Christmas Book Recommendations

Christmas Book Recommendations:

Do you have favorite Christmas books that you love to read with your kids or have gifted to special kids in your life?

Here are two of my favorites! The first one is a wonderful read aloud book and the next is a wonderful 3d book that my art students absolutely loved when I shared it the last week before Christmas break!

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey - a beautiful picture book with a heartwarming story!

Here are my Whys:

1. Illustrations - the illustrator, P.J. Lynch, has done an exceptional job! The watercolor illustrations are detailed, realistic, and expressive. Be sure to check out the character's facial expressions!

2. The author's narrative writing makes use of alliteration and onomatopoeia which is always fun! She has a wonderful way with words ' "Christmas is pish-posh" grumbles Jonathan Toomey, the best woodcarver in the valley."

3. This Christmas Classic is a heart touching story of art, healing, transformation and connections. A lonely, heartbroken woodcarver is slowly lured out of his reclusive, grieving lifestyle by a charming seven year old boy and his quiet, gentle, widowed mother. They have recently moved and lost their beloved Nativity set in the move. They approach Jonathan Toomey in hopes of his carving a new set for them.

4. Of course, I love the art connection. I love how the illustrator shows a simple block of wood being transformed into a beautiful work of art! Wow - it just hit me - double transformation! Jonathan's cold, hard heart is miraculously transformed into a heart that can love again!

5. Quote from the author:
   "I truly believe a power beyond me guided my hand. That same power may have been at work when one of the most gifted illustrators I can think of, P. J. Lynch, agreed to illustrate the story. The day I saw the first finished drawings, their power and beauty brought tears to my eyes."

   --Susan Wojciechowski, "Notes From the Author" page, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

   

Check it out!

Local Library - my library had copies available!!!
Amazon (non affiliate with Amazon)
Author Website
Check out Activities created by the author!
Illustrator Instagram
The book was made into a movie in 2007. As of this writing, you can find it on YouTube

This is an exquisite book! My art students loved it - I would slowly show each page and then - surprise - showed how the book opens to form the "carousel". We looked at the book from all sides, top and bottom! It was exciting to see the pages form a "star" and then sit open (once tied) on the table.

Here are my Whys:

1. The story is the Nativity Story. Need I say more!!!

2. I love how Pienkowski incorporated animals and nature into some of the illustrations.

3. The 5 white pages are die cut and layered to form beautiful silhouettes against a red background.

4. The Carousel Book was a new concept for me. I came across the book at an after Christmas sale in a bookstore. I had no idea what to expect when I first "read" the book and figured out how to tie it open! Of course, I had to buy it to show my students!

The author/illustrator is Jan Pienkowski. Jan was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1936. He and his family moved to England when he was 10 years old. Jan would spend the rest of his life in England till he passed away in 2022. Pienkowski had a prolific career in which he published more than 140 children's books.

Check it out!
Library - it is not available at my local library. The book is on the delicate side so it may not make a good check-out book.

Amazon (non affiliate with Amazon)

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