2011 Holiday Guide: Hanukkah Gifts

Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, which begins at sundown Tuesday, Dec.20, 2011 is celebrated in Jewish households for eight nights, and provides plenty of opportunity for candle lighting, dreidel spinning, latke making (making potato pancakes), gift-giving, gelt-getting (gifts of money), music making and story telling.

Last year, we featured some of the best Hanukkah presents, which are classic entertainment items, many geared toward the four to eight year old range, but when shared in a family’s home setting, these  gems were sure to delight all ages.

This year, we've again included the favorites that have stood the test of time and will probably be around for many more years to engage, inspire and entertain, plus we've also included some new additions that we believe are classics in the making.


Please remember, best pricing at the time of this post has been provided for your convenience, but it is always a good idea to cross compare with your favorite online as well as stick-and brick-retailers.

As always, you are the final authority in selecting appropriate items for your child’s entertainment.

First, we start with books. 


A Faraway Island is the 2010 winner of the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for “an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States.”

Originally published in Swedish in 1996 as "En o i havet," the book was written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck, and published by Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House Children's Books.)

A poignant and riveting novel that takes a different look at the Holocaust, as two Austrian sisters are separated from their family, and evacuated to an island off the coast of Sweden. Each girl placed with a different foster family.


"From School Library Journal Grade 5–8— In this gripping story, Stephie and Nellie, two Austrian Jewish sisters, are evacuated in 1938 from Vienna to a Swedish island and placed in separate foster homes. Twelve-year-old Stephie has promised her parents that she will try to ease her younger sister's way, a burdensome promise to keep. Auntie Alma, Nellie's Swedish mother, is warmer and more welcoming than Auntie Märta, Stephie's more austere foster parent." (Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Reviews for A Faraway Island are available at Amazon.com, and best pricing for this hardbound edition is through Amazon Marketplace at $2.24.


The items that are listed below were published during the early 1990’s but have remained in print because of their delightful ability to transcend generations, and all are available through favorite booksellers as well as most local libraries.

Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story by Fran Manushkin and Robin Spowart





A gentle tale about a peasant family, whose potato crop was buried in a blinding early snowstorm and their apple harvest, meager at best – left them with nothing to eat for the Hanukkah holiday. Despite their poverty, they invite a stray cat and dog into their household for shelter and care from the cruel winter storm, and are blessed with a miracle of sorts on the eighth day of Hanukkah. With beautifully illustrated chalk drawings, the book also includes an explanation of the holiday, directions for playing dreidel and a wonderful recipe for latkes.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (October 1, 1992)
Best price available is at Amazon Marketplace
ketplace for a new paperback is $1.75

The Chanukah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel and Giora Carmi 

A totally silly story about 97-year old “Bubba” (Grandmother) Brayna, who each year during Hanukkah, makes the best latkes in the village, but this year, because she is very hard of hearing and almost blind, mistakes a hungry bear for her invited guest (the Rabbi), and feeds him all her latkes.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Holiday House (September 1992)
Best price for "Collectible" paperback in "very good" condition is at Amazon Marketplace for $1.97.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman

Worse than the “Grinch,” a number of holiday-hating hobgoblins (each a nasty prankster) set out to ruin Hanukkah for an entire village, but “Hershel of Ostropol” outwits them all. Trina Schart’s Caldecott Award-winning illustrations are the perfect match to Kimmel’s cleverly told story.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 30 pages
Publisher: Holiday House (September 1994)
Best price available for paperback "new" condition is at Amazon Marketplace for $3.44





Now, for top recommended DVDs -

Lights: The Miracle Of Chanukah 

 
This 24-minute animated short explains the history behind the celebration of Chanukah, which also includes a special section about the Hebrew alphabet. A wonderful introduction of the holiday for children and features the voice over talents of Paul Michael Glaser, Judd Hirsch and Leonard Nimoy.
Presented in color, Dolby sound and full screen DVD format.
Best price at Amazon Marketplace $10.50.

Lambchop's Chanukah and Passover Surprise 

"Lamb Chop," "Charlie Horse," "Hush Puppy" and of course the beloved and late Shari Lewis tell you everything you need to know about the two Jewish holidays of Chanukah and Passover. This charming, G-Rated, 128 minute DVD also features guest appearances by Dom DeLuise, Robert Guillaume and Alan Thicke.
Best price from Amazon Marketplace for $11.79.

Here are the perfect music choices to ring in the holiday and for all year listening -

Chanukah Fever

"Mama Doni,” also known in real life as Doni Zasloff Thomas, an attractive and energetic 21st century, New Jersey-based Jewish mother and preschool-teacher-turned-entertainer, captivates kids and families with her fun-loving renditions of Chanukah songs.

Winners of the Simcha Award at the 2008 International Jewish Music Festival, Amsterdam, Mama Doni Band serves up a wide range of musical styles from reggae to rock with blends of Klezmer and even disco along with a few other genres mixed in.

Clever lyrics abound along with a bit of wacky shtick to celebrate not only the holiday but a beloved heritage.

You can preview all 14 tracks of Chanukah Fever at Amazon.com where the CD format is available for $13.84, or the option for an MP3 album download for $8.99 or .99 cents per track. Amazon Marketplace also has "new" condition CD's starting at $9.77.

You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy the following: A video of "Chanukah Fever" by The Mama Doni Band. Enjoy!

Another hit from Mama Doni - Shabbat Shaboom!

Earlier this year the inimitable Mama Doni brought her special brand of “funky music with a Jewish twist” to a new “Challah-Day” album, perfect for year round listening, Shabbat Shaboom.

The original songs and stories on Shabbat Shaboom transport listeners to a place where the album’s warmly sincere pop-rock title track happily melds with a Gloria Estefan-meets-Fiddler on the Roof conga line tune, "Challah-Day,” where the reggae-influenced “Mazel Tov” meets a disco ditty, “Sabbath Queen.”

Shabbat Shaboom touches on such aspects as lighting candles, being with family (mishpocha), celebrating bat mitzvahs, and even the “workout” that Mama Doni mischievously terms "synagoguersizing." 

Shabbat Shaboom marks the first Mama Doni CD to showcase the entire Mama Doni Band.  

The Mama Doni Band photo by Ron Holtz

Sound samples for all 21 tracks of Shabbat Shaboom are available through Amazon.com, where the entire MP3 album is priced at $8.99 or $0.99 per down-loadable track.

Best pricing for the CD version is through Amazon Marketplace for $2.90.

Celebrate Jewish Lullabies Volume 1

In his fifteenth album release, guitarist/singer Craig Taubman has assembled a beautiful lineup of sweet musical treats for children.

Performed by numerous artists that include Craig Taubman, David Paskin, Yael Meyer and others, this excellent collection of tenderly performed songs with lyrics that paint gentle pictures, is sure to help little ones drift peacefully off to dreamland.

A Fall 2011 Parent’s Choice Award-winning album, Celebrate Jewish Lullabies Volume 1 is available to sound sample and in MP3 download for $0.99 per track or $8.99 for all 14 tracks from Amazon.com, where you will also find the Audio CD available for $13.07.

Now, for something really different...

Bannanagrams Hebrew

One of the most unique and primarily word-of-mouth promoted games, Bananagrams has taken the country by storm, and now it’s gone global with international editions, which now include Hebrew.

As a word formation game, it is slightly similar to Scrabble but it is fast-paced, portable and almost addictive as you can play in groups or solo. The game has simple rules and is very affordable.

Bannanagrams in Hebrew is available only through the following distributor:

http://www.bananagrams.co.il/en/  and is priced at approximately $26.41 US dollars, which includes all shipping.

The video below shows some teens having a great time with this unique edition of Bannanagrams.

2011 Holiday Guide: Part 2 - Gifts of Music for year round listening

"Singing Santa" photo by Paula Slade

 
Today we continue exploring musical gifts that are perfect for year round listening entertainment.

The products, which appear below were released during 2011 and are performed by an incredibly diverse and talented mix of musical artists.

All of these albums have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide the children in your life with many hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

Best pricing options, available at the time of this posting are provided below, but it is suggested that you cross-compare CD and MP3 pricing with your favorite online as well as stick and brick retailers when available.

From now, and until December 21, 2011, more music offerings will be featured as well as many other entertainment categories.

As a reminder, you may want to bookmark this page to further enjoy the musical journey at your leisure, as there are many choices in this category, all with links for preview listening and ordering.

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

The Family Garden  Billy Kelly

Earlier this year in April, independent recording artist, Billy Kelly launched his third family album, a 37-minute, fun-filled collection of songs, The Family Garden. 

It’s an “anything goes” tribute that grows in this garden and easily moves from country to ragtime to rock.

Songs cover the gamut from the sweet and sincere “We Could Be Pen Pals,” co-written and performed with guest artist Molly Ledford from the band Lunch Money, to the hilarious “The Invention of the Straw” – a great lesson in creative kid-think that’s loaded with false information from beginning to end. NPR’s All Things Considered once described Kelly’s brand of entertainment as having “An endearingly oddball sense of humor,” and it continues to charm in this outing.
 

Sound samples for all 16 tracks of The Family Garden are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $8.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which also includes all 16 tracks, is available from Amazon Marketplace with best price “new” starting at $4.45.

Below for your enjoyment is a Kelly video, which he’s known for creating for his fans. It features one of the tracks from the Family Garden, “That Old American Flag” – based on a true-life tale from his childhood.

Putumayo Kids Presents Kids World Party

Music is truly an international language, and nowhere is it shared more than in this delightful global collection, Kids World Party.

Twelve upbeat songs reflecting artists from the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, South Africa, India, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy and Cuba - all guaranteed to have families singing and dancing to the inviting rhythms on these tracks.

Released to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Nobel Peace-Prize-winning organization, Amnesty International, each CD purchase of Kids World Party will provide $0.50 in support to Amnesty’s continued work on promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.

Sound samples for all 12 tracks of Kids World Party are available through Putumayo Kids, where suggested retail price is $14.98.

The Audio CD format, which includes all 12 tracks, is also available from Amazon Marketplace with best price “new” starting at $9.00.

Live in Lexington: Under the Copper Beech  Ben Rudnick and Friends

An outstanding live concert experience, with Ben Rudnick & Friends, winners of five Parents Choice® Awards, is heard in this 78-minute, 25-track album that offers light folk, bluegrass, country, calypso, second-line New Orleans jazz, and multiple rock interpretations in, Live in Lexington: Under the Copper Beech.

The recording, a display of brilliant musicianship, reaches all age levels and was captured in a performance in front of an audience of more than 2,000 on the village green in Lexington, Massachusetts July 11, 2008.

Live in Lexington: Under the Copper Beech is Ben Rudnick & Friend’s ninth album, released in August, and features songs from their first six recordings and some favorite cover tunes.

Sound samples for all 25 tracks of Live in Lexington: Under the Copper Beech are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $8.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which also includes all 25 tracks, is available from Amazon Marketplace with best price “new” starting at $10.98. 

These are My Friends  Alastair Moock

A fun family hootenanny is offered up by Alastair Moock in this October album release, These are My Friends.

Fourteen tracks, reflecting the best in American roots music comes from one of Boston’s best-known musicians. 

Photo by Marka Brod

These are My Friends is Moock’s seventh CD, and the second that is dedicated specifically to kids.  His first child-centered release, A Cow Says Moock won a 2010 NAPPA Gold Award, and These are My Friends is poised to garner many new young fans as well.

The album features collaborative performances with some of Moock’s own friends, which includes a Who’s Who of Boston folk and acoustic musicians including Rani Arbo, Mark Erelli, Vanessa Trien, and Lori McKenna to name a few.

Sound samples for all 14 tracks of These are My Friends are available through CD Baby, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $12.99 for the entire download album.

The Audio CD format, which includes all 14 tracks, is also available from CD Baby for $14.99.

For your enjoyment, below is a music video created from the title track from the album These are My Friends.

If you found this article helpful, or are still searching for more gift ideas, you may want to read previous installments of The Gift Guide by connecting to the links below:

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday DVDs for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday Music for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Audio Books and celebrations of Christmas

2011 Holiday Guide: Part 1-Gifts of Music for year round listening

2010 Holiday Guide: Gifts of Music part three

Today we conclude this eight-part series that began in early November, and provided introductions as well as best-buy pricing options on various entertainment categories.

In today's entry, we finish as we started - with music, as it is one of the most popular categories, and is  perfect for affordable holiday gift giving.

Below you will find a broad range of artists that focused their talents on bringing recordings to the marketplace for children..

These products have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide multiple age ranges with many hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

Best pricing options available at the time of this posting are provided below, but it is suggested that (when available) you cross-compare with your favorite online as well as stick and brick retailers.

You may wish to bookmark this page to enable further explorations of the highlighted links at your leisure, as there are numerous choices covering a variety of musical tastes.

In case you missed earlier installments of this series, links to those editions are provided at the end of this article.

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

Justin Roberts: Jungle Gym



The New York Times referred to Justin Roberts as, "The Judy Blume of kiddie rock," and Time magazine declared him, "A brilliant crafter of power pop tunes.” Those accolades are the real deal on this 2011 Grammy nominated children’s album, Jungle Gym.

Roberts truly captures the essence of childhood with his meaningful lyrics, and finely crafted melodies, all wrapped in excellent production values.

Best pricing for the CD is through Amazon Marketplace for $8.69.

Sound samples for the entire album and MP3 download are available with best price through Amazon.com for $5.00, or $0.99 per individual track.

Sunny Day Elizabeth Mitchell

From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the gentle voice of family-favorite, Elizabeth Mitchell, is joined by her husband Daniel Littleton, their daughter Storey, Dan Zanes, Jon Langford, drummer Levon Helm, and the Children of Agape Choir.

The songs are a pleasant compilation with some unique selections, which include roots in Celtic, reggae, Japanese and Korean music.

The addition of children’s voices encourages youngsters to sing along.

Best Price for Sunny Day CD is $7.64 through Amazon Marketplace where sound samples are available for all 19 tracks.

An MP3 download is also available direct through Amazon.com for $8.99 and includes 20 tracks.



Randy Kaplan’s The Kids Are All Id

The Kids Are All Id is a wonderful album that features American roots music, blues and seamless storytelling from Randy Kaplan, a master entertainer.

The album has won several honors since its release and includes prestigious nods from NAPPA as a Gold Award-winner, and voted a Top Five CD in the NICKELODEON Parents' Picks Awards.

Best pricing for The Kids Are All Id CD is through Amazon Marketplace for $8.29.

All 17 sound samples and a best-price MP3 album download are available through Amazon.com for $8.99, or individual tracks at $0.99 each.

What Are the Odds?

 New York City musician/educator Meredith LeVande is continuing in the previous vein of her highly successful first release, Monkey Monkey Music, and in this newest outing brings joyful songs geared perfectly for the youngest set age two to five.

This fun-loving preschool pop album is available in three formats: CD, MP3 download and in a newly released charming optional DVD or VHS video that recently received 2010 honors from NAPPA.

Sound samples for all 16 tracks are available with best pricing through Amazon.com for the entire MP3 album download at $8.99, or individual tracks at $0.99 each.

The complete CD can be purchased with best pricing through Amazon Marketplace for $9.98.

You can preview the video through Levande’s website where it is also available to purchase for $19.99 plus shipping and handling.

Green Golly and Her Golden Flute by Flute Sweet and Tickletoon

Barbara Siesel and Keith Torgan are “Flute Sweet and Tickletoon,” and together they present a delightful mix of storytelling, comedy and classical music.

Based on the traditional fairytale, Rapunzel, this retelling now has the central character known as “Green Golly.”

The album introduces children ages five through 10 to some of the greatest composers in history and includes works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Chopin, Schubert, Bizet, Elgar, Gossec, and Copland

Best pricing for the CD is through Amazon Marketplace for $7.80.

Sound samples for the entire album and MP3 download are available at best price through Amazon.com for $8.99, or $0.99 per individual track.

Dream Jam Band: Leave it in the Soup

“Leave it in the Soup” featuring the Dream Jam Band is an energizing mix of rock, pop, hip-hop and blues with hints to Mozart, a bit of Beatles, and a nod to Arlo Guthrie and Duke Ellington.

Best pricing for the CD is through Amazon Marketplace for $6.34.

Sound samples for the entire 11 tracks album and MP3 download are available with best price through Amazon.com for $7.99, or $0.99 per individual track.

Time Out to Rock featuring The Not-Its!

Dubbed as Seattle’s "best-dressed" kid’s rockers, The Not-Its will leave no couch potatoes behind on this their second album release, “Time Out to Rock.”

Fun lyrics, with danceable music, equal a totally kid-rockin’ experience. The final tune, “Hollow Tree” will gently bring children back to home.


Amazon Marketplace has the CD at the best price of $7.98.

All 11 tracks are available to sound sample and download in MP3 format through Amazon.com with the best price of $8.99 for the entire album, or $0.99 per track.

Starfish: Enter Sandbox

For families that love to rock, this entry on the kid’s music scene provides plenty of entertainment for the whole family in this genre.

These New Jersey based children’s entertainers known as “Starfish,” are comprised of rock scene veterans who brings bring plenty of moxie to the table on their album, “Enter the Sandbox.”

Band members, StingRay (who covers lead vocals/ guitar) Grateful Dave (Dave Hartkern drums/vocals) along with Moose (better known as Marc Stern lead guitar ) plus Dr. Yes (Mark Asch keyboards and vocals) and Ant Farm (Antar Goodwin bass guitar) are not only seasoned pros, but fathers spreading the rock genre to the next generation.

Enter Sandbox is Starfish’s second album and shows recognizable influences of Cream, Deep Purple and Beatles.

Best price on Starfish’s newest CD is available from Amazon Marketplace for $2.50.

MP3 downloads and all sound samples are available direct from Amazon.com at $9.49 for the entire 12-track album, or $0.99 per track.

Earlier editions of the 2010 Gift Guide are available by clicking on the following links:

2010 Holiday Guide: Gifts of Music

2010 Holiday Guide: DVDs and videos

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Wizard of Oz theme oriented gifts

2010 Holiday Guide: Gifts of Music part two

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Hanukkah Gifts

2010 Holiday Guide: Best books of the year

2010 Holiday Guide: Story apps for e-readers, iPads, iPhones and iPod Touch

2010 Holiday Guide: Story apps for e-readers, iPads, iPhones and iPod Touch

This is the eighth installment of this series that provides numerous entertainment options for holiday gift giving for children and teens, and today we turn our attention to one of the hottest emerging categories for entertainment- applications (also known as “apps”) for e-readers, iPads, iPod Touch and iPhones.

Children and teens are rapidly embracing these new technologies and there are numerous apps provided for entertainment, many of them extremely affordable, once you determine the choice of your technology device.

If you are not quite familiar with e-readers and the iPad, there is a helpful link to get you started at eReader Leader, where you can compare and check out customer reviews.

There is another excellent site, Aimersoft that discusses the differences between iPad and iPod Touch.

Also, many local libraries are beginning to provide e-readers for their patrons use and it is an excellent way to learn about options before investing in the technology.

The applications for the reading devices appear below and have been researched for quality as well as value. All are geared to provide hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

Best pricing options, at the time of this posting are listed, but it is suggested that you cross-compare with your favorite online as well as stick and brick retailers, as pricing may fluctuate on a daily basis.

If you happened to have missed earlier posts to this series, links are provided at the end of this article.

Also, you may wish to bookmark this page in order to explore these items in further depth at your leisure.

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

Goldilocks and the Three Bears 

A children’s book app from KwiqApps is perfect for iPhone/iPad and is only $0.99 through iTunes. The app provides animation as well as text highlighting so a young reader can easily follow along. There are also “Read To Me” and “Auto Play” modes – a terrific way for parents or caregivers to connect (with child on lap) and introduce technology to the youngest set.



The Dr. Seuss collection

Children’s storybooks apps from Oceanhouse Media provides a wide variety of titles that include such classics as: Dr. Seuss's ABC; Green Eggs and Ham; How The Grinch Stole Christmas! as well as many more choices. There are also free downloads that provide test previews.

Prices for the apps range from $1.99 to $3.99, and they are compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. By following this link to Oceanhouse Media’s Dr. Seuss page and selecting a particular title, you will connect to further detailed information on each product as well as “Buy now” button that directs you the to Apple iTunes store for placing your order.

The Berenstain Bears 

A collection of storybook apps, also from Oceanhouse Media, range from $2.99 to $3.99, and all are compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The following link to the Berenstain Bear page provides a portal for further information and links to purchasing through the Apple iTunes store.

There are also a number of other Berenstain Bear books for the Kindle e-Book from Amazon.com, where prices range from $0.88 to $7.99, and can be explored further by following this link.

Ruckus Media

A superb collection of titles that exhibit beautiful production values, which are compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and are priced at $0.99 to $1.99.

By following this link, more information is provided for such apps as Johnny Appleseed; Tin Soldier and The Velveteen Rabbit.



The following are award-winning selections for older children and teens and are compatible with the NOOKbook (eBook) from Barnes and Noble or the Kindle from Amazon.com.

Further information is available by clicking on each title.

A Wrinkle in Time [NOOKbook] by Madeleine L'Engle $6.99

A Swiftly Tilting Planet [NOOKbook] by Madeleine L'Engle $6.99

The Giver by Lois Lowry [Kindle] $6.64 includes free wireless delivery.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry [Kindle Edition] $6.64 includes free wireless delivery

 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson [Kindle Edition] $5.99 includes free wireless delivery.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech [Kindle Edition] $5.99 includes free wireless delivery

Earlier editions of the 2010 Gift Guide are available by clicking on the following links:

2010 Holiday Guide: Gifts of Music

2010 Holiday Guide: DVDs and videos

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Wizard of Oz theme oriented gifts

2010 Holiday Guide: Gifts of Music part two

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Hanukkah Gifts

2010 Holiday Guide: Best books of the year

2010 Holiday Guide: Best books of the year

This is the seventh installment of this series that provides numerous entertainment options for holiday gift giving for children and teens, and today we turn our attention to the best books released this year.

The products, which appear, below have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

Best pricing options, at the time of this posting are provided below, but it is suggested that you cross-compare, when available book prices and editions with your favorite online as well as stick and brick retailers, as pricing may fluctuate on a daily basis.

If you happened to have missed earlier posts, links are provided at the end of this article.

Also, you may wish to bookmark this page, as the links include reviews or author videos that enable further in-depth exploration at your leisure.

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

When You Reach Me is written by Rebecca Stead and published by Wendy Lamb Books (an imprint of Random House Children's Books.)

Designated this year’s winner of the John Newbery Medal, for the “most outstanding contribution to children's literature,”  When You Reach Me will not disappoint, it is beautifully written and suspenseful.

“ From School Library Journal Starred Review. Grade 5-8–Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future.”

Explore a video interview with Rebecca Stead at Amazon.com, which includes additional storyline and background information.

Best pricing for the hardcover edition is through Amazon Marketplace for $5.15.  Best pricing for soon-to-be-released (12/28/10) paperback edition is available for pre-order through Barnes and Noble for $6.29.

The Lion & the Mouse illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney, publisher Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers is the 2010 winner of the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the “most distinguished American picture book for children.” 

The book is a retelling of the classic Aesop’s Fable and is an incredible visual feast that will enthrall youngsters.


“From School Library Journal Starred Review. Preschool-Grade 3—This story starts on the cover with the glorious, golden countenance of a lion. No text is necessary to communicate the title: the direction of the beast's gaze and the conflicted expression on his tightly cropped face compel readers to turn the book over, where a mouse, almost filling the vertical space, glances back. The endpapers and artist's note place these creatures among the animal families of the African Serengeti. Each spread contributes something new in this nearly wordless narrative, including the title opening. “

Connect to a video with author/illustrator Jerry Pinkney, and more visuals of this amazing picture book by following this link.

More detailed customer reviews for The Lion & the Mouse are available through Amazon.com.

Best price for this hardbound edition is through Amazon Marketplace for $8.95.

Going Bovine is written by Libba Bray, publisher Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House.)

Going Bovine was honored with the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award for “excellence in literature written for young adults.”

This may be viewed as a controversial book choice, but it is a touching, witty, gritty and a very sobering read.

Going Bovine is recommended for older teens, as it leaves its marks about life’s priorities. Some parents may wish to extensively check reviews as to the appropriateness of their child’s ability to comprehend the book’s message. It is long but well written, and includes some profanity and mature content.  However, it definitely provides room for parent-teen conversations.

“From School Library Journal Grade 8 Up—In this ambitious novel, Cameron, a 16-year-old slacker whose somewhat dysfunctional family has just about given up on him, as perhaps he himself has, when his diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob, "mad cow" disease, reunites them, if too late. The heart of the story, though, is a hallucinatory—or is it?—quest with many parallels to the hopeless but inspirational efforts of Don Quixote, about whom Cameron had been reading before his illness.”

Read reviews, both pro and con at Amazon.com, and best price is the paperback edition at $5.70 through Amazon Marketplace.

My People illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr., written by Langston Hughes and published by Ginee Seo Books, Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

This Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award-winner is an exquisite marriage of poetry and photography.

“From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. At just thirty-three words total, [this] poem is a study in its visual simplicity. This picture-book presentation is a tour de force. Introducing the poem two or three words at a time, Smith pairs each phrase with a portrait of one or more African-Americans; printed in sepia, the faces of his subjects materialize on black pages. The night, reads the opening spread, across from an image of a mans face, his eyes shut; is beautiful, continues the next spread, showing the same face, now with eyes open and a wide smile. The text, sized big to balance the portraits, shows up in hues that range from white to tan to brown-black, reflecting Smiths reading that the words celebrate black people of differing shades and ages.”

To find out more about My People, visit Amazon.com, and where best pricing is available through the Amazon Marketplace at $6.48 for the hardcover edition.

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, and published by Carolrhoda Books (a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.)

This year, the Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, which recognizes “an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults”, was awarded to Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal.

A superb read geared for middle school children, which features a true-life hero, Bass Reeves, the first African-American deputy U.S. marshal who brought law and order to the old west.

Bad News for Outlaws was also designated with the honor of being an “Amazon Best Books of the Month” selection.

This edition of Bad News comes in a Library Binding and is available with best pricing through Amazon Marketplace for $10.98.

A Faraway Island is the 2010 winner of the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for “an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States.”

Originally published in Swedish in 1996 as "En o i havet," the book was written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck, and published by Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House Children's Books.)

A poignant and riveting novel that takes a different look at the Holocaust, as two Austrian sisters are separated from their family, and evacuated to an island off the coast of Sweden. Each girl placed with a different foster family.


"From School Library Journal Grade 5–8— In this gripping story, Stephie and Nellie, two Austrian Jewish sisters, are evacuated in 1938 from Vienna to a Swedish island and placed in separate foster homes. Twelve-year-old Stephie has promised her parents that she will try to ease her younger sister's way, a burdensome promise to keep. Auntie Alma, Nellie's Swedish mother, is warmer and more welcoming than Auntie Märta, Stephie's more austere foster parent. “

Reviews for A Faraway Island are available at Amazon.com, and best pricing for this hardbound edition is through Amazon Marketplace at $3.58.

To view other installments of the Holiday Gift Guide 2010, please click on the following:

2010 Holiday Guide: Gifts of Music

2010 Holiday Guide: DVDs and videos 

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Wizard of Oz theme oriented gifts 

2010 Holiday Guide: Gifts of Music part two

 Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Hanukkah Gifts

2010 Holiday Guide: DVDs for preschoolers