Where's Santa? by the Editors of Chartwell Books

It's time for a little Christmas fun! Today's read is a search-and-find book. I loved these as a kid as did my own children. I have no idea how hard these will be. Hopefully, not super easy, since a little challenge is nice, too. I curious to see how the different scenes inspire Christmas dreams of Santa.

So, let's keep this short and get those searching-eyes ready!

WHERE'S SANTA?

Find Santa Claus as He Travels the World

by the Editors of Chartwell Books

Picture Book   /   Holiday   /   Activity

32 pages

ages 4 and up

Where in the world is Santa Claus? Peruse the vibrant Christmas-themed scenes from across the globe to find holiday-inspired items and even Santa Claus himself!

Bring the spirit of Christmas to life with Where’s Santa? Filled with fun and festive scenes featuring Santa Claus, elves, presents, and more, explore Christmas around the world with this delightful activity book where every page is a jolly new adventure. 

Look for Santa and Christmas-inspired items from each country, including:

• USA
• Canada
• Mexico
• Brazil
• England
• Germany
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Africa
• And more!

A fun and interactive way to celebrate the holiday, enjoy the magic of the season as you look through each puzzle and find facts about how Christmas is recognized across the world. A fantastic stocking stuffer, gift, or winter-break activity, Where’s Santa? offers countless hours of fun.

Let the search for holiday magic begin!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

It's time to go around the world on Christmas and see the various ways each country celebrates with their form of Santa.

Twelve countries are presented in this book, each getting a two-page spread with a fun search-and-find. The illustrations are somewhat similar, in that they each show a town area with tons of people doing various activities for Christmas. This includes everything from ice skating to a Christmas Market to beach parties and more. Each one is chaotic, vibrant, and packed full of tiny details. On one side of the page, a sidebar displays a 'Santa' and twelve other items the reader should find. Some are easy to spot, while others take a bit of searching and patience. The answers are presented in very small illustrations at the end of the book. To add a little extra, knowledge goodness, a information bubble in one corner of the illustration explains a cultural tidbit about that country's celebration or traditions.

This is a fun book for the holidays. Not only are the searches nicely done with a nice spread of difficulty in each one, but they bring cultural insights as well. At the beginning of the book, each 'Santa' is quickly presented from each country. In the search, readers discover traditional scenes from each country thanks to the housing, clothing, and more. Since readers need to carefully search for things, they discover these tidbits along the way, too. 

While I was, at first, a bit disappointed that there are only thirteen items to search on each page, it actually works quite well. Some are well hidden, which might frustrate some searchers. But the amount also is enough to make it interesting without growing each scene into a huge, major task. So, it's enough to make it interesting and engaging without overpowering. Plus, it allows readers time to sink into the other details and learn about each country. It's fun, educational, and makes a nice addition for stockings or little gifts to bring along. 

Christmas Is Coming To Town! by Rachel Piercey

I'm a bit late with today's read, and it would have been better to have snuck in sometime around the end of November...but so many books and so little time! Today's read is more of an Advent's calendar than a regular book, but I'm wondering if it could be used as a fun Christmas book, too. Why? Because it appears to be a fold out book with 24 windows and doors to open to discover what's inside. I'm hoping that little readers can just open these themselves and have fun with it. But we'll see. Oh, I also saw on Goodreads that this is available in Norwegian, too.

So, let's see how this one works, shall we?

CHRISTMAS IS COMING TO TOWN!

Brown Bear Wood

by Rachel Piercey

Illustrated by Freya Hartas

Magic Cat Publishing

Picture Book Holiday

16 pages

ages 3 to 8

Count down to Christmas with Bear and his woodland friends in this spectacular advent calendar book—with surprises hidden under 24 doors, holiday activities to enjoy as a family, and a magical accordion-style fold-out to display

In Christmas is Coming to Town!, children will enjoy the merriment of getting ready for Christmas with Bear and his friends. The calendar includes 24 flaps to open, each one revealing a delightful illustration and verse about the animals of Brown Bear Wood preparing for the big day.

On the back of the stunningly illustrated fold-out calendar there are tips for more holiday fun, including: tell a Christmas story with Papa Bear; write a letter to Santa with Professor Owl; bake carrot oat bars for Rudolph with Mama Fox; build a snow deer with the Deer Family; decorate a gingerbread burrow with Bunny; pick the perfect tree with Bear; and make gift wrap with the Squirrel Family. Christmas is truly magical in Brown Bear Wood!

Brown Bear Wood series:
If You Go Down to the Woods Today
Grand Old Oak and the Birthday Ball
It’s Busy Down in the Woods Today
Wisdom of the Woods
Brown Bear Wood: A Search-and-Find Coloring Book: Over 100 Things to Find
Bear’s Picnic Puzzle: A Magical Woodland (100 Piece Puzzle)
Christmas is Coming to Town!
The Great Easter Egg Hunt
I Love You Always

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Get ready to get big because this book pulls out into a long line with tons to discover on every page.

First I have to reveal that I didn't see this one in physical copy form, which I'm sure would have been lovely. Still, it was enjoyable and is definitely going on my list of future reads for the little ones in my life. This 'book' stretches out into an entire, long display of Christmas in a town. Each page is packed with busy and cheerful illustrations. Many are sure to make readers smile, and there's always something new to discover thanks to the enjoyable chaos. There are doors on each page, each marked with a number from 1-24. This makes it perfect for the Advent countdown. But this can also be read simply as a fun way to open doors and discover what's inside. 

The surprises are brief, cute, and carry tons of Christmas joy. It's fun to meet all of the characters and see what they are up to. Plus, readers can enjoy this one themselves, since much of the delights are of the visual nature. 

It's a warming, fun way to rank up the pre-Christmas excitement.

And here she is...

FREYA HARTAS is a UK based artist specialising in children's books, and the illustrator of the internationally bestselling Slow Down and Brown Bear Wood series. She graduated from Falmouth University with a first-class honours in BA Illustration in 2014. Freya loves to conjure up humorous characters, animals and monsters, creating the most fantastical worlds for them to inhabit and get lost in.

River of Crows by N.P. Thompson

I do have a couple middle grade reads this month...just a few, though...and today's read is one of them. This is the first book in The Arcanium series and received wonderful reviews and even a few prizes/recognitions. I think it includes a prophecy, portal and alternate world with magic. Oh, and friendship should be a big theme.

Let's open it up and see what's inside!

RIVER OF CROWS

The Arcanium, Book One

by N.P. Thompson

Inky Cove

Middle Grade Fantasy

334 pages

ages 8 to 12

A cryptic prophecy. A dangerous quest. An explosive family secret. And a crow with a white feather who is more than he appears...

Mortal peril is twelve-year-old Ty Baxter's new normal when he teams up with the weird girl from school to help an injured bird and suddenly finds himself trapped in a strange, magical world.

Now the target of a brutal tyrant with unfathomable power, Ty grapples with a life-altering revelation about his past and the implications of an ancient prophecy. As he struggles to control his own emerging magical Talent, Ty embroils himself in a desperate gamble to help his new friends save their missing family before the emperor uses his dark sorcery to transform them into birds, enslaving them forever as soldiers in his enchanted avian army.

And if he survives all of that, he's probably still going to get grounded—if he ever finds a way to get back home.

From debut author N.P. Thompson, River of Crows (book 1 of The Arcanium saga), thrusts unsuspecting seventh-grader Ty Baxter into a dangerous new realm of intrigue and magic where he must band together with a group of unlikely friends as they fight to save their families, their worlds, and each other from sinister forces. This witty, action-packed upper middle grade fantasy adventure with a cast of unforgettable characters will appeal to fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Keeper of the Lost Cities, and Wings of Fire.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Two worlds collide in an intriguing tale of magic with a touch of sinister intentions.

Ty doesn't like school and still does fine, but his strict father expects more. Ty's also bullied at school, but when a crow saves the day, he finds the pet his father would never let him have. Well, of sorts. There's something strange about this crow, but even stranger is the weird girl, who decides to talk to him. When they find themselves, trapped in a magical world, Ty's entire life gets flipped upside down as he discovers he has magical talents. But that's only the beginning. An evil emperor is transforming everyone against him into birds, and Ty and the girl seem to be the only ones who can help. Maybe.

This book immediately had me thinking of the German tale, Krabat, with an evil master, which turns assistants into crows. In this tale, it's an emperor, who turns those against him into crows, and this gives the entire thing a dark twist, which draws in. Ty is a bit prickly when the reader first meets him. The bullying and weird girl set the story off with a bit of edge before it takes a true, fantasy dive into the other world. Mixed with many short chapters, the read, especially in the beginning, seems unsettled, which works nicely as it leads into the uncertainty Ty faces with his new, magical abilities and strange world. He has a lot to learn and grows right along with the new friendship he forms.

The is a steady-paced read with moments of tension, action, and a touch of heart. The world building is well done and creates interesting scenes and characters. While some areas slowed a bit, most of the plot moves along with unexpected twists and turns. Plus, the problems Ty faces will have the reader rooting for him the entire way through.

It will be interesting to see where all of this goes next.

And here she is...

N.P. Thompson lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her two awesome kids and a very lazy cat. When she’s not building web things you can either find her wrangling plot bunnies or binge-watching episodes of Doctor Who and Babylon 5. She enjoys talking to the neighbourhood crows (most days), but wishes they would stop nagging her about not having finished their stories yet.

Here at the Castle by Anthony Luke Hyslop

Happy Sunday, everyone! Today's read should be perfect for a Sunday read. It appears to be a little more tense and exciting than most picture books with religious messages, and I'm very curious to see how that works out. It's always nice to have a little change-up on the angle's, since everyone is reached differently. 

Let's just open it up and see what it holds!

HERE AT THE CASTLE

Abide With Me #1

by Anthony Luke Hyslop

Edited by Stacy Gittens

Illustrated by Aleksander Jasinski

AH! Publishing

Picture Book Religious

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

Embark on an unforgettable adventure of courage, faith, and redemption with Here at the Castle – a beautifully illustrated Christian allegory that will inspire and captivate young hearts. Perfect for children ages 4-10, this enchanting picture book delivers powerful lessons about overcoming fear and trusting in God’s unwavering love.

In a broken-down castle perched on a cliff, Nathaniel, a frightened little lamb, finds himself lost, alone, and hunted by a fearsome dragon. As the dragon’s shadow looms closer, all hope seems lost until a mighty lion emerges from the mist to protect him. This lion, fierce yet full of compassion, battles the dragon to save Nathaniel, showing the lamb that even in his darkest moments, he is never truly alone.

With lyrical storytelling and stunning illustrations, Here at the Castle is more than just a bedtime story – it’s a faith-filled journey that introduces children to the boundless love and protection of Jesus Christ. Through its allegorical tale, the book explores themes of salvation, courage, and God’s grace, teaching kids that no matter how lost or unworthy they may feel, they are always worthy of His love.

Why Parents and Teachers Love This

Faith-Based Helps children understand the power of God’s love, courage, and redemption through a relatable story. Biblical Includes references to key Bible verses like Psalm 121, reinforcing spiritual lessons. Emotional Tackles feelings of fear, doubt, and loneliness while reassuring young readers that they are never alone.  Stunning Beautifully illustrated pages bring the allegory to life, making it perfect for story time or Sunday School. Encourages Thought-provoking questions and themes inspire meaningful discussions about faith and hope. 

Perfect

Bedtime stories with a spiritual message 

Christian families and homeschoolers

Church libraries and Sunday School classrooms

Gifts for Easter, Christmas, baptisms, or first communion 

Key

Features a 3D Hardcover. Paperback, and E-book options available. Includes a reflection section with Bible verses for deeper exploration. Ideal for readers ages 4-10Give your child a story they’ll cherish forever and a faith they can lean on throughout their life. Add Here at the Castle to your cart today and watch as its timeless message of love and protection touches the hearts of everyone who reads it.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Tension and dragon fantasy mix into a powerful tale about being protected and loved.

A little lamb ran off, got lost, and now, finds itself at a dark, scary castle. It has no idea what it's going to do, especially when a terrifying dragon flies in and wants to eat it. The lamb knows it's doomed, but before the terrible happens, a heroic lion comes to the rescue.

This is one for adventure fans...and dragon lovers, too. The fear for the little lamb's situation hits right away on the first page and intensifies as the dangerous dragon comes in. More sensitive readers might find it a bit much, but there will be many others who will enjoy the high-stakes and fantasy flow. The scenes are dark and carry tension, which shifts nicely against the heroic lion. All of it has its purpose, and still stays in the range of the intended reading level. And yes, the religious aspect is there with symbolism that isn't overly hard to grasp. I do love the original direction this takes and find it nice to have a book, which carries such an important message and doesn't stay snuggly the entire way through, but lets adventure soar.

The illustrations are especially well done and draw in. They are dark and dim through much of the read, and this fits the setting and tale well. The characters come across with the right emotions and make this a tale listeners can pick up on their own and enjoy through the illustrations. The text is also fitting to the age group and works as a read-alone for those readers, who are pretty sure of their words. The rhyme flows okay but not as smooth as I like, but that could just be me. 

To make this a read packed with extra goodness, the author adds several pages of notes at the end, which help explain the background and symbolism. I found this helps mold this especially nicely into a read to be used in Sunday school or group settings. 

And here he is...

Anthony Hyslop lives in north Idaho with his wife Elizabeth their 7 children the latter now living with the Lord. They have 15 chickens and a black cat named Rocky. He has been a cement finisher for 21 years now.

Anthony loves to write new stories and write poetry from time to time. He believes all good things come from the Lord and to be a good steward of what is given to you.

You can check out some of his work and poetry on

Facebook: Stories by Anthony Hyslop (@ahstories).

Instagram: @ahpublishing

How Mr. Felix Entered a Bicycle Race by Peter Svetina

Today's read seems to take a silly turn with an unique character...and that's why I couldn't help but take a peek. This one promises to offer some words for wisdom through an endearing tale. Plus, why is that man lying on his back with the bike when he's in a race? These are questions that must be answered! 

So, let's take a look and see where his speed and the race went.

HOW MR. FELIX ENTERED A BICYCLE RACE

by Peter Svetina

Illustrated by Ana Razpotnik Donati

Albatros Media

Picture Book

24 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 17, 2026!!!

Slow and Steady Wins the... Fun! Discover the Hilarious Story of Mr. Felix's Unconventional Bicycle Race! 

Get ready for an exciting adventure with Mr. Felix, a charmingly eccentric man who stumbles his way into a bicycle race! Forget about speed and competition; Mr. Felix pedals to the beat of his own drum, happily pausing for refreshing lemonade breaks, spontaneous swims in the lake, and delightful detours along the way. Young readers will be captivated by Mr. Felix's carefree spirit and learning that embracing life's little joys and going at your own pace can lead to the most unexpected and delightful victories. Perfect for young readers who love a good laugh and stories that celebrate individuality. How Mr. Felix Entered a Bicycle Race is a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, the best way to win is to simply enjoy the ride!

• A Hilarious Adventure: Join Mr. Felix on his laugh-out-loud journey through a bicycle race unlike any other!
• Celebrates Individuality: Encourages children to embrace their own pace and unique way of experiencing the world.
• Heartwarming Message: Teaches valuable lessons about enjoying the present moment and finding joy in unexpected places.
• Perfect for Story Time: Award-winning writer Peter Svetina's engaging writing and quirky characters make this a delightful read-aloud for families.
• A Fun Twist on Competition: Shows that "winning" isn't always about being the fastest, but about savoring the experience.

For over 75 years, Albatros Media has been crafting original and innovative children's books that are both playful and educational, fostering curiosity and a thirst for knowledge in young minds. We deliver the highest quality children’s books from novelty, picture, pop-up, and how-to books, to non-fiction, and fairy tale books.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With light silliness and moments to make listeners/readers go 'huh', this is a fun read with a lovely message.

Mr. Felix is a bit of an odd person, who loves to live between boxes in his house and likes to carefully braid his beard. But he's not unloved, by any means. When he enters a bike race, people aren't sure what to think, especially since he doesn't have a bike. This isn't really a problem, since someone is more than ready to let him borrow their rusty one. And off he goes! He surprises all onlookers not only with his amazing speed but his constant habit of being distracted. It makes for an intriguing race with onlookers' emotions all over the place.

This is a cute tale with lots of heart. Mr. Felix is odd but lovable. He radiates kindness and friendliness to win over listeners and readers right away. The silliness of the situation is also clear from the get-go, although his sudden speed definitely surprises. It also adds the perfect fuel to keep the extreme back-and-forth going though out. The tale is interesting the entire way through with my only criticism at how quickly and suddenly it ends. Twenty-four pages is short for this type of read, and a few more pages really would have made it sit wonderfully.

Despite the shortness, this isn't a light read for the picture book audience and holds a bit heavier text. It still works great as a read-aloud, even for slightly impatient listeners. Readers, who want to tackle it on their own, will need to have a pretty good handle on their word skills, too. The illustrations also are nicely done and bring the scenes across with fun, letting the moments come across right. Especially Mr. Felix's attitude shines. I received a DRC and wasn't able to view all of the illustrations but most of them.

It's a fun read with a hint of silliness and tons of heart.

And here he is...

Peter Svetina was born in 1970 in Ljubljana. He is an author of short stories, novels, picture books and poetry for readers of all ages. He obtained his PhD in early Slovenian Literature at the University of Ljubljana. Since 2007, he has been a lecturer at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria and also works as a translator and editor. Svetina’s writing often reflects occurrences and images from his everyday life, and he is known for his distinctive storytelling that combines nonsense with realism. To date, he has published over 20 books for children and young people. Three of his stories have been adapted for puppet shows and much of his work has been translated into other languages. His books have received some of the most prestigious national and international awards and are immensely popular among literary critics as well as young readers.

Merry Christmas, My Darling Dear by Amy Kavelaris

Anyone else have Christmas songs running through their heads constantly? My daughter has already searched out every single Christmas station on our car radio and scrutinized them until she found her favorite. (When we drive, it's longer distance.) 

Today's read keeps this Christmas spirit flowing. I was drawn in by the cover—it's so calming and festive. I was surprised to learn that it's part of a row of books from this author, which center around this deer and her fawn. It's also a religious read, which gives it extra marks for me. 

So, let's dive in and see what these pages hold!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY DARLING DEAR

by Amy Kavelaris

Tommy Nelson

Picture Book   /   Holiday  /  Religious

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Step into a winter wonderland filled with beautiful artwork of woodland animals and flower crowns as you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with your little ones. Merry Christmas, My Darling Dear follows a baby and mama deer who discover that Christmas festivities, decorations, and presents are reminders of the greatest gift of all—the birth of God’s Son.

When you string lights on your tree, remember Jesus, the Light of the World. And when you watch snow falling gently down, remember God sent His Son down to earth to be with us. Let each gift you give be a reminder of the greatest gift, the gift of our Savior. This baby and mama deer delight over each Christmasy moment as they wander through the snowy forest, enjoy Christmas activities, and encounter a beautiful church and its nativity scene.

Filled with whimsical illustrations from beloved author and artist Amy Kavelaris, this picture book

• is for ages 4 to 8;
• shows the value in Christmas festivities and how they point to the true reason for Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth; and
• is a great gift for Christmas and Advent as well as baby showers during the Christmas season.

See the wonder of the Christmas season through your child’s eyes as you teach them that each moment is a celebration of God’s Son.

Check out these other books from Amy Kavelaris:

• Good Night, My Darling Dear
• Good Morning, Little One

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Calm and love swirl together with gorgeous illustrations to bring across warm, Christmas feelings.

A mother deer and her fawn wander through the forest in a loving manner, as the mother expresses her care for her child. The special moments and meaning of Christmas slide in along the way to create a gentle and heart-filled read for those more quiet moments.

This is written in rhyme and carefully worded so as to keep it meaningful and short for even less patient listeners. The rhymes flow smoothly and build the calming atmosphere, while delivering the wholesome words to bring across the meaning of Christmas. But these pages really sparkle and shine thanks to the beautiful illustrations. They bring each scene across with tons of emotion, while also offering young listeners little things to discover. It's patient and never busy as each scene invites in. It's a book to snuggle up with from beginning to end.

The message of Christmas and Jesus' birth weaves in naturally, while letting the warm relationship between mother and child stay front and center. The other forest animals add a sense of friendship and community. While the illustrations stick to a more realistic, natural style, there are human add-ins here and there to invite to fantasy and familiarity, and yet, it never feels out of place.

It's a lovely read for the holidays and works especially well for calmer settings or even as a bedtime read.

And here she is...

Amy (Kavs) Kavelaris work can be spotted in Target, Walmart, Anthropologie, Altar'd State, and Better Homes & Gardens, as well as in homes around the globe. She has collaborated with countless brands, including Skechers Shoes and Pampers, and served as a judge for the Miss America Foundation. Amy's impressionistic, painting style invites her viewers into a charming, and delightfully whimsical experience. Amy and her husband live in the Midwest with their three small girls. See her art at www.bloomprintsstudio.com and @amykavs on Instagram

Olivia's Jokes by Eve Heide Bine-Stock

OLIVIA'S JOKES

by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock

Illustrated by Antara Majumder

Picture Book

ages 5 to 8

40 pages

Olivia was on a mission to spread joy in her small town. Every day, she would set up a sign on the corner of her yard with a new joke. Passersby couldn't help but stop, read the sign, and burst into laughter. But one morning, Olivia's heart sank as she saw her sign had been smashed in two. Who could have done such a cruel thing? What will Olivia do now? Find out in this heartwarming tale of resilience and community. Buy now before the price goes up!

GOODREADS     /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

While quirky, cute jokes bring smiles, an important message about bringing joy comes across, too.

Olivia has an idea. She sets up a sign board in her yard and writes a new joke on it every day. Individuals stop by every day, read her latest joke, and laugh...and it's creating a lovely atmosphere. One day, however, the sign is smashed into pieces. Not only doesn't Olivia know who was mean enough to do it, but she's not sure if she should put up a new one or not. 

This is a simple, straight-forward tale with smiles and heart. Olivia is an adorable sheep, and her joke sign is easy to get behind and root for. Not only are listeners/readers sure to snort a smile or roll their eyes at the cute jokes, but they might start wondering if they could do something like that themselves. When the sign breaks, it comes across with the right frustration, and that without growing mean or vindictive. It simply brings the right amount of sadness, and then, determination. The message is wholesome the enter way through.

The text is concise and simple enough for readers, who have a good handle on their words, to pick up and try themselves. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, and hold just enough details to make them interesting without growing too complex. It fits the story nicely. The only thing I missed was a few more jokes on the board, even while it turns to the breakage problem, but this wasn't an issue either. The jokes were just cute.

It makes a nice read aloud for individual as well as group settings.

The First Christmas by N.T. Wright

I'm swinging back into Christmas mode with today's read and taking a more traditional dive. This book should deliver the Christmas story in a way, which snuggles up to the original description found in the Bible. I'm excited to see how the author tackles this and am curious about the illustrations, since other reviews give them quite the praise.

Let's snuggle down with a tea and see how this book handles it!

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

The Bible's Nativity Story

by N.T. Wright

Illustrated by Helena Perez Garcia

Tommy Nelson

Picture Book   /  Holiday  /  Religious

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Keep Jesus in the center of your family’s Christmas and Advent celebrations with this beautiful nativity storybook from N.T. Wright, one of the world’s most loved and trusted Bible scholars.

With the big-picture approach that readers worldwide have learned to trust, N.T. Wright weaves together the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth into a thoughtful, hope-filled telling of the first Christmas, from Gabriel’s announcement to the family’s return from Egypt.

The First Christmas features: 

a faithful telling of the nativity story

gorgeous painted art from award-winning illustrator Helena Perez Garcia

a resource page showing how Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in baby Jesus’ coming

a deluxe book with a presentation page

A beautiful keepsake gift for children and adults alike, The First Christmas celebrates Christ’s birth with authenticity, beauty, and joy.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With care, this book introduces the Christmas story to young listeners.

Starting with the angel's visit to Mary to announce her pregnancy, these pages tell about the birth of Christ. The author sticks close to the Bible and lets the story come across with the same feel and style. Still, the author makes sure to word it just right for younger listeners to understand and enjoy. While the text tells the story, the illustrations let it come to life visually. These also carry enough of a traditional feel to match with the text style, while also adding a lovely, artistic touch. Young listeners can pick this up on their own and follow the story visually. Or those readers, who have a pretty good grip on their words, can go through the tale on their own.

At the end, there are several Bible verses, which give a quick glance at a few prophecies concerning Jesus' birth from the Old Testament. This works especially nice for older readers and adults, since it demonstrates how Jesus' birth was a fulfillment of the promise from the Old Testament.

In other words, this is a lovely read for anyone looking for a book, which concentrates on the Christmas story as loved from the Bible.

And here they are...

N. T. Wright is the former bishop of Durham and senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He is one of the world's leading New Testament scholars and the award-winning author of many books, including After You Believe, Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, Interpreting Paul, and The New Testament in Its World, as well as the Christian Origins and the Question of God series.

Helena Perez Garcia is a Spanish illustrator whose work has appeared across magazines, newspapers, packaging, and books for children and adults.

Her illustrations are conceptual, whimsical, and rich in detail and color. Helena’s primary medium is gouache, and her main sources of inspiration are art, literature, and cinema.

After completing a Fine Arts Degree in Spain, Helena relocated to London in 2012, where she lived and worked for six years. During this period and driven by the artistic history and cultural influences of the city and the country, Helena developed her characteristic style. She returned to Spain in 2018.

All the Way Around the Sun by Xixi Tian

I'm taking a breath from my line of Christmas reads and looking at a more emotional read today with some heavier themes. This is the second book from this author, and after her first being so well received, I'm looking forward to seeing what this new tale will hold. I'm expecting lots of emotions and struggles...and quite a bit of romance? It does sink into dealing with the loss of a brother (so many loss books this year), and I'm hoping to does this well.

But let's just open it up and see what the story holds.

ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SUN

by Xixi Tian

Quill Tree Books

YA Contemporary

304 pages

From the acclaimed author of This Place is Still Beautiful comes an evocative, achingly romantic road trip story about grief, diasporic identities, and deep-buried secrets that haunt us, perfect for fans of Past Lives and The Farewell.

Stella Chen’s life ground to a halt when her brother unexpectedly passed away a year ago. Raised together by their grandmother in the Chinese countryside before rejoining their parents in the United States, his absence destroys the connective tissue in her family. With another jarring move her senior year, from rural Illinois to unfamiliar surroundings in San Diego, she is left alone and adrift in her family’s suffocating silence and the void of unanswered questions around her brother’s death.

So when Stella’s parents force her to join her estranged childhood friend Alan Zhao for a college tour all over California, Stella dreads it. Alan is a reminder of everything Stella wishes she could be — popular, gregarious, unburdened — and a reminder of how lost she is.

As this road trip takes Stella and Alan down beautiful coastlines and through fraught family dynamics, Stella can’t help but feel the spark of why she and Alan were once so close. Before long, they find themselves pulled into each other’s orbits, forcing unspoken feelings and long-hidden truths into the light.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Emotions accompanied by carefully woven prose create a read, which touches the heart and provokes thought.

Stella's world turned upside down the day her brother suddenly passed away. He'd gone to college and never returned. Now, a senior herself, she's facing a move across the US right then when she's turning in...or supposedly turning in...applications for college. She's already struggling to get her life picked back together, while not letting her parents know how much she's truly fallen apart. When they insist she meet up with an earlier friend, who now also lives in the area, to visit colleges, she's not ready. Especially since that friend was once more, and she's not nearly ready to rekindle anything on the romance end.

This read is for those who love to dive deep into the heart and tackle difficult emotions with the ache and struggles involved. It's written in first person and immediately lets the reader feel the weight of Stella's situation. So, it's not a light read. Stella goes through the motions of life, keeping a detachment to the world around her, which is supported by the writing style as it leans toward telling what's going on rather than bringing each scene to life. Instead, it concentrates on Stella's thoughts and emotions.  Flashbacks allow readers to slip into Stella's history and to better understand her point of view, and this weaves nicely. The detached atmosphere remains in these sections, too though, when letting the reader live the moment might have been the better choice, since Stella herself was alive at those moments. But the lovely prose also lures in and snuggles nicely with the emotional read.

While this is described as Stella rekindling a romance, it's not really a true romance read. Rather, it's more about the meeting of two individuals, who are dealing with their own shadows. They connect, offer support by opening up slowly, and find a little romance along the way. This works very well for the book's intentions and makes sure the meaning of this read, Stella's battle through the grief,  doesn't get undermined. 

As an action girl, this read was a little slower than I prefer, but those readers, who love prose and digging deep into a character's heart are going to enjoy every page.

And here she is...

XiXi Tian was born in China and immigrated to the United States when she was a year old. She grew up in central Illinois, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in history, and then attended Harvard Law School. She is a writer, lawyer, avid reader, and lifelong Midwesterner no matter where she lives. Her debut novel, This Place Is Still Beautiful, was an Indies Introduce and Indie Next Pick and received five starred reviews. You can visit her online at xixiwrites.com.

Snowflakes for Christmas by Vanessa Bergeron

Usually, I'd post a middle grade read since it's Monday, but I'm a bit short on those this month. Instead, I have another Christmas read for the picture book audience, which comes down from Canada. This one, I believe, is also available in French. I'm expecting a warming tale and lovely illustrations.

Let's see if this one leads to winter dreaming or not!

SNOWFLAKES FOR CHRISTMAS

by Vanessa Bergeron

Illustrated by Amelie Martel

CrackBoom! Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

An enchanting Christmas story full of hope, highlighting the power of community and the magic that lies in mindfulness.

In the snowy village of Flurria, everyone is too busy to notice that the snow has stopped falling―except young Yuka. Determined to save her beloved white Christmas, Yuka sets out on a mission that will inspire her neighbors to look up, come together, and rediscover the beauty of winter.

Snowflakes for Christmas is more than a seasonal read―it's a gentle reminder of the joy found in being present and the strength that grows from community. With poetic language, magical winter imagery, and a powerful message of awareness and unity, this book is perfect for families, classrooms, and holiday gifting.

Bring the magic of mindfulness into your child’s holiday season with this heartfelt winter tale.

1. Enchanting Winter Tale: A poetic and heartwarming story about a girl determined to bring back the snow to her distracted village―perfect for cozy Christmas storytime.
2. Promotes Mindfulness & Awareness: Encourages children to pause, observe, and appreciate the world around them during the busy holiday season.
3. Ideal for Classroom & SEL Programs: Great for group discussions about community, hope, and environmental care; supports social-emotional learning.
4. Beautifully Illustrated: Immersive winter landscapes and expressive characters bring the magical village of Flurria to life.
5. For Curious Readers Ages 4–8: Designed for read-aloud and early independent reading; ideal for Pre-K to Grade 3 learners.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With the magical touch of Christmas and the North Pole, this tale weaves a touching story about a girl and her hopes.

The snowy village of Flurria is busy with all sorts of Christmas preparations, which means that everyone...even Santa...has their heads down as they work to get things done. Only one girl, Yuka, has noticed that the snow has stopped falling. Unlike everyone else, Yuka enjoys gazing upwards at the world around her, and she's determined to make everyone realize that there's a problem. Maybe, she can even help them remember to enjoy the beauty of winter.

From Yuka's bright hope to the lovely illustrations, so many aspects of this book make it a lovely read to pick up around the holiday season. While it's never said that this is the North Pole directly (and it's actually called Flurria), Santa, his elves, and the reindeer make it clear what is keeping everyone so busy. Then, there's Yuka, who enjoys lying back in the snow. The illustrations show her as a friendly, cheerful girl, even when worries arise. It makes her easy to root for and sympathize with the entire way through. The messaging in the story comes across clearly, while embracing the love of community, working together, and remembering to enjoy the world around you.

This is a book, which can be read again and again, and the illustrations invite listeners to take a look themselves. Each scene is lovely and draws in. The text fits well as a read-aloud to the age group and should hold the interest of more reluctant listeners fine. It's written in an unique mix of regular text and rhyme, which is endearing but doesn't flow as it should. Also, the mindfulness is a gentle message, while the sense of community really shines. Which makes it a lovely read for classroom and group settings.

It's a lovely read with a touching tale for the holidays.