2011 Holiday Guide: Audio books and celebrations of Christmas

'Santa with sack' photo by Paula Slade

Today’s article, the third installment in this series, serves as an introduction to audible.com, and also provides entertainment ideas in the category of Christmas audio books that are perfect for taking along on holiday travels, or just enjoying the season at home.

Audible.com is an Amazon company. Their audio books, which number over 100,000 selections, are offered abridged, unabridged and in dramatized formats, and are set at reasonable price points.

The full library collection, which audible offers, ranges from audio books for Kids and Teens, to New Releases, Best-sellers and Award-winners. Other categories you’ll find include: Mysteries; Thrillers; Sci-Fi; Fantasy; History and more.

Audible.com provides easy browsing and shopping by category and also allows you to narrow your gift search down to a specific keyword, author, title or narrator.

Excellent sound samples are provided enabling you to listen to your selection before you purchase.

All audio books are compatible with iPod®, iPhone®, BlackBerry, and more than 500 popular MP3 players.

Audible also provides telephone-shopping support at 1-888-283-5051 (USA & Canada), 973-820-0400 (International) Mon - Fri 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM ET, Sat 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM ET, and online customer service support 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

Currently, audible.com is offering several rather enticing membership programs based on either a monthly or annual rate, which start as low as $7.49 per month to $229.50 per year. 

Purchasing without membership advantages and at straight retail pricing is always an option.

The Christmas audio books that are featured have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide the children or teen in your life with many hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

The color-highlighted Christmas audio books that are below are provided with links for standard pricing as well as special discounted membership pricing

Each audio book's title will connect you with a sound sample, so you may wish to bookmark this page to enable further explorations at your leisure or to browse for non-holiday titles.

From now until December 21, 2011, many other new offerings will be featured on National Children’s Entertainment, covering a wide variety of entertainment-oriented items, so if you don’t find something today, be sure to check back often.

As always, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child’s entertainment

A Christmas Carol [Simon & Schuster Version]

AUDIOBOOK

ABRIDGED

By Charles Dickens

Narrated by Patrick Stewart

In this tale about the true meaning of Christmas and the generosity of spirit, Patrick Stewart, one of the finest actors of stage, television and screen delivers an outstanding interpretation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel. His narration brings true theatre to the mind’s eye.

Length:1 hr and 47 mins

Release Date:09-25-06

Regular Price:$13.27

Special Offer: Learn how to get this for $7.49

 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

AUDIOBOOK

UNABRIDGED

By Dr. Seuss

Narrated by Walter Matthau

Boris Karloff may own the television version of the Grinch, but in this audio book, Walter Matthau takes center stage and delivers a performance like a favorite uncle - a true child’s delight.

Length:12 mins

Release Date:06-26-06

Regular Price:$3.93

Special Offer: Learn how to get this FREE!

A Child's Christmas in Wales

AUDIOBOOK 

By Dylan Thomas

Narrated by Dylan Thomas

A recording of this caliber doesn’t get much better than this – pairing the words and the distinctive voice of one of the greatest writers of the 20^th century, Thomas' rich language melts into tender recollections of Christmas past. Prose narrated like pure poetry.

Length:48 mins.

Release Date:12-16-99

Regular Price:$13.27

Special Offer: Learn how to get this for $7.49!

The Night Before Christmas

AUDIOBOOK

UNABRIDGED

By Clement Clarke Moore

Narrated by Peter Linz

Linz delivers a happy, animated and energized narration of this classic Clement Moore poem.

Length:5 mins

Release Date:02-08-08

Regular Price:$1.95

Special Offer: Learn how to get this FREE!

If you’ve found this article to be helpful with your holiday shopping, you may also want to review the following previous posts.

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday music for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday DVDs for gift-giving

The Book Report: Sharing the best in books, apps and literary marketplace news

"Books" photo by Paula Slade

Something old, something new; never borrowed, never blue – today’s “Book Report” looks at classic bedtime stories, a 21^st Century app, and exciting news about a new blog from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

 

NEWS

Making Art with Children: New Blog from the Carle’s Art Studio

Courtesy The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts not only houses an extensive and ever-changing collection of picture book art, but provides free art studio workshops and classes with their standard museum admission. Taught by Carle staff or professional/visiting artists the art studio is designed “to foster imagination and critical thinking through hands-on work with materials.” 

Now this same professional expertise is being shared online at the Carle’s new blog, Making Art with Children.

Parents and caregivers will enjoy interesting and helpful posts by Museum educators Meghan Burch and Diana Mac Kenzie as well as news about upcoming Museum activities. 

By following this link to one of their recent posts, you’ll find a step-by-step process for recycling used crayon pieces and providing them a new life to be used by little hands. You’ll also be able to download the how-to instructions for this project and sign up for their RSS feed to keep up to date with all of their posts.

For more information about visiting the Museum, call 413-658-1100 or surf into the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.    

BOOKS

The Going-To-Bed Book (Board Book) by Sandra Boynton

When it comes to engaging and entertaining children, Sandra Boynton has a gilded touch with her simple, cleverly constructed rhymes, charming animal characters and knack for storytelling.

Originally published in 1982 this classic board book never fails to delight and help with sleepy-time wind downs for babies and preschoolers.

Additional information and reviews are available at Amazon.com, with best pricing for the board book through Amazon Marketplace starting at $2.00.

Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book (Hardcover)

First published in 1962, this timeless tale is guaranteed to make the smallest to the tallest readers sleepy; it’s a true Theodor Geisel classic abounding with his crafty rhyming signature storytelling and quirky character illustrations.

Additional glimpses inside of Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book and customer reviews are available at Amazon.com, with best pricing through Amazon Marketplace starting at $7.09 for this hardcover edition.

Time for Bed (Board Book)

Easy-to read rhyming couplets by Mem Fox, and Jane Dyer’s dreamy delicate watercolor renderings provide the perfect comforting bedtime story about animals being tucked in for the night by their mothers - a true parent-child bedtime bonding.

First published in 1997 this has been a classic favorite for children ages 2-7.

Amazon.com has additional glimpses inside Time for Bed along with product details and customer reviews.

Currently, best-researched price available is through Amazon Marketplace beginning at $2.92.

APPS

Nighty Night! HD

  

By Shape Minds and Moving Images GmbH

This is absolutely one of the sweetest and beautifully visual bedtime tales being offered as an app for iPhone and iPad. (Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.)

Nighty Night! HD, a Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award Winner is wonderfully crafted, combining interactivity, animation and professionally narrated storytelling for children aged 1-4 years.

Created by Heidi Wittlinger (2002 Oscar Nominee Best Animated Short) Nighty Night! HD’s 2D illustration and inviting animation prompts children to gently interact with seven different farm animals as they all get ready to go to sleep.

The app also includes melodic lullaby music and an auto play function.

To view additional Nighty Night HD screen shots and read other customer reviews, visit the Nighty Night HD page at iTunes where the app is available for $1.99. The video below will also give you a good glimpse of this very special app.