From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 11:13:55 -0600

Thanks to Martha, Andrea, Amy, Marsha and Cody for contributing their lists of gift books. Perhaps others have also sent messages suggesting gift book ideas, but yours are the ones I've received so far.

It goes without saying that some of the books already mentioned as favorites are ones I have been recommending for gifts. In sharing my list yesterday, I decided to mention books not recommended yet this month for one reason or another. On another note: I do know how to spell "aspiring" as in "aspiring paper engineers" (Elements of Pop-up) but my fingers flew too rapidly over the keyboard, and - oops - there was a typo. No doubt I'll make other typos in this message!

There's a big difference between a book one recommends in general and a book one is ready to gift wrap and give to a young family member or friend. Before I recommend a gift book, I ask myself if I would actually gift wrap this book.

Here are some other books not yet mentioned, books I would wrap to give - indeed, I've already given some of them as gifts:

1) "On Christmas Day in the Morning" newly illus by Melissa Sweet with a foreword by John Langstaff (Candlewick) A merry new version of the ancient song featuring animal characters, one of the most beautifully produced books of the year - it even has gilt?ged pages.

2) "Come and See: A Christmas Story" written by Monica Mayper & illus by Stacey Schuett (HarperColllins) Lovely paintings portray the traditional story for preschoolers, making it appear as if it actually takes place in the Middle East.

3) "The Beautiful Christmas Tree" written by Charlotte Zolotow & newly illus by Yan Nascimbene (Houghton Mifflin) It's wonderful to have this fine story in print once again. I agree with the review in the New York Times Book Review (12/19) saying that Zolotow's story could have been one more sentimental one about a poor little tree needing attention, but it isn't that at all. The new sophisticated illustrations also set support the tone of the narrative.

4) "Three Wise Women" written by Mary Hoffman & illus by Lynne Russell (Phyllis Fogelman Books / Penguin Putnam) A fresh 'take" on the traditional story

OK, OK, enough about Christmas books... Which books are some of the rest of you giving as gifts, or do you recommend as gifts?

Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ A Library of the School of Education Univesity of Wisconsin - Madison
Received on Wed 22 Dec 1999 11:13:55 AM CST