MotherReader

I am sooo embarassed that I missed Festivus. I was ready to take on the airing of the grievances for all the blogosphere. First on my list of grievances is the fact that people buy these huge SUVs and then can’t park them correctly. And as a corollary to that grievance, when are the parents at my kids’ school going to learn how to park on the street without leaving huge gaps between them? These people!

But now it is Christmas Eve, and I am here in my house with hours of present wrapping in front of me. Our traditional Christmas Eve pizza is on its way, and my favorite Christmas books are out for the evening reading session down by the tree. I’ve told you some that I use at school or storytime, but these are my personal favorites.

Santa Mouse and Santa Mouse Where Are You? by Michael Brown
I had these books when I was a child, and we always leave a bit of cheese out for Santa Mouse and look for his small, yellow-ribbon-wrapped present in the tree branches. (I may want to get to work on digging out a small present, come to think of it.)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss
Honestly, we’re just as likely to watch the film version of this as to read it, but it’s a classic.

The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore
I have a copy illustrated by Cheryl Harness because I like the soft old-fashioned feel.

One Enchanted Christmas, by Colleen Charleston
The story of a girl who was given a magical coat by her two aunts. Then one day someone Very Important needs a good coat for his midnight journey. Very sweet story.

Merry Un-Christmas, by Mike Reiss
Brand new favorite, just published this year. Noelle is sick of Christmas, because in her town Christmas is every day. The kids and adults all look forward to Un-Christmas. Noelle even wishes it could be Un-Christmas every day. Very fun and silly book.

I work the day after Christmas and many of the days after that, so I’ll be posting some of my favorite books of 2006 that somehow missed getting their day in the sun. For now, I’ll wish everyone a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah just past, and I’m going to get me some Papa John’s Christmas Eve pizza.