No comments about Barbie in a Christmas Carol (Barbie).

5 comments about Holiday Princess: A Princess Diaries Book (Princess Diaries).

1. To be a good Princess, one must be diplomatic, and educated in everything regarding the countries and principalities surrounding one's own charge. This includes knowing how to celebrate every winter holiday, from the well-known Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, to the often unspoken about Yule, Chinese New Year, and Saturnalia - just to name a few. But this is not all that a good Princess must know. A good Princess must also be up on gift giving - what exactly is the right present to give to a guy you're not dating, but hope to be dating soon? Then there's those fabulous holiday movies - including some very unconventional holiday tales; and all of this is rounded off with a nice hot chocolate with marshmallows. This year, spend the holiday with Princess Mia, and her band of closest friends, from Lilly to Michael, and Tina to Paolo, as they give you the lowdown on all things Christmas, from how teenagers in other countries celebrate the holidays, and how to say "Happy New Year" in every language known-to-man.
   
   I have purchased and read every PRINCESS DIARIES HOW-TO BOOK, but HOLIDAY PRINCESS instantly took the prize as my favorite installment in the series. Perhaps it's my love of Christmas that made it my favorite; or maybe it's the fact that I love reading about how the PRINCESS DIARIES gang is spending their holiday season. Either way, HOLIDAY PRINCESS is a fun-filled book that will keep everyone on their toes for the holiday season. Cabot has created an informative guide that features style tips, shopping solutions, and much, much more that will get everyone through the Christmas rush; and each tip is accompanied by a marvelous illustration by Chesley McLaren. Overall, this is a must have book for all PRINCESS DIARIES fans, as it will quickly win a place in everyone's heart this holiday season.
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper



2. I have all of Meg Cabot's Princess Diary books, I even have the release dates marked on my calendar, so I was first in line at my bookstore this morning to buy this book.
   
   In this book, Princess Mia, her family and friends share their Christmas memories and customs. There is even a section on Christmas cards, and how to say, "Happy New Year" in a lot of languages.
   
   Great book to learn about Christmas customs and such.
   
   ``Katrina



3. Back again with another addition to the Princess Diaries series, Princess Mia invites us to share the holidays with her and the family in her witty rendition of what happens during the holidays. Loaded with advice from everyone closely associated with her, each chapter is also laden with her own views and excerpts on how things really are.
   
   From holiday etiquette on everything from addressing cards to purchasing gifts for others, to what's fashionable to eat, there's something for everyone in this little book (that is, if you're into being a princess and all). Mia is hilariously objective in her comments about her family's take on things, and Meg Cabot cleverly does this by putting all of Mia's comments in red, so you can't mistake her thoughts.
   
   One of the highlights of the book is Mia's chapter on Christmas around the world. Throughout the chapter, there are dozens of countries, complete with folklore, tradition, and how this particular culture spends their holiday season --- a very useful and informative tool for the student who has to do a book report (hint, hint). It's all there. There might even be some countries listed that no one has ever heard of, or ever thought of, that celebrate their own version of Christmas.
   
   Additionally, there are explanations on which movies are best to watch during Christmas, recipes to make, and the real story of truths and myths of what Christmas really means. Finally, it's a wrap with an in-depth guide to Kwanzaa and, of course, the symbolization of Happy New Year, complete with a listing of how to say it in 60 different languages!
   
   Although we won't be in Genovia with the royal princess, she made sure we knew enough to have lasting memories, as if we were. Happy Holidays everyone!
   
   --- Reviewed by Belinda Williams



4. We're either approaching or all ready knee deep in the holiday season, depending on your point of view. Many of us feel overwhelmed by this time of year, but don't worry, Princess Mia is here to rescue us.
   
   With her usual flair, Ms. Cabot has penned an amusing guide to all the holidays and variations thereof celebrated in the Christmas season around the world. Despite the light tone, this is actually a very informative book. I guarantee that unless you have studied holidays in depth, you'll learn something and enjoy yourself while doing it. Most of the characters we've come to love in the other Princess books contribute to this volume; Lily, Grandmere, Michael, Mr. G, Mia's mother, friends, baby brother, and of course, the Princess herself. If you just need to take a break from the onslaught of chaos, then no matter how old you are, grab this book and smile.
   
   Amanda Killgore



5. I usually like Meg Cabot, but this book was a waste of my money. It is boring and not half as good as I expected of Cabot. The Princess Diaries Books, as oppose to the series, are just not worth it.

4 comments about The Principal's Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas Series).

1. If you have ever worked in a school the week before Christmas, you will love this book. It captures the chaotic Christmas atmosphere in a very funny way. A great gift for a principal.



2. What a wonderful book. What a wonderful gift this would make for your local principal, or any teacher, for that matter. The author has used the old Night Before Christmas poem and modified it to fit school principals. The book is actually hilarious as it is so, so true. The author has pulled no punches here, from some of the brat kids in this school, to the impossible to please parent, to the poor harrassed bus driver to has threatened to quit - all the very day, real life problems are there. The text is easy to read as it is quite familiar and the art work by James Rice is first rate. No spoilers here, so I won't tell you how it ends. Recommend this one for both kids and adults.



3. I gave this to my Princial for Christmas and she made a point of telling me how much she "loved it"! Creative 'take-off' of a classic!



4. I had seen the "teacher's night before" book and needed something special for my favorite principal. While it focuses on an elementary school, the high school principal found it every bit as fun! Better than even a home-baked something because it is calorie free!

2 comments about The Night Before Christmas.

1. The best illustrated version of The Night Before Christmas, hands down! I had this book when I was a child and have very fond memories of my father reading it to me at Christmastime. I adored the beautiful illustrations. Gyo Fujikawa is a wonderful children's book illustrater. The drawings are classic and precious, beautifully detailed without being too busy. Now I plan to read this to my own daughter!



2. My absolute favorite version of The Night Before Christmas. I adored it as a child, and am so happy it is still available so that I can read it to my children. A true delight.

3 comments about Santa's Toy Shop (Big Little Golden Book).

1. This is a refreshing Christmas tale of Santa
   and his beloved elves. Busy in his home at the North pole, the story shows you all the wonders of Christmas toys being made.

   Santa was so busy that he never got to play with any of the toys, that is when Mrs. Clause had an idea. "Why not stop at the very last house on your list and play a while." she told Santa. What a wonderful idea! Santa thought and smiled.

   A delightful children's story with colorful illustrations and a hope that maybe you
   will be the last house that Santa stops at next year! You never know!




2. This reissued Golden book will be a hit with three and four year olds! The busy elves, the too-busy-to-play Santa, and his solution (to play at the last house on the route) will make grownups smile even after the billionth reading.



3. Santa is up to all the work that makes Christmas merry for all of us. But, how to really enjoy it, himself?
   
   Mrs. Santa comes up with a great idea. Why not stop off at the last house on his route and play for a while!
   
   Children will delight in this little book and beg to hear it again and again. Cute illustrations!

4 comments about Toot & Puddle: Wish You Were Here (Toot and Puddle).

1. This is the first Toot & Puddle book I have read, and I am charmed. The characters are lovable and eccentric, depicted in vivid watercolor paintings that are simultaneously funny and gorgeous. The story is delightfully quirky, and, unlike many other books for this target age range, the language is not dumbed down for the reader. I am now a new Toot & Puddle fan - looking forward to reading the rest of the series.



2. My son got this book a few years ago. I believe he was around 3 when he got it. We've literally read it hundreds of times. He's read it by himself since he was about 4 years old. He loves the book. Toot and Puddle have become those characters that you go back to. They are funny, cute and become endearing. I can honestly say, as a mom of this 5 year old boy, that this is a must have book. It shows excellent examples of what friends are all about. The illustrations are adorable. There are tons of things to talk about in each illustration and larger words to look up the meanings to. A very good book that builds comprehension and begs the parent to teach your child the importance of questions. We love this book!



3. We are new to the Toot and Puddle Books, but we have fallen in love with them! Such cute characters and with a lot of adult humor in them too. Highly recommended!



4. Holly Hobbie is a wonderful writer! All of her books are great, but Wish You Were Here is our favorite. Not only are the illustrations beautifully done, but the story itself is hilarious. Every time my daughters and I read this, I can't help but laugh at the sight of the little pig who has turned blue because he has caught the 'violet virus' (by getting stung by the fierce-banded bush bee.) I can read this over and over without getting tired of it...and that's high praise from a Mom!

1 comments about Grover's 10 Terrific Ways to Help Our Wonderful World (Sesame Street).

1. Many adults today can be heard saying that we need to save the planet for our children and grandchildren. But if our children don't learn from our mistakes, how much good have we really done? Sesame Street has come up with a fun way to help kids learn about environmental consciousness.
   
   In this book, Grover presents his top ten list of ways to save energy, throw less stuff away, take care of our natural resources, and recycle. As he presents each idea, Sesame Street characters act this item out in ways kids can relate. The Count turns off lights. Bert turns off the water while he brushes his teeth. Big Bird brings a reusable shopping bag to the supermarket. And of course the book itself is printed on recycled paper.
   
   As kids see these TV icons adopting earth-friendly behaviors, they will start to model these actions in their own lives. Since I'm a strong advocate of the green lifestyle, I'm thrilled to see this book in print. I highly recommend it for every child's personal library.
   
   Reviewer: Alice Berger, Bergers Book Reviews

5 comments about Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift, Indianapolis, Indiana 1932 (Dear America Series).

1. I did not care for this book. At first I thought it looked good because I used to find the depression interesting and I couldn't wait to tell my grandmother about I was reading about the depression. I didn't like it that much. It was very boring and Minnie writes so many entries in one day, she can't even write a full month's worth of diary entries. We all know about how hard it is during the depression and WHO CARES that she saw a bird at 11 PM or 12 AM!



2. The depression diary of Minnie Swift is about a girl trying to live during the Great Depression of 1930.It is cold, snowy, and miserable November right after Thanksgiving.Minnie and her family is trying to live through the troubles of the Great Depression. The biggest trouble is that her father lost his job and there is no more money coming into the family fortune.I really liked this book because it gives you an idea of what people faced during the Great Depression.The book reminds you of how fortunite that you have all that you need in life and that you don't have to worry about anything.



3. The "Dear America" books are something I can take or leave. MY SECRET WAR was pretty good, as was WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES AGAIN (not really a Christmas book, but about the "Hello girls" in World War I), and the story of the Italian girl crossing the great plains. The Titanic book was average and the Pearl Harbor book was pretty bad. I've heard some pretty scathing criticisms about the two books involving Native American characters.
   
   But in CHRISTMAS AFTER ALL, Kathryn Lasky has created a masterpiece within the diary format of the books.
   
   It is the story of Minnie Swift, youngest of four sisters, her precocious genius younger brother Ozzie, and her parents during the days of the Great Depression. Dad's job is going badly and the family is reduced to shutting down rooms in their home to cut down on coal bills. They rarely have meat for supper, but eat a succession of aspics and "O'Grotons," as Minnie calls them. Then, as December begins, Willie Faye Darling comes into their lives. Willie Faye is the only daughter of cousins of Minnie's mother. Her parents, from a small town called Heart's Bend, Texas, have died after losing a battle with life in the Dust Bowl. Willie Faye is Minnie's age (11), but looks two years younger due to malnutrition and hardships. She arrives at the Swift home covered in dust and with a kitten named Tumbleweed whose nose she had to suction out morning, noon and night to keep him from smothering. Willie Faye has never seen an indoor bathroom, gone to a movie, read a Buck Rogers comic, or listened to the radio, so Minnie thinks that Willie Faye will have a lot to learn from them.
   
   She never dreams what she--and the entire family--will learn from the fragile-looking but tough little girl from the Dust Bowl when the ravages of the Depression begin leaching away the family's security.
   
   I have many of Lasky's other books and love them as well including PRANK, which takes place in East Boston, and her adult mysteries starring Calista Jacobs. But this story has a special magic to it, perhaps because it is based on Lasky's mother's experiences as well as her own and the characters ring true. Highly recommended.



4. Imagine you have to live with an orphanage girl that doesn't know what an adjective is. This is what Kathryn Lasky in the book Christmas After All talks about. It's a masterpiece of love ness. The love ness of the main character, Minnie is that she helps an orphanage girl that goes to live with them.
   Minnie Swift is a young girl who is in 4th grade she is 11 years old. Minnie Swift lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
   One day an orphanage girl name Willie Faye got to their house she didn't know anything, so Minnie's parents put her in school and Minnie couldn't believe that they put Willie Faye in fourth grade, Minnie was so embarrassed. Minnie's fingers were tired from poking cloves into oranges.
   Do people always help orphanages? Can we break our friendship with a person?
   Minnie faces these issues in the book Christmas After All. Is four dollars a lot of money for you, well I don't think so, but in the book Christmas After All they think it's a lot of money. Would you use a fancy dress like a curtain? Well Minnie's sister wanted to do that, she wanted to put it in their room because they didn't have a lot of money to buy a curtain. Minnie didn't like that idea, and she didn't say anything because if she says that she doesn't like that idea lady her sister will get mad at her.
   Jackie is Minnie's maid house. Jackie is kind of the color cinnamon, and Minnie wishes she could be that color of skin. In school Minnie was bored in Geography.
   When they got back from school Willie Faye went to her room and start getting stuff so she could make earrings for lady that goes with her dress.
   Christmas After All is a book of how people of the past help orphanage people. This book shows honesty for a lot of people. Christmas After All is for these who love a heart felt story and for those who have read this book before. For those people who help people will be a really, really good book.
   I felt a good affection for this book, and you will too. " We have had Christmas after all."- Christmas After All.



5. Another wonderful addition to the Dear America Series this one is about the Great Depression told through Minnie Swift diary about how the depression is effecting her family and those around her. The changes they have to make. Like only living out of the few rooms in their house their family can keep heated. As they prepare for what Minnie expects to be a joyless Thanksgiving and Christmas her cousin Willie Faye arrives from Texas and the Dust Bowl having an even harder life then Minnie. This book goes to show how far love in a family can go.

5 comments about Where Did They Hide My Presents?: Silly Dilly Christmas Songs.

1. We have every one of Alan Katz's "silly dilly" song books, and we have worn them out. He gave life to lots of old stand-by songs, and now he's done the same to Christmas. I can't tell you the number of nights I've laid in bed with my son singing Katz's adorable, and hysterical new lyrics. If you're not a "silly-dilly" devotee yet, it's never too late to start. Don't have kids without it!



2. I'd suggest adding a CD with a tune so old parents can remember the melody...other than that...great. His favorite is Something in My Brother's Underpants. Of course, he's 5, so why wouldn't a song about stinky diapers be his favorite?



3. This book met all of my expectations and then some. My boys are both singers and we all read through this together. Our favorite - "At the Mall" sang to the tune of "Deck the Halls" If you like to laugh and sing or one or the other, buy this book!



4. These holiday parody songs tickle the funny bones of elementary school children. A particular favorite is "Hanging Lights" sung to the tune of "Silent Night". The tale of the hapless father hanging lights makes the children laugh each time. These Alan Katz books are great fun.



5. An absolute hit with all my chidren (4 yrs up to 13 yrs) We would LOVE to find this series of books on CD!

2 comments about Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas.

1. As a Pre-K teacher my students and I are big fans of Mrs. Wishy Washy. This plot is similar to the original in that she is trying to bathe them so the children can really relate to it. When the animals have a good ole time bathing in Mrs. Washy's bathroom my class can't stop giggling. You can't go wrong with a Mrs. Wishy Washy book in an early childhood classroom.



2. I had never heard of Mrs. Wishy Washy before but saw it on a list of books for purchase from my 3 year old daughter's preschool. We LOVE this book. We've had it about a month now and we read it at least twice per day. And the thing is, I love it too, not just my daughter. The rhymes are great, the pictures are fun and its such a cute story. It's a lot of fun to read out loud. I like this book so much I quickly ordered another Mrs. Wishy Washy book that turned out to be much shorter and not too great. So that was a disappointment, but this book of hers is really fun and children will love it.