BOOK 'EM, SANTA!
There's plenty this holiday season that will let imaginations run wild
(Author Arthur A.) Levine recalls `the challenge of being a Jewish child during Christmas' — especially when he realized that many elements of Christmas had nothing to do with the Christian faith.
Bernie Goedhart
Given the changes forced by pandemic restrictions, it's likely that traditional holiday celebrations across the country next month will undergo a fair bit of downsizing. No more big family gatherings, neighbourhood parties or standing-room-only school concerts.
But one holiday tradition remains intact: the giving of gifts — and books make wonderful gifts for all ages. They're easy to wrap, easy to mail, and readily available from your local independent bookstores, even if those stores are not open for browsing. Visit their websites, phone their knowledgeable staff for recommendations, and know that you're helping keep small business alive during these difficult times. Below, some random suggestions:
Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, starts on Dec. 10 this year, and Candlewick Press offers a new picture book that not only celebrates the Jewish holiday, but links it with a Christian holiday that occurs the same month but has too often hogged the spotlight.
The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol, by Arthur A. Levine, levels the playing ground somewhat and puts Hanukkah front and centre. In an author's note at the end of the book, Levine recalls “the challenge of being a Jewish child during Christmas” — especially when he realized that many elements of Christmas had nothing to do with the Christian faith. Santa, for example, and Frosty the Snowman.
As an adult, and parent himself, he wished for such “wonderful supplementary mythology” for Hanukkah — and so he created the story about Nate Gadol, a magical giant spirit who could stretch even the smallest thing and make it last: like a bit of oil that burned eight days and nights, or a flower that stayed fresh at a sick person's bedside, or a bit of chocolate that served as a treat for an entire family throughout the holiday.
Set in the 1800s, this book tells the story of two European immigrant families — the Glasers and the O'malleys — who lived in poverty and tried to make it through a miserable, hungry winter. Nate Gadol came to the aid of the Glaser family, who shared his gifts with their Christian neighbours. Beautifully illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, with gilded accents on each image, this book should become a cherished part of the holiday canon for all ages — and, hopefully, lead to more stories about Nate Gadol.
That holiday canon has long included Clement C. Moore's poem, written in 1882 and originally titled A Visit From St. Nicholas but more commonly called The Night Before Christmas.
Numerous versions exist in picture book format (my sons grew up with a pop-up version published by Hallmark), the most recent one illustrated by Loren Long and published by Harper. The artist depicts Santa visiting four different homes, with endpapers at the front showing children in those homes preparing for Christmas and, at the end, playing with the toys Santa has left them.
Mouse's Night Before Christmas, by Tracey Corderoy and published by Nosy Crow, takes the classic poem and gives it a twist. Appealingly illustrated in mixed media by Britain's Sarah Massini, it tells the story of Christmas Eve from the viewpoint of the mouse who, it turns out, was definitely stirring. In fact, the little rodent climbed the family Christmas tree in the belief that the star atop the tree could grant him a wish — one that, after he helped Santa and the reindeer during a storm, came true and filled the mouse with joy. For ages four to seven.
A Christmas story for slightly older readers is part of the Aggie Morton: Mystery Queen series launched last year by Stratford, Ont.'s Marthe Jocelyn and published by Tundra. Peril at Owl Park, Book 2 in the series, reacquaints us with 12-year-old Aggie Morton (a youthful, fictional version of mystery writer Agatha Christie) and her Belgian friend and fellow sleuth, Hector Perot (think a younger, and more likable, version of Hercule Poirot). Set in 1902, the story sees Aggie, Grannie Jane and Hector spending Christmas at Oak Park, the manor house that is home to Lord and Lady Greyson, Aggie's sister Marjorie and brother-inlaw James. Inevitably, a murder takes place (in the library) and Aggie and Hector help solve it. An engaging read for ages eight to 12.
If your kids are more into outdoor winter activities such as hockey, and unhappy if they can't gather on the ice with friends during the holidays this year, perhaps these picture
books — best for ages five to 10 — will help. The Golden Goal, by Matthew Cade and illustrated by Patrick Gray, is published by Collins and celebrates Sidney Crosby's gold-medal overtime goal for Team Canada, defeating Team USA at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Rhyming text is brief and filled with the names of hockey stars (making this a great gift to combine with packs of hockey cards) and the illustrations have the graphic look and energy of posters celebrating our national sport.
Breaking the Ice, by Angie Bullaro and published by Simon & Schuster, tells the story of Manon Rhéaume, who made history in 1992 as the first woman to play in an NHL game. “It's crazy to think that 28 years later I am still the only female to have played a game, not only in the NHL, but in any of the four major North American sports leagues,” she writes in an afterword to Bullaro's text, which highlights Rhéaume's childhood in Quebec, beginning with the time her father let her play goalie for the team he coached. It was 1977 and Manon was five years old. Little girls wanting to play hockey are bound to be inspired by this picture book biography, dramatically illustrated by C. F. Payne.
And if you need a gift for a child who'd rather draw than read (or skate), try Make Your Mark Gallery: A Coloring Book-ish, by Peter H. Reynolds, published by Candlewick Press. A small paperback aimed at ages four to eight, it offers a variety of inviting picture frames and partial illustrations for young artists to embellish. Combine the book with a box of crayons, coloured pencils or markers and get ready for a flurry of art.