Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by the wonderful Trina Schart Hyman is a wonderful folktale about a town that is over run with Goblins who like to destroy the Hanukkah festivities. It is up to Hershel to save the day. This is a really fun book that I think everyone should read even if they don't celebrate Hanukkah. The characters are great and the illustrations are perfect....like I said it is my favorite Hanukkah story. It is a must have kind of a book. It also makes a great family gift as all ages can enjoy it.
by Lisa Anderson & Zac Williams. Every year my nephews aunt gives them a Gingerbread making kit. This book is nice because there is no kit needed and the ingredients are easy to get. A perfect cookbook for this time of year.
by Laurie Goldrich Wolf is for the youngest cooks in the house. These recipes can be made by a child with no direct help from an adult. I know lots of kids who will love this because they always want to do things themselves. 
by Kelly Lambrakis. Normally I wouldn't suggest a book that is gender specific but I couldn't help myself with this one. This is part of a series of books geared toward boys and cooking. I was drawn to this one because the author has three boys just like my brother. My brother's boys always liked to help in the kitchen. I have a great photo of my nephew JoJo with his Grandma last year baking our bread for Christmas morning. Even though it is technically for boys I am sure if there is a girl in the family they will like it too.
by Matthew Locriccio is one of the best books for young adults I have seen. I know most teens could probably use a grownup cookbook but this is great to get them started. I liked the set up and recipes plus the photographs are truly helpful. 
by Shannon Payette Selp and Kelly Parthen. I just loved the title of this book. I also loved that it shows how eating healthy can be fun--as you know my other life involves veggie burgers (
by Glenn & Michelle Abrams is a really great book to use this time of year. Kids love to help in the kitchen and what they love most is to help make cookies and cakes. What I love about this cookbook (besides the wonderful recipes--which are very child friendly) is that the illustrations are done by kids and are really quite impressive. Children will be inspired to not only learn to bake but to maybe pick up a paintbrush or pencil and create their own illustrations. This makes a great family gift or maybe an early gift to your child so they can help prepare for the holidays. Either way it is a fun cookbook for kids and adults to enjoy together. Oh if you go to the website 
by Tad Hills is one of the cutest Christmas books I have seen for toddlers in a long time. It is a simple story of two friends: one who likes to just have fun and the other who wants to have fun but only after their work has been done. It is a fun little book that is the perfect way to let your little one start getting excited for Christmas. It is a must have for any child's bookshelf....
by Ed Vere is the kind of book that is so simple and yet so powerful in
by Chief Jake Swamp and illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr is the perfect book for today. I love the fact this is based on an actual Native American prayer that children say every morning. It teaches children to appreciate the world around them. I think this a timeless book and one that should remind us to be thankful for all we have. I also that love the simplicity of the artwork. This is more than just a book for Thanksgiving it is a book to be read at any time of year. A beautiful book to give as a new baby gift or as a gift for families to share.
by Carolyn Parkhurst and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino is a really funny book that has a little boy who likes to pretend he is doing a cooking show. He must "pretend" with his little sister because he was told by his mother he has to play with her. It is told in a conversational way which makes it a wonderful read aloud. Carolyn Parkhurst has kids minds down pat and Dan Yaccarino's illustrations made me laugh. This is a great book about siblings that is just a fun read. I can't wait to see what other adventures Henry and Elliebelly get into.
by Candace Fleming and illustrated by award winning G. Brian Karas is a fun new book that is a fairy tale at heart. I love this story of a little boy named Jack who gets an invitation to the princess' birthday party. I love the resourcefulness of Jack. He trades his beloved items for ingredients to make a cake only to have the cake torn apart. In the end it is the story that pleases the princess. When I read it I had a feeling of an O'Henry story....but for kids. This is such a sweet and lovely fairy tale that I would have wanted as a child.
by Kate Waters with photographs by Russ Kendall is not necessarily a Thanksgiving Story. It is just a story based on a little girl who actually existed. Even though it is not a holiday story it has always been a perennial book to read at this time of year. I remember it being a big seller when I first started working in books. What I always liked about it, besides the fact that it was about a real person, was the photographs. It clearly shows children what it was like to live in the 1600's. Kids are so visual that the photographs bring a reality that sometimes illustrations cannot. This is a great book to read along side a true story of Thanksgiving if only to give perspective and understanding of how people lived in the early days before we were a country.
is just too adorable for words. I have always loved her books, they are perfect for story times and just one on one time with kids. I have even gotten them for some adults I know. I love the sing along aspect of the book and was thrilled that there is a downloadable song that goes with it. This is just a "perfect" book....(Pun intended). The cover illustration is priceless and when I first saw it I couldn't help smiling. This is a must have for any child especially anyone who loves Sandra Boynton.....
that makes a
. In it he talks about how we must work with nature to help our planet. I admire his passion and commitment to changing the way we view our world.
by HRH The Prince of Wales takes all the information of his adult book and makes it accessible to children. It was very smart of him to do a children's version as they should also be taught to save our world. It is a beautifully produced book with wonderful photographs. It is a good book to help start conversations about the environment and why we should care about what is happening to our planet.
