Winterfest: Toasty winter reads

Selections provided by Eddy-New Rockford Librarian Susie Sharp

Book summaries courtesy of goodreads.com

The Night Before Christmas

This poem first appeared in a newspaper in Troy, New York, USA, on Dec. 23, 1823, as "A Visit From St. Nicholas". No one claimed authorship until 13 years later. Clement Clarke Moore, a professor and poet, said that he wrote the piece for his children. Unbeknownst to him, his housekeeper had sent it to the newspaper to be published. However, the family of Henry Livingston Jr. contended that their father had been reciting "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for 15 years prior to publication. Regardless of the true author, the poem is now a Christmas classic.

A Redbird Christmas

by Fannie Flagg

Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget A Redbird Christmas.

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why. And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch. Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined. A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.

It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever. Someone just like Odd...

The Hat by Jan Brett

In Jan Brett's well-loved book, The Hat, Hedgie the hedgehog discovers the wisdom of the adage "Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong" only after curiosity gets this prickly fellow in a pickle. When Lisa's red-and-white woolen stocking blows off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and sticks his nose inside, only to discover his prickles prevent him from pulling out of it. Soon all the farm animals are coming around to chuckle at silly Hedgie's stocking cap. But in the end, nimble-witted Hedgie gets the last laugh.

Snow Day! by Barbara M. Joosse

"It's a snow day!" The schools are closed! Robby's sisters want to stay inside, and their parents are busy, but Robby and his dog Zippy know what to do: run and kick and lick and skid in the new snow. Their enthusiasm soon involves the whole family in a spirited snowball fight and a snug evening by the fire. Barbara M. Joosse's exuberant story and Jennifer Plecas's lively illustrations capture the pure fun of an unexpected winter holiday.

Truce by Jim Murphy (non-fiction)

Two-time Newbery Honor Book author Jim Murphy writes a stunning nonfiction masterpiece about a Christmas miracle on the Western Front during World War I. On July 29th 1914, the world's peace was shattered as the artillery of the Austria-Hungary Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into war. Soon most of Europe was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. This was, of course, the First World War.

But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of Christmas with their "enemies"?

Santa Calls by William Joyce

Art Atchinson Aimesworth -- inventor, crime fighter, and all around whiz kid-journeys north with his sister, Esther, and his pal, Spaulding, by special invitation from Santa himself. But why did Santa call? Now available in a new hardcover edition, this truly Joyce-iian crusade features villains and swashbuckling adventure, concluding with a most spectacular and touching Christmas celebration.

A holiday extravaganza like no other, by the creator of Rolie Polie Olie, Snowie Rolie, Sleepy Time Olie, Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo, and George Shrinks.

The Snowman Storybook by Raymond Briggs

Raymond Briggs' award-winning, enchanting story of a young boys and a snowman who share a magical night of friendship fun and flying.