This year-round good time is especially fun for the Halloween season, though there's not a mention of it in any of the "big boasties" told by the little "ghosties." Can be read in a most straightforward manner as if all the "...ies" are a normal part of the language.

A lovely anticipation of Christmas which can be read with rising excitement to the very youngest in the family by parents or older siblings.

A sweet tale of dear friends looking after their much bigger friend to make sure that he doesn't hibernate through Christmas. The readalouder can depict the smaller animals' efforts to keep bear up through pleading persistent voices, while showing bear's determination to stay awake in an emphatic louder voice.

The readalouder can escalate the calls and cries of the arctic creatures in their first curious, then more frantic search for Santa. Wheeler's frequent pep and steam (Sixteen Cows, Jazz Baby) is replaced here by a cooler, yet plenty engaging tundra atmosphere.

Bubba Brayna serves one of the most memorable holiday meals in all of children's literature in this delightful tale for small children as well as the child within each of us. The readalouder gets to have a great time portraying the gracious, loquacious Bubba Brayna, who speaks for herself and her growly guest; as well as the rabbi and some mystified villagers.

The Gingerbread Pirates
By Kristin Kladstrup
(Candlewick Press, 2009)
Reading time: 6 minutes
Ages: 2 and up

This delicious holiday fun-for-all will likely become an annual family favorite. The readalouder will enjoy portraying the emotional Captain Cookie in excited , sometimes worried tones; crew members in helpful voices, and a gregarious take- charge Santa who makes all well.

Chaconas has created a memorable tale wherein Little Bunny's search for Easter gets right to the heart of the season of new life. The readalouder can portray the inquisitive bunny as a bit shy, while those who respond to him as more outgoing and knowing.

Howland's catchy variation on the Runaway Pancake rivals the original any day with Matzah Man outwitting the villagers plus a hen and goat until young Mendel outfoxes him at the Seder table. Little listeners will enjoy joining in the cumulative tale and might even divulge their own feelings about Matzah Man.

A delightful cumulative tale about the real meaning of Thanksgiving. And while she's at it, Levine shows how a good time and festive meal can be had by all, even without a turkey at the table. Great for talking about the family gathering and giving thanks part of thanksgiving; and also for discussing vegetarianism, which Levine subtly (if the turkey flying from the oven into the goldfish bowl can be considered subtle) raises.

The Peterkins' Thanksgiving
Adapted by Elizabeth Spurr
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2005)
Reading time:
Ages: 3 and up

This Thanksgiving comedy of errors and manners adapted from Lucretia Hale's 1880's Peterkin Papers has indeed stood the test of time. Children of all ages will love the Peterkins' foolishness, helplessness, and lack of orneriness as they starve through Thanksgiving day due to the technological malfunction of their dumbwaiter. The readalouder can intersperse reading matter-of-factly the letter to a friend from Philadelphia who missed the celebration but presumably would have known just how to handle it, with the omniscient author's humorous-cum-exasperated telling of the series of events which bedeviled the Peterkins' family Thanksgiving.

The Polar Express
By Chris Van Allsburg
(Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009)
Reading time: 9 minutes
Ages: 3 and up

Author/illustrator Van Allsburg won the Caldecott for this classic which is out in a new 25th anniversary edition for the 2009-10 holiday season. Besides being a great ride, the Polar Express is a terrific holiday bedtime read, validating a child's belief that there is indeed a Santa Claus. Can be read quietly and assuredly, helping to ensure that happy listeners may sleep well.

This innovative portrayal of the Jewish holiday cycle through the foods most associated with each of ten holidays is a lovely introduction to the fun-filled, delicious opportunities each holiday offers for family and community celebration. The blank verse can be read in pensive tones, alternating with excitement and delight as each holiday's customs and foods are linked.

Who Would Like a Christmas Tree?
By Ellen Bryan Obed
(Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009)
Reading time: 16 minutes, including 7 minute author’s note
Ages: 3 and up

A charming, highly informative story of the many insect, bird and animal lives which impact, and are impacted by, a pine tree before it becomes a Christmas tree.  The beautifully illustrated main story tells about each month of the tree’s life. The author’s note (another story in itself) explains how the farmer takes care of her Christmas tree farm throughout the year. A great book for the whole family to read aloud and talk about all year long.

Moulton wraps an important truth in a charming Christmas tale: kindness to all of earth's creatures is of year-round import. As long as the readalouder can resist falling into a singsong pattern, Moulton's and Santa's messages can be engagingly delivered.

The Polar Express
By Chris Van Allsburg
(Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009)
Reading time: 9 minutes
Ages: 3 and up

Author /illustrator Van Allsburg won the Caldecott for this classic which is out in a new 25^th anniversary edition for the 2009-10 holiday season. Besides being a great ride, the Polar Express is a terrific holiday bedtime read, validating a child’s belief that there is indeed a Santa Claus. Can be read quietly and assuredly, helping to ensure that happy listeners may sleep well.

When a pair of devils threatens to disrupt Hanukah in Brisk, the wise rabbi is summoned. He calms fears, outsmarts the devils, destroys their powers and demonstrates that sparks of good can triumph over impulses of evil.

An outstanding story about one of many national crusades spearheaded by Sarah Hale, a fascinating and successful national magazine editor of the 1800s. The story encapsulates Hale's 38 years of trying through five Presidents to get the US government to set aside one day each year as a national Thanksgiving Day. The true story, coupled with the author's short bio of Hale, make a wonderful vehicle for discussion of motivation, perseverance and vision: in this case Hale's vision of the need for a unifying American Thanksgiving holiday and her persistence in making it happen.

Fat Chance Thanksgiving
By Patricia Lakin
(Albert Whitman, 2002)
Reading time: 8 minutes
Ages: 4 and up

Carla is determined that she and her mother will celebrate Thanksgiving  in spite of a fire having recently destroyed their home, and their subsequent  move to an apartment complex where they know no one. Carla soon befriends a neighbor boy whose help she enlists in organizing a Thanksgiving "melting pot" potluck for all the tenants. Not only does this provide everyone with Thanksgiving companionship but also with the sharing of foods and stories from their many diverse cultures. An excellent and empowering book for any child who won’t take no for an answer.

The Yankee at the Seder
By Elka Weber
(Tricycle Press, 2009)
Reading time: 11 minutes
Ages: 8 and up

Based on a true incident, Weber relates that as the Civil War ended Meyer Levy, a Yankee soldier, was invited to share a Passover Seder with a young Confederate boy and his family. Slavery was on everyone’s minds. The war was about slavery; Passover is about slavery. Thousands of years before there were slaves on this continent, the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, and Passover commemorates their escape from that bondage through re-telling the story of how and why it happened.  When the Yankee attended the Confederate family Seder the story of the Hebrew escape from slavery was told within a new context. This is a fascinating story of both ancient Jewish and U.S. history.