New Children's Books for Christmas - Hanukkah

Christmas should include both traditions – the things we do every year, hang on the tree every year, eat every year, and read every year – and new stuff.

Here’s what’s new in children’s picture books for Christmas 2008, with publisher’s descriptions, hyperbole intact. All prices ending in 99-cents rounded up.

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou

Angelou’s moving poem is a radiant afformation of the goodness of humanity. First read at the 2005 White House tree-lighting ceremony, it comes alive again as a fully illustrated children’s book, celebrating the promiseof peace in theholiday season. An audio CD accomplanies this $18 edition.

A Pirates Night Before Chistmas by Philip Yates

Young Mateys will find plenty of holiday joy in this humorous, colorful, and thoroughly piratical version of the Clement C. Moore classic, presented from the point of view of a young boy on a pirate ship and detailing the arrival of Sir Peggedy aboard the Black Shark. Includes a bonus treasure map. $15

The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

The best-selling team behind the Series of Unfortunate Events saga unwraps and uproarious, irreverent picture book that introduces the next great holiday hero: one that is small, dark, and flammable. $13.

A Very Marley Christmas by John Grogan

With all the excitement of Christmas Approaching, it’s no surprise that Marley, the loveable pup from John Grogan’s #1 New York Times-bestselling picture book Bag Dog, Marley!, wants in on the action. But Marley always ends up on the wrong side of right. $18.

Hanukkah! By Roni Schotter

A winner of the Jewish Book Award, this holiday picture book is back in a lovely new gift edition, featuring eye-catching gold foil and a large circular die-cut on the cover. With sweet rhyming text, this book follows one family’s Hanukkah celebration in the 1950s. Includes a short note as the end explaining the holiday. $9

Christmas Cookies: Bite Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

In this scrumptious follow-up to Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons, Rosenthal offers a charming dictionary of sorts that captures the spirit of the holiday season as it teaches youngsters vocabulary words and holiday lessons $13

Merry Christmas, Ollie! by Oliver Dunrea

With ample wry humor, goprgeous ink-and-watercolor pictures, and irresistible charm, Dunrea shares the first holiday story of Gossie and friends. As he anticipates the arrival of Father Christmas Goose, Ollie perfectly encompasses the adorable impatience of young children waiting for Christmas to finally come. $13.

Little Bunny Finds Christmas by Pirkko Vainio

What is Christmas? Is it sweet as a mother’s love? A shining star? Is it peace on earth? Little Bunny sets out with friends to discover what Christmas is really about. Using luminous watercolors, Vainio lusciously weaves a tale of the animals that make the hourney to see the baby Jesus in the manger. $17.

Priscilla and the Great Santa Search by Nathaniel Hobbie, with Jocelyn Hobbie, illustrator.

The children of beloved illustrator Holly Hobbie bring the adorable Priscilla (Priscilla and the Pink Planet) back in her first spectacular Christmas adventure, in which she and her best friend Bettina are inspired by all the fake Santas at the mall to go in search of the real Santa Claus. $17

Santa’s Little Helper by Angela McAllister

Snowball is playing hide-and-seek on Christms Eve and finds the perfect hiding place. However, he falls asleep. When he wakes up. Snowball discovers that he is in Santa’s sleigh. Turns out Santa can use Snowball’s help on the most important night of the year. This Christmas will be one that Snowball will never forget. $15

Mrs. Claus Explains It All (At Last) Answers to the Questions Real Kids Ask by Christi Love

Love created her list of questions for Santa by posing as Mrs. Claus at various events across the country. In this picture book, beautifully illustrated by the bestselling illustrator of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Love/Mrs. Claus reveals the answers to children’s questions. $17

What Does Mrs. Claus Do? by Kate Wharton

Everyone knows Santa spends Christmas Eve making lists, checking them twice, and leaving gifts for the nice. But what about Mrs. Claus? With merry text, a first-time author weaves a modern tale about the ways Santa’s better half might occupy herself while her husband navigates chimneys. $16

Are You Grumpy, Santa? by Gregg Spiridellis

What children might not know is that, sometimes, even Santa Claus has a bad day. In this hysterical Christmas misadventure, now available in a board book edition, Santa discovers what it’s like to feel more naughty than nice. $7.

“I’m Not Santa!” by Jonathan Allen

The adorable plucky Baby Owl from “I’m Not Cute!” is back for a Yuletide story, told with simple text and warm illustrations. While out in the snowy woods playing with his sled, Baby Owl is wearing a red hat. So why does Baby Hare insist on calling him Santa? It’ll take no less than a surprise visit from the jolly old man himself to settle this case of mistaken identity. $15

I See Santa Everywhere by Glenn McCoy

A little boy is busy making his Christms list, minding his own business, and trying to be good. Suddenly he feels like he is being watched. McCoy offers a peek inside the paranoid, or perhaps astute, mind of a boy waiting anxiously for Christmas Day.

$13.

The Nutcracker by Stephanie Spinner

The story of Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday ballet is retold in this exquisitely illustrated volume, featuring a brief, lyrical text and a 78-minute audio CD of selections from the ballet performed by the Utah Symphony Orchestra. $17.

My First Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

Every child deserves his or her very own copy of Moore’s timeless holiday poem. This special kid-friendly edition combines classic art with fun touch-and-feel areas, sparkly foil accents, and a slightly abridged text. It’s a perfect introduction to everyone’s favoite Christmas poem. $10

Hannah Montana: Season’s Greetings: A Book of Rockin’ Holiday Cards by Disney Press

Containing 64 pullout holiday cards featuring the stars of the Disney Channel’s hit show Hannah Montana, this fun package also comes with shimmery stickers, gift tags, and four punch-out ornaments. $7

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Clubhouse Christmas by Susan Amerikaner

The Clubhouse pals and Toodles are preparing for their favorite holiday, and they need to make sure each tree is trimmed, each sprig of mistletoe is hung, and each twinkling light is hung just right. Preschoolers will have great fun joining in the countdown to Christmas. $7.

Anna’s Wish by Bruno Hachler

Anna has never seen snow – it stopped snowing before she was born. But through the power of her wishes and her faith, Anna brings snow to the village again. Cheerful art and a sweet story with an angaging young heroine make this magical book a beloved Christmas classic. $17

Snow by Cynthia Rylant

Newberry medallist Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical descriptions of the sights and feelings evoked by falling snow blend gorgeously with the rich and beautiful word created by Lauren Stringer’s illustrations, in which a young girl, her friend, and her grandmother enjoy the many things a snowy day has to offer. $17

See also these previous entries about great Children’s books:

http://www.examiner.com/x-591-Childrens-Book-Examiner~y2008m9d17-Beguiling-Christmas-Picture-Book-ReIssued

http://www.examiner.com/x-591-Childrens-Book-Examiner~y2008m9d16-Debut-of-author-88--is-holiday-readaloud

http://www.examiner.com/x-591-Childrens-Book-Examiner~y2008m10d7-Lump-of-Coal-Threat-Fades-to-Black-