Christmas Is Coming! an Advent Book

October 7, 2019
The cover of this volume features advent windows that correspond with holiday crafts and other activities from the first of December through Christmas Eve. Corresponding spreads within the book reveal related activities for the Advent season. For the window that features an old-fashioned sleigh, the spread shows a lively “Seek & Find Snow Day” scene in which readers can find geese, a rooftop feline, and multiple sleds. Other projects include making seasonal treats, garlands, and “lunch bag luminarias.” One activity invites readers to “Spread Christmas Cheer” by creating a care package for a child in need, and additional advent days feature classic carols, a telling of The Nutcracker, and Christmas jokes. Kickey’s watercolor illustrations have a quaintly old-fashioned appearance; they feature diverse families taking part in the bustling activities, festive spot art, and characters from the traditional stories and songs. A hands-on approach to building holiday anticipation that keeps readers creatively engaged. Ages 5–10.

October 15, 2019
A front-cover advent calendar with die-cut flaps cues 24 seasonal activities for the run-up to Christmas. Between guidelines for a letter to Santa on Dec. 1 and the full text of " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Dec. 24, Hickey assembles a mix of amusements. These include games, recipes, luminarias and other crafts, jokes ("How does a sheep say 'Merry Christmas'?" "Fleece Navidad!"), and songs--plus retold versions of "The Elves and the Shoemaker" and The Nutcracker. The illustrations, as cozy as the contents, offer festoons of evergreens and ornaments and depictions of tidy homes and small businesses nestled closely together in snowy landscapes; yummy treats; and wrapped gifts. Sweater-clad figures (both white and people of color) celebrate in various combinations before all coming together in a crowded living room to open presents on Christmas morning. Except for the occasional carol and hanging star, it's a secularized and nonsectarian view of the holiday season, but the values of sharing, giving, eating together, and otherwise valuing family and community all receive proper notice. With the exception of the luminarias, traditions depicted skew toward generic Western European/North American observances. Safe--if unexceptional of content (and physically problematic in library settings). (Novelty anthology. 6-9)

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