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New ChristmasBooks WorthKeepingby Kim HarrisApple tree Christmas / written by TrinkaHakes Noble. LCCN 2005017679.Chelsea, Mich. : Sleeping Bear Press,2005.HBB, 1585362700, list price: $16.95.E. Trees--Fiction; Apples--Fiction; Christmas--Fiction; Blizzards--Fiction; Farm life--Fiction. 1 v.(unpaged) : ill., mostly col. ; 29 cm..Grades PS and up. Rating : 5.In Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka HakesNoble, Katrina, sister Josie, Mama, and Papalive in an old barn next to an ancient apple treewith a grape vine swing. The family picks andprepares the apples for winter, Josie enjoys theswing, and Katrina has her own branch to sit onthat, because of its vantage point and nice flatsurface for drawing on, is the perfect drawingstudio.Just before the Christmas of 1881, an ice stormfells the old apple tree and the family mourns itsloss. Christmas, however, brings many funsurprises. The joy of the apple tree isresurrected in the form of sweet smelling appleshung on the Christmas tree; a vine swing forJosie hung from the beams of the barn; adrawing board for Katrina made from apple treewood, stocked with drawing paper and willowstick charcoals. Illustrations warmly depictpioneer farm life, nature, and the familyholiday. Noble is the award winning author ofseveral books, including the Jimmy’s Boaseries.Apple Tree Christmas reminds the reader of asimpler life, in which holidays are warm, sweetsmelling, cozy, and sparse. Stark white snow issoftened with gray shading and brightened withred, green, and blue to produce a simple, LittleHouse on the Prairie feel.Josie’s gift / Kathleen Long Bostrom ;illustrated by Frank Ordaz. Nashville :Broadman & Holman, 2005.HBB, 0805430202, list price: $16.99.E. Christmas--Fiction; Giving--Fiction; <strong>Christian</strong>life--Fiction. 35 p. : col. ill. ; 26 x 29 cm..Grades PS and up. Rating : 5.In contrast to the lights and brights of AppleTree Christmas, Josie’s Gift by KathleenLong Bostrom; illustrated by Frank Ordaz,emanates a warm, golden glow. Althoughthe story is set during the Great DepressionEra, warmth and love still radiate from thepages. The story begins: Papa used to say“Christmas is not about what we want. It’sabout what we have.” The first Christmasafter he died of the fever is tough for Josie,Mama, and little brother Bobby Joe. Eventhough Mama tells her they can’t affordmuch this year, with Papa gone and Mamanow the family’s breadwinner, Josie has herheart set on receiving the soft blue sweaterfrom the window of the elegant clothingstore for her Christmas gift. Josie lamentsover special Christmases past, when Papacarved Nativity pieces and the familyattended Christmas Eve services together.When she receives the sweater forChristmas she is happy, but continues togrieve over the loss of her Papa. In theevening, wearing her new sweater, Josiewalks out to the barn to check on theanimals and finds a homeless couple withtheir newborn child who have sought shelterin the barn. Deeply moved by the scene,Josie gives them her sweater to wrap thebaby in and, in giving, discovers the truejoy of Christmas. Illustrations appropriatelydepict the family closeness and scarcity ofpossessions of farm life during the GreatDepression Era.Good King Wenceslas / John M. Neale,Tim Ladwig. LCCN 2004010237. GrandRapids : Eerdmans Books for YoungReaders, 2005.HBB, 0802852092, list price: $16.00.782.28/1723. Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, ca. 907-929 --Juvenile literature; Wenceslas, Duke ofBohemia, ca. 907-929; Carols, English--Texts;Christmas music--Texts; Carols; Christmas music. 1v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 28 cm..Grades PS and up. Rating : 5.Good King Wenceslas by John M. Neale andTim Ladwig, is a story that starts in the moderndayCzech Republic city of Prague. Singers inthe square surround the statue of Good KingWenceslas, the country’s patron saint, and singof days past. One day the King looks out ontothe courtyard and sees a poor man gatheringwood. He orders his page to purchase wood fora hearty fire and food for a feast. Accompaniedby their faithful hound, both King and page setout through a blizzard to present these gifts tothe poor man and his family. Reaching beyondrank and status, they share the blessings ofChristmas together. Text was written by JohnM. Neale, an Anglican priest in 1853, toencourage sharing with those less fortunate onSaint Stephen’s Day (Dec. 26th).Tim Ladwig’s illustrations, consisting ofwatercolor, liquid acrylic, and oil on paper,have been added to the original Christmas carolabout the compassion of Wenceslas, duke ofBohemia. In contrast to the brights and starksof Apple Tree Christmas and the warm glow ofJosie’s Gift, Good King Wenceslas vibrates anevening light that is both stormy and frosted insoft purples and blues.Sacred songs of Christmas : a familytreasury / illustrations by AndreaEberbach, Paine Proffitt, Nicole Wong.St. Louis, Mo. : Concordia, 2005.HBB, 0758607210, list price: $19.99.808.81/933. Christmas music; Carols. 59 p. : col. ill.; 29 cm. ; incl. CD-ROM..Grades PS and up. Rating : 5.Sacred Songs of Christmas: A Family Treasury,includes a CD of Christmas carols sung by achildren‘s choir, entitled “Voices of Children.”Illustrations by Andrea Eberbach, PaineProffitt, and Nicole Wong are reminiscent of anAdvent Calendar in theme and short-takes style.While Apple Tree Christmas, Josie’s Gift, andGood King Wenceslas each reflect the spirit ofgiving, they are single tales. This treasuryincludes poems, music and lyrics, recipes,crafts, activities, and single-page stories thatcan easily be broken up into segmentsappealing even to young children with limitedattention spans. Scripture referencesthroughout are taken from the NIV Bible.Themes include the Legend of Santa Claus; thestory of Jesus’ mother, Mary; the tale of MartinLuther; religious traditions; descriptions ofangels; instructions for making Christmas craftsand activities; and ideas on how to refocus theholiday on sharing and giving, rather thancommercial hype. Colorful illustrations arerendered by Andrea Eberbach, Paine Proffitt,and Nicole Wong.Each story is unique in its theme andillustrations, yet all remind the reader of the realfocus of the season…Jesus. All four bookshighly recommended for all Christmascollections.D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 5 2 C H R I S T I A N L I B R A R Y J O U R N A L
Learning Native American CultureThrough Booksby Jane MouttetIn the last column in this series, these books include informationabout more than one tribe of people and would be useful only forbasic introductory information. Finally are a few books aboutspecific tribes which were not included in the column on that regionof the country.GENERAL BOOKS*Atlas of Indians of North America / writtenand illustrated by Gilbert Legay. LCCN95013019. Hauppauge, N.Y. : Barron’sEducational, 1995.HBB, 0812065158, list price: $18.95.970.004/97. Indians of North America--Social life andcustoms--Handbooks, manuals, etc.; Indians of NorthAmerica--History--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 95 p. :ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 32 cm.Grades 6-9. Rating : *5.This atlas is a good starting point for thoseresearching Native American tribes. The book isdivided into geographical regions. Within thechapters there is general information about theregion and boxes of information on individualtribes. Students could use this book as aspringboard for deciding which tribe to furtherresearch. Gilbert Legay avoided stereotypes inboth his text and his full-color illustrations. Thebook is well-researched and accurate. The tableof contents and the index increase the book’susefulness as a reference book. If you can onlyhave one general reference book about NativeAmericans, give this one first consideration.Buffalo / written and illustrated by BeverlyBrodsky. LCCN 2002009639. New York :Marshall Cavendish, 2003.HBB, 0761451331, list price: $18.95.599.64/3/0978. Indians of North America--GreatPlains--Juvenile literature; American bison--Juvenileliterature; Indians of North America--Great Plains. 32p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Grades 3-5. Rating : 4.Using selections from Native American songsand poems as well as her own words, BeverlyBrodsky tells the story of the buffalo. From theEuropean wisent, a cousin of the buffalo, to thenear destruction of the American buffalo and itsrestoration, Brodsky tells how the animals wereportrayed in cave paintings (including how thepaint was made) and how they were used by theNative Americans. Some information aboutnative culture is included, both in the text byBrodsky and the included Native Americansongs and poetry. From the illustrations inBuffalo it is evident that Brodsky has studied theNative American style.The great change / text by White Deer ofAutumn ; illustrations by Carol Grigg.LCCN 92014501. Hillsboro, Ore. : BeyondWords Publishing, 1992.HBB, 0941831795, list price: $14.95.Fic. Death--Fiction; Indians of North America--Fiction. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 30 cm.Grades K-3. Rating : 3.The Great Change is a story of death. Wanba’sgrandfather has just died. Grandmother findstalking about the death difficult. She finallyexplains it comparing death to a caterpillarchanging into a butterfly. Death is not part of theCircle of Life—instead it is the Great Change.There are not illustrations on every page. CarolGrigg used watercolors to illustrate the text.Native crafts : inspired by NorthAmerica’s First Peoples / Maxine Trottier ;illustrated by Esperanca Melo. (Kids cando it.) Toronto : Kids Can, 2000.PAP, 1550745498, list price: $5.95.745.5089/97. Indian craft--Juvenile literature. 40 p. :ill. ; 26 cm.Grades 3-5. Rating : 4.Native Crafts contains sixteen craft projectsrelated to different Native peoples groups. Abrief description of the projects relationship toNative Americans is given with each project.Mazine Trottier’s instructions are clear andEsperanca Melo’s illustrations contribute to theunderstanding of them. Used alone, readers willnot learn much about Native Americans, but thebook could be used as a supplement to a study ofNative Americans giving students some handsonactivities.The people shall continue / written bySimon Ortiz ; illustrated by Sharol Graves.LCCN 88018929. Emeryville, Calif. :Children’s Book Press, 1994.HBB, 0892391251, list price: $14.95.973.04/97. Indians of North America--History. 23 p. :col. ill. ; 25 cm.Grades 1-3. Rating : 3.The People Shall Continue is the general story ofall Native Americans from creation on. SimonOrtiz recounts the differences and similarities ofthe Native People. The coming of the Anglosbrought trouble to the Native Americans. Theylost their lands; they were treated as slaves; theirchildren were taken away and sent to school.The book ends with a call for all peopleregardless of skin color to come together andshare their struggles. Simon Ortiz is Acoma, hisbook portrays frustrations and some bitterness atthe way Native Americans have been treated.The People Shall Continue accurately shows theNative American perspective. Sharol Graves’brightly colored illustrations show NativeAmerican history from creation to the present.Pilgrims and native Americans : hands-onprojects about life in early America /Jennifer Quasha. (Great social studiesprojects.) LCCN 00028008. New York :PowerKids Press, 2001.HBB, 0823957004, list price: $19.95.974.4/8202. Handicraft; Indians of North America--Massachusetts; Indians of North America--Massachusetts--History--17th century--Study andteaching--Activity programs--Juvenile literature;Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony)--Study andC H R I S T I A N L I B R A R Y J O U R N A L 3 D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 5
Page 1: ChristianVolume X, No.4December 200
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Page 10 and 11: BOOK REVIEWSPICTURE BOOKSA was once
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Page 14 and 15: BOOK REVIEWSCHILDREN’S FICTION*Aa
Page 16 and 17: BOOK REVIEWSCHILDREN’S NONFICTION
Page 18 and 19: CHILDREN’S NONFICTIONB or 610/.92
Page 20 and 21: BOOK REVIEWSYOUNG ADULT FICTIONBell
Page 22 and 23: YOUNG ADULTFICTIONFic. Christian li
Page 24 and 25: YOUNG ADULTNONFICTIONA young woman'
Page 26 and 27: BOOK REVIEWSADULT FICTIONAll she ev
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Page 32 and 33: BOOK REVIEWSADULT NONFICTION*How to
Page 34 and 35: ADULTNONFICTIONpowerful story of Jo
Page 36 and 37: ADULTNONFICTIONRoseveare. The book
Page 38: INDEXMorris, Robert 31Mowll, Benjam

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