Got a new reader? Here are some delightful (and easy) Christmas themed books beginning with Margaret Hillert's contribution from the Dear Dragon series.
Notes: I've reviewed books and added exclusive inside photos for the books I could easily acquire. Those I couldn't locate just feature the publisher's description. Also, if you click on the excerpts, your browser will make the image larger.
by Margaret Hillert
Dragon and his boy enjoy winter activities and celebrate Christmas by building a snow dragon, chopping down and decorating a tree, making cookies, and sitting by a fire. (A book from a great series for new readers!)
Reading Information:
Word Count: 306
Page Count: 31
Accelerated Reading Level: 0.8 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 9385
Lexile: BR
- Publisher: Modern Curriculum Press
- ISBN-10: 0813655269
Christmas Mice! by Bethany Roberts
Backcover Description: The holiday mice are back! It's Christmas time and the four cheerful mice merrily hang stockings, string popcorn, wrap presents, and sing carols. The little mice are so caught up in their joyful preparations that they almost forget to look out for their old enemy, the cat. Happily, their Christmas spirit is so infectious that even the cat is not immune. Simple, lively verse and colorful, action-filled illustrations convey the all anticipation and goodwill that come with the Yuletide season in this delightful read-aloud.
Reading Information:Word Count: 152
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading Level: 1.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 42922
- Publisher: Sandpiper
- ISBN-10: 0618486011
- Look Inside
The Little Drummer Boyby Ezra Jack Keats
This book got rave reviews at Amazon. The book pairs Keat's watercolor pictures with the words of the familiar Christmas song. (Music at the back).
Might be too abstract for very young children. Also available as a Boardbook.
Reading Information:
Word Count: 104
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading Level: 1.4 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 10478
Lexile: NP
- Publisher: Viking Juvenile
- ISBN-10: 0670062820
- Look Inside
Minerva Louise on Christmas Eveby Janet Morgan Stoeke
So funny! Minerva Louise is the Amelia Bedelia of the younger set and her antics are delightful in this darling book where our fave chicken faces off against the Man in Red.
For example, Minerva Louise thinks that Christmas lights are fireflies dressed up for a party, and that Santa is a farmer with fancy goats.
Recommend this one.
Reading Information:For example, Minerva Louise thinks that Christmas lights are fireflies dressed up for a party, and that Santa is a farmer with fancy goats.
Recommend this one.
Word Count: 269
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading Level: 1.5 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 118092
- Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition
- ISBN-10: 0142414492
- Look Inside
Merry Christmas: Big Hungry Bear!by Audrey Wood, Don Wood (Illustrator)
Bright wonderful colors and an adorable little mouse are featured in this sweet book that features some Christmas drama. The story begins with Mouse getting ready for Christmas. The narrator then reminds Mouse about the Big Hungry Bear at the top of the hill and how he likes presents.
Mouse becomes alarmed and barricades his/her home. That gives way to tears though when the narrator informs Mouse that BH Bear never receives a single gift... not even from Santa!
The final message of compassion and giving is very nice, but a tiny bit watered down by the fact that Mouse does get something material in return for his/her good deeds. But I still like this one. And I think youngsters will like it as well. Good read-aloud.
Mouse becomes alarmed and barricades his/her home. That gives way to tears though when the narrator informs Mouse that BH Bear never receives a single gift... not even from Santa!
The final message of compassion and giving is very nice, but a tiny bit watered down by the fact that Mouse does get something material in return for his/her good deeds. But I still like this one. And I think youngsters will like it as well. Good read-aloud.
Reading Information:
Word Count: 177
Page Count: 48
Page Count: 48
Accelerated
Reading Level: 1.6 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 6964
Lexile: AD200L
- Publisher: Blue Sky Press
- ISBN-10: 0439320925
- Look Inside
Suzy Goose and the Christmas Starby Petr Horacek
Sweet drawings, but mediocre story.
Of course that's just my opinion about this particular Suzy Goose story where she tries to grab a star to place on top of the animals' Christmas tree.
Suzy Goose tries various methods to get the star, only to to get lost. When she finds her friends again she's over joyed and surprised by the solution to their tree dilemma.
Reading Information:Of course that's just my opinion about this particular Suzy Goose story where she tries to grab a star to place on top of the animals' Christmas tree.
Suzy Goose tries various methods to get the star, only to to get lost. When she finds her friends again she's over joyed and surprised by the solution to their tree dilemma.
Word Count: 267
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading Level: 1.7 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 134303
- Publisher: Candlewick
- ISBN-10: 0763644870
Who'll Pull Santa's Sleigh Tonight?by Laura Rader
What will Santa do? His reindeer have colds and obviously aren't up to flying on Christmas Eve.
Well, he has try-outs and a long line of creatures are eager to have that important job of hauling the toy laden sleigh. And when that doesn't work Santa comes up with another idea which unfortunately doesn't pan out either. The solution is hot cocoa for the reindeer and there is a recipe at the end of the book.
I found the artwork crowded and not particularly inspiring, which is not to say that kids won't enjoy this silly tale and the fact that cocoa can cure you!
Well, he has try-outs and a long line of creatures are eager to have that important job of hauling the toy laden sleigh. And when that doesn't work Santa comes up with another idea which unfortunately doesn't pan out either. The solution is hot cocoa for the reindeer and there is a recipe at the end of the book.
I found the artwork crowded and not particularly inspiring, which is not to say that kids won't enjoy this silly tale and the fact that cocoa can cure you!
Reading Information:
Word Count: 366
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reading Level: 1.7 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 73460
Lexile: AD240L
- Publisher: HarperCollins
- ISBN-10: 0060080906
- Look Inside
Counting Christmasby Karen Katz
Description: Three children getting ready for Christmas count down from ten to one in anticipation of Christmas morning.
Reading Information:
Word Count: 76
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading Level: 1.8 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 73493
- Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
- ISBN-10: 0689849257
- Look Inside
The Three Bears' Christmasby Kathy Duval
- Someone nibbled their gingerbread.
- Some one broke a chair.
- Someone forgot their red coat trimmed in white on a bed!
The Three Bears' Christmas is an attractive book that has gotten some good reviews at GoodReads and Amazon.com, but I couldn't quite get into it. (It had to do with Santa apparently stripping on his way up to the bedroom, LOL: leaving his coat and shoes behind and appearing in the sleigh half-dressed.)
In any case, the parts about the book that I enjoyed were the kid-friendly drawings, the repetitional showing of Christmas activities -- which children tend to love seeing -- and the fact that the bear family slows on their walk in the woods long enough to listen to the sounds of the forest.
In any case, the parts about the book that I enjoyed were the kid-friendly drawings, the repetitional showing of Christmas activities -- which children tend to love seeing -- and the fact that the bear family slows on their walk in the woods long enough to listen to the sounds of the forest.
The very young are going to enjoy this story with familiar characters. The artwork is very nice and around Christmas it would even be a nice practice reader to get from the library.
Reading Information:
Word Count: 320
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading Level: 1.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 89485
- Publisher: Holiday House
- ISBN-10: 0823420396
For more Christmas Readers check out:
If you don't understand what the Accelerated Reading system is, do check out Wikipedia's explanation. It's a wonderful tool for adults and kids to use to choose books that won't frustrate children by being too difficult.
No comments :
Post a Comment