, and determination.  She captures the Virginia countryside, the terrors of the villagers, and the ingenuity of the few militia men left to defend Charlottesville.  She includes small, but terribly important details, like Jefferson hiding the state papers so the British don't confiscate them.

As usually, her wood cut illustrations are marvelous: