Vikki Vansickle

This is an adorable story that would make a wonderful Holiday read aloud for years to come. For teachers, it's a great bridge between procedural writing (as the title suggests) and personal narrative, as per the story format. For all families, this book opens a wonderful opportunity to talk about special ornaments and decorations (or traditions) that you have in your home and how they connect you with the people and places that are important in your lives. The artwork is stunning and really helps to bring this sweet and loving story to life. A very worthwhile holiday read!… (plus d'informations)

The fun and warmth of decorating a Christmas tree comes across with lovely illustrations and a few surprises.

It's time to decorate the Christmas tree! From hauling the tree into the house to unpacking decorations, drinking hot chocolate, discovering memorable ornaments, and a few antics in between, the ritual of putting up decorations becomes a celebration all of its own.

This read goes beyond the basic tree decorating. Instead, it follows a young girl as she carefully unpacks the ornaments and discovers those, which have special meaning and history. Each one carries a little story...simple ones such as a small cat sent from an aunt in Japan or the first ornament made after the little girl's birth with her name on it. Each memory is told in a couple quick lines, making this great for even those who have shorter attention spans. These memories are, for the most part, familiar enough for listeners to connect with and realize what makes them special.

There's a little bit of humor and quirks sprinkled in to keep the read from becoming too serious. The cat adds a few antics as well as the uncle and father with their jokes. Plus, there's a surprise at the end, too.

The highlight of this read rests in the illustrations. By using images with layered, textured items, the scenes carry a hint of realism, which makes the details grab. Especially the Christmas tree benefits from this style and makes these pictures worth revisiting time and time again. I received a complimentary copy and found it to be a Christmas read to snuggle up with.… (plus d'informations)