Community Corner

Holiday Gift Guide: Children's Books for Gift Giving

Vicki Erwin, owner of Main Street Books in St. Charles, offers 10 picks for children's books for holiday gift-giving.

SAFARI, Created by Dan Kainen, Written by Carol Kaufmann, Workman, $24.95

This spectacular picture book gives us color photos of animals in their natural habitat moving across the page. Informational essays accompany each photo making the book entertaining for all ages.


I WANT MY HAT BACK by Jon Klassen, Candlewick, $15.99

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This picture book has become a classic. Klassen’s bear has lost his red, pointy hat and searches the forest asking each animal he meets. Finally, he gives up but in mourning the hat he realizes he HAS seen it and goes back looking for the culprit who has stolen it. There is subtle humor and each animal character is imbued with personality.

THIS IS NOT MY HAT by Jon Klassen, Candlewick, 15.99

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In the follow-up to I WANT MY HAT BACK, Klassen once again enchants both the child and adult reader. A small fish admits right up front he has stolen a hat but the fish he stole it from doesn’t know it was stolen and if he does, he doesn’t know who stole it, and if he does, he doesn’t know where the small fish is hiding. Or does he?

SNOWMEN AT WORK by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner, Penguin, $16.99

A child builds a snowman, goes to sleep and when he awakens the next morning new snow has fallen and the sidewalk is clear. No one but the snowman is around. Could snowmen work at night clearing snow? Or as dentists? Or bakers? The brightly colored pictures are perfect accompaniments to the fun jobs the snowmen enjoy. Look for the rabbit, cat, T-rex and mouse in each picture!

HOW DOES SLEEP COME? By Jeanne C Blackmore, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles, Sourcebooks,$16.99

This charming picture book should become a night-time classic. Jacob asks his mama how sleep comes and as she tucks him in, she tells him in evocative prose. Just as the story lulls Jacob into a peaceful sleep, your little one will also find it soothing. The author is the granddaughter of author/illustrator Roger Duvoisin

ONE by Kathryn Otoshi, KO Kids Books, $16.95

This is one of the best books about bullying ever. The story is for all ages and entertains as well as teaches a lesson. Using colors and numbers, the author gives the reader a look inside bullies as well as bullied.

BEAR HAS A STORY TO TELL by Philip C Stead, illustrated by Erin E Stead, Roaring Brook, $16.99

Bear wants to share a story with his friends but the days are growing shorter and they are busy readying for a long winter. Will anyone still be awake to hear his story before he forgets what he wants to share? The delicate, detailed illustrations add to the charm of this story about patience and friendship.

THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR MORRIS LESSMORE by William Joyce, Atheneum, $17.99

This is the gift book for every book lover and potential book lover you know. Morris Lessmore writes in his book everyday – his joys, his sorrows and his hopes. One day a wind comes along and scatters Morris’ life. After a long wandering he ends up in a building full of books where stories fill his days.

STRANGER IN THE WOODS by Carl R Sams II & Jean Stoick, $21.95

This one is an oldie but a goodie. All the animals in the woods grow curious as a stranger invades their space. Word passes from one to another as they gather to investigate. The illustrations are as beautiful on the twentieth reading as they were on the first.

PETE THE CAT SAVES CHRISTMAS by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean, HarperCollins, $17.99

Put a little fun under the Christmas tree with Pete the Cat! In this installment, Santa has fallen ill. Will Christmas be cancelled? Goodness no! Not if Pete the Cat can help it! Guaranteed to make your Christmas groovy. Be sure to check out Pete’s songs on his website or YouTube.


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