Llama Llama a Gift for Mama by Anna Dewdney and JT Morrow - ESSENTIAL

Llama Llama a Gift for Mama by Anna Dewdney and JT Morrow. PICTURE BOOK. Viking Books (Penguin), 2025. $16. 9780593353264

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Christmas is coming and Llama llama wants to get the perfect gift for his mom. He makes her a fancy ornament, but then accidentally drops and breaks it. What is Llama llama going to do now? His Grandmas said that spending time with her would be the best gift, but Llama llama isn't convinced. After repeatedly asking his mom what she would like, he begins to think it is hopeless. Llama llama learns that not all gifts are things that can be unwrapped and Christmas is saved.

My daughter and I enjoyed this book because of the familiar characters. It taught a good lesson that not all gifts are the same. We liked how to show that spending time with a loved one can be the best gift of all.

Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Gingerbread Yeti by Dan Gemeinhart and Hugo L. Cuellar. - ESSENTIAL

Gingerbread Yeti by Dan Gemeinhart and Hugo L. Cuellar. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), SEPTEMBER 2026. $19. 9781250356765

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Ella the Elf is cooking up a giant gingerbread man for the elves to enjoy on Christmas Eve, but a mistaken extra ingredient turns him into an abominable yeti instead.  How will they be able to save Christmas? 

Gemeinhart uses the rhythm pattern of “The Night Before Christmas”, which is a little easier to read out loud than most rhyming picture book text. The story is so adorable from beginning to end. Gemeinhart even includes a gingerbread man recipe.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett - OPTIONAL

The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam (Penguin), 2025. $20. 9780593533918

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Ari the pug does not like his new, over-decorated, Christmas sweater. A curious magpie helps him with that. Thankfully, the boy and pug are able to follow the remnants back to safety.

For someone who wants to add an old-fashioned feeling book to their Christmas book stash. Brett’s detailed style lends itself to study each page. 

 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker by David Ezra Stein - ESSENTIAL

Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker by David Ezra Stein. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2025. $19. 9781536207798

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

The little red chicken has promised her papa that she will not interrupt The Nutcracker performance. However, when someone is being a bully or someone is in danger, little red chicken can’t stop herself from trying to save the day.

My favorite version of The Nutcracker to date. Little red chicken is adorable in her tutu and she is so earnest about why she is interrupting. Love her. However - her antics may give your little ones some ideas about what they might do at a holiday performance - so be very cautious! 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Luna Loves Christmas by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers - ADVISABLE

Luna Loves Christmas by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers. PICTURE BOOK. Kane Miller, 2023. $16. 9781684646418 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Luna’s parents may be divorced, but she and her parents are still able to have a joyful Christmas season. 

I love, love, love that Luna’s black father plays Santa Claus at the town hall Christmas dinner. And Coelho addresses divorced families at Christmas without shouting the topic. A great mirror and window picture book. Luna is biracial. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Dasher and the Polar Bear by Matt Tavares

Dasher and the Polar Bear by Matt Tavares. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2025. $19. 9781536236316 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

On his adventures before Christmas, Dasher meets a lonely polar who wishes he could fly. On Christmas Eve, Santa helps Dasher deliver one last surprise gift to his grateful new friend. 

Utterly charming. Tavares has really created a sweet little series. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Santa Yeti by Matthew Luhn, illustrated by Luke Flowers. Kane Miller - OPTIONAL

Santa Yeti by Matthew Luhn, illustrated by Luke Flowers. Kane Miller, 2023. $16. 9781684646036

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Frank the yeti dreams of warmer temperatures than his chilly home. He sneaks a ride on Santa’s sleigh and almost ruins Christmas. 

I don’t understand why the book is written in rhyme.  I found it distracting. The Yeti is a cute character and the story line is solid, otherwise.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Leah’s Star: a nativity story by Margaret Bateson-Hill and Karin Littlewood - OPTIONAL

Leah’s Star: a nativity story by Margaret Bateson-Hill and Karin Littlewood. PICTURE BOOK. Kane Miller, 2021. $13. 9781684642243

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Leah’s father owns an inn and stable in Bethlehem. When the pregnant woman needs a place to rest, she convinces her father to let them stay in the stable. There Leah witnesses the Christmas miracle of the birth of Jesus.

Bateson-Hill condenses the entire Christmas story into one night - shepherds, wise men, and fleeing to Egypt included. While it makes for succinct story-telling, it is also misleading. I don’t see Leah replacing the Little Drummer Boy any time soon, though the illustrations are a dreamy touch. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Santa Needs a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird - ESSENTIAL

Santa Needs a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan, illustrated by Ross Kinnaird. PICTURE BOOK. Dover Publications, 2025. $9. 9780486855141

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Poor Santa has squished and lopsided butt problems from sitting in his sleigh too long.  Everyone jumps into action to try and help,  but Grandma ends up saving the day with the perfect solution for Santa's derriere.

McMillan is back at it with another one of her butt books. The illustrations are colorful and bold.  I was glad to see they are large enough for a room full of students to enjoy and the rhyming story is short enough to hold the youngest readers' attention.  The repeated use of the word "butt" will surely garnish plenty of giggles.  I look forward to sharing this book as a read-a-loud.

Alissa Loves Books

Listen to the Music at Christmas by Mary Richards and Skylar White - OPTIONAL

Listen to the Music at Christmas by Mary Richards and Skylar White. INTERACTIVE PICTURE BOOK. Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025. $25. 9781836005834

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - GIFT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Sammy and Pip have brought out a special Christmas box with magical objects and a sheet of music that takes them on a magical musical journey around the world to see different ways Christmas is celebrated.

The question you, as an adult, need to ask yourself is - how many times do you want to hear the snippet of music? THe back matter includes the name of each piece. Pip and Sammy’s story is incidental to listening to the tunes.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! by Rebecca Patterson and Luciano Lozano. - OPTIONAL

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! by Rebecca Patterson and Luciano Lozano. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9781836003021

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The little girl is so excited about Christmas - she is counting the days.  

While the girl’s enthusiasm is a bit fun to watch, I don’t know how much charm this holds for a child - who wants their own Christmas excitement, not to watch someone else’s. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Secrets From the North Pole by Sakia Gwinn and Daria Danilova - ADVISABLE

Secrets From the North Pole by Sakia Gwinn and Daria Danilova. PICTURE BOOK. Fences Lincoln (Quarto), 2025 $30. 9781836005742

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Everjongle, Santa’s head elf, has compiled a book of all of the Santa and Christmas facts that can safely be shared with humans. 

For families that dive deep into Christmas lore and Santa fever, adults and children will enjoy reading about Santa and all the things building up to Christmas. The illustrations have an old-fashioned charm to them.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas by Robert Barry - ADVISABLE

Mr. Willowby’s Head Over Heels Christmas by Robert Barry. PICTURE BOOK.Doubleday (Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593708194

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree has not arrived and it is Christmas Eve.  Bear sees Willowby’s plight and decides to remedy it. After Bear cuts down a tree, however, he has to deliver it.  So he decides to ride it down the mountain.  Along the way Bear “picks up” more passengers along the way.

Mr. Willowby’s second book is published posthumously by Barry’s son. If you’ve read the first book, this action is like the opposite - the tree gains more riders as it goes. While it didn’t hit me as forcefully as the original, it still is a sweet Christmas story.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Elmore and the Big Christmas Rescue by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt - ADVISABLE

Elmore and the Big Christmas Rescue by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt. PICTURE BOOK. Doubleday (Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593518052

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Elmore the Moose is back!  This time Santa has a cold and he has put Elmore in charge of getting the reindeer fit, the elves fed, and the toys all made for the big night. Here’s to an Elmore kind of Christmas! 

You might remember Elmore from his first stint as one of Santa’s reindeer. He gives us a bangup job as Santa himself this time around.  I like his heart-felt letters asking Santa for guidance. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Cupig Saves Christmas by Claire Tatterfield and Rob Sayegh Jr. - ADVISABLE

Cupig Saves Christmas by Claire Tatterfield and Rob Sayegh Jr. PICTURE BOOK. Flamingo Books (Penguin), 2025. $15. 9780593693452 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Santa needs Cupig help - he is very sick and someone needs to deliver the presents. Never mind that Cupig was his fourth choice. Cupig is eager to help, but as it sets out, it does something not quite right at each house. 

Cupig’s antics at each house will amuse the children. I found the illustrator’s choice of Cupig’s heart studded underwear to be interesting - but if they have read the first book, children will be used to it. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Street Where Santa Lives by Harriet Howe and Julia Christians - ADVISABLE

The Street Where Santa Lives by Harriet Howe, illustrated by Julia Christians. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $19. 9781664300750 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The little girl is sure that it is Santa who has moved in next door. But his favorite season is spring? And he prefers rabbits? She cultivates a relationship with him anyway, and rallies the neighborhood to help him when he gets sick. It also turns out that he is very good at fixing toys and things. Is he Santa or isn’t he? 

The little girl’s earnestness and eagerness for her neighbor to be Santa is endearing. Santa believers will embrace her wholeheartedly. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Fa La La Family by Scott and Mark Hoying, illustrated by Steph Lew - OPTIONAL

Fa La La Family by Scott and Mark Hoying, illustrated by Steph Lew. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2025. $19. 9781250853349

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The Hoyings, of Pentatonix, point out that no matter what your family looks like, they can still celebrate the wonders of Christmas.

I wish the Hoyings had written a book showing an LGBT family celebrating Christmas, rather than having the whole book talk about how they can celebrate Christmas -  it is a different level of inclusion to just show them as any other family enjoying Christmas. Includes the sheet music for a song about the meaning of family.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Candy Corn Christmas! by Jonathan Fenske - ESSENTIAL

Candy Corn Christmas! by Jonathan Fenske. PICTURE BOOK. Little Simon , 2025. $11 (hc). 9781665973663

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

A bunch of candy corn has been left behind on the shelves after the Halloween candy season is over.  When the candies hear singing and bells, they investigate and find a Christmas wonderland!  But can little rambunctious candy corns find a place within another holiday?  It may be up tot he big man himself.

Fenske has hit it out of the park again - a wry story with unlikely heroes and it crosses from Halloween to Christmas (I almost feel a little sad for Thanksgiving).

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Perfect Christmas (Penguin and Pup!) by Hazel Gardner and Nikki Dyson - ESSENTIAL

The Perfect Christmas (Penguin and Pup!) by Hazel Gardner and Nikki Dyson. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan, 2025. $10 (paperback). 9781035014743

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Penguin has an idea of what he wants for a perfect Christmas - simple, with a beautifully decorated tree.  Pup has many, many other plans. Can Penguin get Pup to listen?

DYson has created a bright, fun world for Penguin and Pup. And Gardner has really excelled at creating rhyme without making the reader burst into song. I need this one for myself this Christmas! And I need to read the duo’s other adventures.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and Hayden Goodman - ADVISABLE

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Hayden Goodman. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2025. $15. 9781250349941

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

A little girl is awake Christmas night and sees Santa Claus as he comes around. The whole apartment building gets involved.

Hooray for a more contemporary look to the classic Christmas poem! The girl, her family, and the apartment dwellers - oh and Santa - are black.  The touches of modern clothes, toys, and mess are sweet. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS