Chick-O-Saurus Rex Award News: Irma Black Honor & Crystal Kite

Our picture book CHICK-O-SAURUS REX has some new hardware.

We just found out that our fabulous writer and illustrator peers in SCBWI's International Other region have selected it as a Crystal Kite Award winner.  The book sticker looks like this:

Bankstreet College also bestowed an Irma Black Honor upon CHICK which not only gleans us another sticker (this one designed by Maurice Sendak), but also gets us invited to an awards breakfast in New York on May 22nd (open to the public). Super exciting! The book sticker looks like this:

And here's the book (and the other two honor books) with the sticker:

Thank you to everyone who voted and spread the word about CHICK. We appreciate it so much.

ETA: An interview with us on the Germany/Austria SCBWI blog!

Top Ten Characters Who Are ... CATS!

It's Top Ten Tuesday and also Cat Tuesday, so I couldn't resist combining the two today.

My favorite cat characters:

1. Hamweenie from The Amazing Hamweenie by Patty Bowman

2. Fat Cat from What Will Fat Sit On? by Jan Thomas

3. Fabian from Hondo And Fabian by Peter McCarty

4. Pete the Cat from Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean

5. Prin from Fashion Cats

6. Junkyard Cat (aka, Special Agent Jack Bauer) from the TV series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

7. Grimalkin from The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

8. Maruman from The Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody

9. The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland

10. The Aristocats

Bonus photo of Emmy and Kaia:

Picture Book Review + Author Interview: The Monstore by Tara Lazar (Giveaway)

It's no secret I love monster picture books, and THE MONSTORE is an excellent addition to my collection. First of all, how cool is it that there's a store where you can buy monsters?  Zach goes there to purchase a monster to scare his annoying little sister Gracie out of his room ... but the monster doesn't work like Zach hoped.  So he goes back to the store only to hear "NO RETURNS" (I love this subtle commentary on the customer service experience, haha) and have the salesman convince him to buy another monster.  What happens when Zach's house is overrun with monsters that he can't return? Read the book to find out! (hint: lots of fun!!)

I had the chance to ask author Tara Lazar a few questions about her favorite aspects of THE MONSTORE.

What is your favorite scene in the book?

My favorite scene is the one where Gracie and the monsters have totally overtaken Zach's room. There's so much to discover in that spread, from Mojo with Zach's underwear on his head, to the purple monster who looks like a balloon.

What is your favorite line in the book?

Well, this never used to be my favorite line, but it is now: "A monster threesome is more gruesome than a twosome." When I wrote it, I thought it was too predictable in terms of the rhyme. But everyone who read the manuscript adored that line. I daresay it's grown on me.

Ha! I love that line, too! What setting was most fun to write?

The first paragraph was the most fun, definitely. I wanted the store to be in a secret location that only kids would know about. I think the opening lines set the mood well, but James' illustration brings it to a new level. That page seems to glow. I don't know how he does it!

It does glow! Who is your favorite supporting character - one you could see getting a spin-off book - and why?

I think my favorite is a character I didn't even write about! James invented an eyeball monster he named "Peepers" who appears on about 15 pages, either tucked away or hidden in plain sight. To me, Peepers feels like a "quality control" character who spies on all the monsters to make sure they're doing what they were purchased to do, but of course, they don't and Peepers doesn't care, he just joins in the fun!

I love it when illustrators add extras like that. What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?

Just what I thought it would be--having someone as talented as James illustrating my story and bringing it to life. It is a very cool thing to see your characters in a book. When I write, I almost never have an image of what my characters look like. So getting those illustrations is a phenomenal surprise, better than Christmas and birthdays and Fourth of July fireworks all rolled into one!

Thanks for stopping by!

For a chance to win a copy of THE MONSTORE, fill out this form by Sept 18, 2013.

More about THE MONSTORE at Tara Lazar's website!

Chick-O-Saurus Rex Trailer Premiere + Photos

We're super thrilled that our Chick-o-Saurus Rex picture book trailer is now live (many thanks to Vania at VLC productions) - check out the exclusive reveal at Fuse 8 on School Library Journal! Leave us a comment and let us know how you like it.

Last Saturday we had our first event at Watermark Books in Wichita, KS.  Check out this awesome display in the window.

We had fun reading the book aloud and signing for the great crowd that came out.  Lots of chicken fans in Kansas!

Don't forget that we'll be at Hooray for Books in Alexandria, VA tomorrow at 3:30 pm.  Hope to see you there!

Chick-O-Saurus Rex Updates!

Can you believe CHICK-O-SAURUS REX comes out next week already? (add to Goodreads)

We have some fun stuff in the works, including three upcoming bookstore events:

Saturday July 27, 2013, 11 a.m. at Watermark Books in Wichita, KS

Saturday August 3, 2013, 3:30 p.m. at Hooray for Books in Alexandria, VA (also appearing: Ann Bonwill & Erin Cabatingan)

Saturday August 10, 2013, 10 a.m. at Fundamentals Bookstore in Delaware, OH

Come out and see us and get a personalized illustration in your copy of the book!

CHICK has also gotten some awesome trade reviews:

“Fun for reading aloud, especially in group settings." (Booklist)

"Dinosaur-loving youngsters will warm to Little Chick." (School Library Journal)

"Provides a distinctive angle to a story about bullying." (Publisher's Weekly)

Also, if you want to see me with swamp hair, check out this CHICK promo video where Daniel and talk about our process and we share a hilarious dinosaur joke.

Our Favorite Picture Books of 2012 + 2013 Preview

As a writer and illustrator team, Daniel and I are always on the lookout for amazing picture books to inspire us.

Admittedly we weren't exposed to as many 2012 picture books as we probably should have been, but of those we read, these were the standouts.

I Don't Want to Be a Pea by Ann Bonwill, illustrated by Simon Rickerty
Hugo Hippo and Bella Bird are looking for a couples costume for a party, but each suggests something that puts them in the starring role and the other as a merely a prop. Can they find a costume that lets them both shine?

Lenore says: I love the pairing of a hippo and bird and Hugo and Bella's squabble is sweet, realistic and funny.  Favorite line: "I think you look rather nice orange." "Thank you. But I will still not be a pumpkin."

Daniel says: The dialogue between Hugo and Bella is great. The stylized, reduced illustrations fit the tone of the story perfectly.

Oh No George by Chris Haughton
We've all known a dog like George, one who just can't keep himself out of trouble. George's owner asks him to be good while he's gone ... but he's not (hence the title).

Lenore says: George's eyes say it all. Watch how they change from page to page (tempted, guilty, excited, remorseful). And the ending is up to you to decide - has George changed his ways? Or not?

Daniel says: Beautifully designed with striking colors.  I love the character designs of George and Harry.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
A twist on Klassen's bestseller I Want My Hat Back, this book tells the story of a little fish who dares to steal a hat from a much bigger fish. Will he get away with it?

Lenore says: It's pretty rare these days to have a such a blatantly "unhappy" ending in a picture book, and that's what I love about this.  The humor is dry and the text deceptively simple.

Daniel says: A tight story with beautiful art. Great details throughout.

The Amazing Hamweenie by Patty Bowman
Hamweeine bemoans his fate as the coddled pet to a very attentive little girl.

Lenore says: I would have never found this gem if it hadn't been for the new releases shelf at Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore in Greater Los Angeles. The text and illustrations work together so well. My favorite page has to be where the girl has Hamweenie bundled up in a stroller and the accompanying text says "Fate has been cruel to Hamweenie."  A great laugh for anyone with spoiled cats.

Daniel says: Extremely funny. The exaggerated language is used to great effect and Hamweenie's expressions are priceless. There are so many fun details to find in the illustrations.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Annabelle lives in a cold town where everything is white as snow or black as soot - until she starts knitting colorful sweaters from a box of yarn.

Lenore says: I'm a sucker for stories about bringing color into your life, and this one's a visual stunner. I love the way the sweaters look on the animals (especially the cat - so cute!).

Daniel says: Beautifully rendered.

Where is Fred? by Edward Hardy, illustrated by Ali Pye
Only available in the UK (sadly). Fred is a fluffy white caterpillar who is very, very good at hiding. This frustrates Gerald the Crow to no end, because how can he eat Fred if he can't find him?

Lenore says: I love all the creative places Fred hides and the bumbling nature of Gerald. My absolute favorite scene is when Gerald shows off his fluffy white "scarf" to his crow buddies. Ha!

Daniel says: I wish I had come up with this idea. Very funny. I love the story and the rhythm it has to it.

ALSO:

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Steven Salerno
Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Big Mean Mike by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Scott Magoon


(FTC disclosure: We bought all the books mentioned in this post except Big Mean Mike which I got at BEA)

Bonus! Here are some books we're looking forward to in the first part of 2013:

That is NOT a Good Idea by Mo Willems
Mo Willems is a picture book powerhouse, and this one looks to be very fun and interactive. (HarperCollins, April 2013)

I Am Not a Copy Cat by Ann Bonwill, illustrated by Simon Rickerty
Yes - the sequel to I Don't Want to be a Pea (see above). This one, about sychronized swimming, is even cuter than the first Hugo + Bella book (if that's possible). (Simon & Schuster, May 2013)

The Three Triceratops Tuff by Stephen Shaskan
This dino retelling of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" pits a villainous T-Rex against the clever Tuff brothers. Made me laugh out loud. (Simon & Schuster, April 2013)

Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Brandon Dorman
Betsy is a picture book expert (and blogs over at Fuse #8), so we've been looking forward to this one since the sale was announced. (HarperCollins, April 2013)

Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea
How hilarious is this cover? Can't stop smiling. (Hyperion, May 2013)

And don't forget Chick-O-Saurus Rex! (Simon & Schuster, July 2013)

ALSO:

The Monstore by Tara Lazar, illustrated by James Burks
Open Very Carefully by Nick Bromley, illustrated by Nicola O'Byrne


Any recommendations for us? What outstanding picture books tickled your fancy this year?

Cover Reveal! Chick-o-Saurus Rex

Remember how I told you I also wrote a picture book in collaboration with my husband, Illustrator Daniel Jennewein?

Well that picture book, CHICK-O-SAURUS REX, now has a cover!

Check it out:

And here's the summary:

It's coming out on July 23, 2013. You can already add it to Goodreads and even pre-order it.

I've also gotten word that F&Gs are in (the picture book version of an ARC) so I'll give one away to someone who comments on this post (and leaves an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win) by midnight CST of Thanksgiving day. US and Canada only for this one.

I'll leave you with this picture of Daniel and me in front of a T-Rex skull.

Are you mighty enough?!

Apocalypsies Love! Book Review: The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber

Apocalypsies Love is all about me telling you what I loved about a 2012 debut book written by one of the amazing Apocalypsies. I also chat with the author to gain insight into their very favorite parts of their creation.

Today I'm featuring The Monster Who Lost His Mean, a delightful picture book written by Tiffany Strelitz Haber and illustrated by Kirstie Edmunds.

What happens when a monster loses the "m" in his name and becomes an "onster"? He loses his mean! In this imaginative picture book, Onster finds that without his mean, he doesn't really fit in with his monster friends anymore ... What's an Onster to do?

I love that the concept comes from an acrostic. It's such a creative way to start a story and has so many fun story time possibilities. Tiffany's word choice is also inspired, and the rhyme feels natural and fits the story - not so easy to do with picture books.

The illustrations by Kirstie Edmunds are bright and colorful with unforgettable expressions. 

We read this one many times to the son of my critique partner when we stayed with her in August and he loved it so much we had to leave it with him.  What better recommendation is there than that?

And now let's chat with Tiffany!

What is your favorite scene in the book?
My fave scene/spread is,
The Onster thinks,
"I'll throw some eggs at Mr. Landers Van!"
But winds up cooking brunch
for the entire Lander clan.

The reason behind this choice is two-fold. 1) I'm always partial to anything that even hints towards the comsumption of bacon. 2) The contrasting expressions Kirstie was able to capture on the Onster's face in the various images of the spread- are priceless.

What is your favorite line in the book?
"One day the Onster's M went missing. Gone without a trace. And all the Ms are custom made. the kind you can't replace." Pretty sure that was the very first line I wrote of the story...and from there it kinda all fell into place.

What setting was most fun to write?
I always like to write about characters searching for things. So, when The Onster was sort of tearing apart his room, and the town etc...hunting for the missing M...that was filled with opportunites for some really fun rhymes.

Who is your favorite supporting character - one you could see getting a spin-off book - and why?
The book is pretty "Onster-centric". Would love to tell some other stories about him. Maybe a prequel about his "Mean" days.

What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?
There have been so many favorite parts along the way! It's kinda like having kids. At first you think- ohmygosh- THIS is the cutest age they will ever be! And then they get a little older, and things change and you feel like, ok definitey THIS age. THIS is unbeatable...etc. Getting word of my first sale was aboslutely amazing. Later on, when I first saw the ARC of the completed book, I nearly died. But now, I find that doing readings and signings and actually being "out there" with a book on the shelves, is the most incredible part of all!

Thanks Tiffany!

The Monster Who Lost His Mean is available now. Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: Bought

Apocalypsies Love! Book Review: Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman

Apocalypsies Love is all about me telling you what I loved about a 2012 debut book written by one of the amazing Apocalypsies. I also chat with the author to gain insight into their very favorite parts of their creation.

Today I'm featuring BOY + BOT, an adorable picture book written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. And yes - there are several picture book author Apocalypsies too, didn't you know?

So, Boy meets Bot one day and they have fun together until Bot's power switch gets turned off and Boy thinks Bot is sick. He takes him home and falls asleep and then Bot's power switch get turned on and it's Bot's turn to worry about Boy. Eventually they get things sorted out and learn important differences about each other.  

The story is clever, original, and fun.  And the language Dyckman uses is deceptively simple but conveys so much of the characters through voice. I loved it!  The illustrations are also very amusing. My favorite may be Bot reading to Boy from an instruction manual - and funnily enough, it's also the author's favorite scene in the book - as you will learn from my interview with her below. 

Welcome Ame!

So I've already given this away in my review, but what is your favorite scene in the book?

I love when it’s Bot’s turn to take care of Boy, and Bot cradles Boy in one arm while he reads Boy an instruction manual. Dan’s illustration is perfect—funny, but also a very sweet moment.


What is your favorite line in the book?

I adore our catch phrase (“Affirmative!”), but my favorite line is when Bot sees the sleeping Boy and asks, “Did-you-malfunction?” (I know it’s goofy of me, but I have to suppress giggling every time I read it!)


What setting was most fun to write?

The Inventor’s Castle! I’d love to have an Inventor’s Castle at the top of the hill in my neighborhood.

Who is your favorite supporting character - one you could see getting a spin-off book - and why?

Watt! He’s the little light bulb robot who helps the Inventor. (He was Dan’s idea during the illustration phase, so he doesn’t have a name in the book, but I call him Watt.) During readings, I show kids the picture of Watt on the dedication page, and then we play “Spot Watt” as we read the book. Kids love Watt! (He’s mighty charismatic for someone with one eye and no other facial features!) It would be great to see Watt in another BOY + BOT adventure, or even in his own adventure someday.


What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?

At a recent school visit, a Kindergarten class presented me with a packet of their BOY + BOT drawings. That was the greatest! Well, until I got something in my eye. (No, I wasn’t crying! I… I just got something in my eye!) ;)

Thanks Ame! BOY + BOT is available now.  Find out more about it at the author's website.

FTC disclosure: I bought my copy.

  

Book Review: Little Goblins Ten by Pamela Jane

You know I love picture books - especially monster picture books - so I was so excited to get a copy of LITTLE GOBLINS TEN, written by Pamela Jane and illustrated by Jane Manning.

With Halloween around the corner, many of you might be looking for new "spooky" books to celebrate the holiday, and LITTLE GOBLINS TEN is a solid choice.  I prefer my rhyming halloween tales to be more absurdist and quirky (think THE GASHLYCRUMB TINIES by Edward Gorey), but GOBLINS is sweet and fun in a non-cloying way.

Here's an excerpt:

Over in the forest
By the graveyard gate
Lived a bony father skeleton
And his little skellies eight
"Rattle!" said the father;
"We rattle," said the eight.
So they rattled and they ran
By the graveyard gate.

Catch your interest? You're in luck! I have one hardcover copy to give away to a lucky reader in the US. Just fill out this form by Oct 17th at 11:59 pm CST.  For more information about the book, see the author's website.

BREAKING NEWS: Daniel and I get a Picture Book Deal!

Today's Publisher's Marketplace announcement:

Lenore Appelhans writing as Lenore Jennewein and IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? illustrator Daniel Jennewein's CHICK-O-SAURUS REX, the humorous story of a little chick who proves his mettle to the farm's big bullies when he discovers that he has a very mighty lineage, to Alexandra Cooper at Simon & Schuster's Children's, by Stephen Barbara at Foundry Literary + Media (NA).

Yes - Daniel and I are finally able to share one of our picture book creations with the reading public and we are super excited!


We started on the picture book collaboration path way back in 2004 and it's just lovely to see this dream finally coming true.  Look for it in Spring/Summer 2013!

Return of Cat Tuesday (37) + Buffalo Book Giveaway!

Daniel got his contract copies of TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS and Emmy wasted no time at all claiming them as her own.

But we'll brave her wrath to send two lucky readers a personalized copy of the newly released book! Get it for yourself or for little kids you know and indicate what pose you'd like to see the Buffalo strike.  Enter by filling out this form. Open internationally.

Buffalo Release Day (and obligatory cat picture)

Today you can finally find TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by my husband Daniel Jennewein out in the wild!

You can order the book on amazon.

And like his drumming page on Facebook.

And add him to your to-read list on GoodReads.

Since today is Tuesday, you also get a cat picture.  But not of my cats - just a wild Argentine cat who hopped on my lap in the botanical garden in Buenos Aires earlier this month.  Enjoy!

Teach Your Buffalo to Play Drums!

Hungering for more Buffalo hijinks after last year's IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN?  You're in luck! Because the Buffalo is back in a new adventure that is out soon - June 28th to be exact.

And let me tell you - Buffalo is even cuter this time around - if that's even possible.

To celebrate the impending release, Daniel is over at Author Audrey Vernick's blog today taking about illustrating.  Check it out!

Also, I still have promo postcards which feature interior art from the book.  I handed these out at BEA, but if you didn't get one and you want one, fill out this form.  The first 10 respondents will get one.  Open internationally - of course!

Bears in Picture Books

Let's talk about bears! 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr/Eric Carle (Henry Holt) 
Brown Bear might be the most famous picture book bear of all.  But he does have to share the this rhyming book with Yellow Duck, Blue Horse, Red Bird, Green Frog and others...

So if you want MORE BEARS...well you'll just have to check out More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt/Troy Cummings (Sourcebooks).  In this wacky picture book, an author sits down to write a book that has nothing to do with bears, but his audience keeps demanding MORE BEARS - until there are so many bears, the story collapses.

If you are looking for more serious bears, then dive into the non-fiction treat Bears! Bears! Bears! by Bob Barner (Chronicle) that introduces the major bears around the world (polar bear, sun bear, panda bear, sloth bear, and more) in lovely illustrations.  In the back, you get some bear facts and a world map of bears. Find out more at the author's website (Flash + sound).

Or maybe you prefer a sweet bedtime story with only polar bears? How about Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson/Stephen Savage (Scholastic)?  In it, a polar bear cub takes a moonlit walk and sees a sleeping walrus, sleeping seals and whales and finally a star shower. 

And then there's the realistically portrayed friendship between Bug and Bear by Ann Bonwill/Layn Marlow (Oxford UK, Marshall Cavendish US). Bear is tired and grumpy, annoyed that bug wants to play games.  Bear tries many ways to ditch bug, but finally they find an activity they can do together. Find out more at the author's website!

For more suggestions, see this list of bear picture books at Flashlight Worthy Books and this list of bear picture books at Squidoo.

What are your favorite picture books featuring bears?

Author Ann Bonwill discusses Christmas Picture Book Favorites

Tis the season for some great Christmas picture book recommendations, and who better to go to for them than the debut author of a Christmas book herself?  Ann Bonwill's POCKET'S CHRISTMAS WISH first came out in the UK (with Oxford University Press) last year, and is now available in the US (with Barron's). 

Ann is a very good friend of mine now, but I wouldn't know her if it weren't for this blog.  Shortly after she moved to Germany (she's since moved back to the US), she wrote me an e-mail telling me she loved my blog and she lived in Frankfurt too.  Isn't that cool?  We've bonded over games of Time's Up, two trips to Italy together, trivia nights, and tons of sushi.  I am so thrilled that she's finding picture book success (not only is POCKET out, but she has THREE books coming out in 2011 and one slated for 2013 - check out her website for more details).

This is what she says about POCKET:

When writing Pocket’s Christmas Wish, I wanted to convey my own sense of the meaning of Christmas. For me it is not about presents and commercialism, but about a feeling--a spirit of the season. This spirit is hard to capture on paper, but I do think that it contains love, joy, memory, promise, and comfort, just as Pocket discovers on his journey. And it is about giving--not just gifts, but giving of yourself to others, which hopefully continues all year round.

Isn't that inspiring?  POCKET is a heartwarming tale that is neither religious nor commercial - a rare thing in the Christmas picture book market.  It's found its' way under the tree of my favorite little tykes.

And now, please welcome Ann Bonwill:

When Lenore asked me to recommend my favorite Christmas picture books, I thought I'd make a neat and tidy list of about four or five. But then I had so much fun revisiting books both old and new that my list exploded. So here are two lists, highlighting five favorites from my childhood and five new favorites I have found as an adult. Hope you find some favorites among them.

Newer Christmas Faves:

1. WOMBAT DIVINE - Mem Fox/Kerry Argent (Sandpiper, 1999) - Wombat cannot wait to join his friends in the nativity play, but he's not quite right for any of the parts. You'll have to read this charming Australian story to find out just what part he ends up with and how perfectly he performs. (And if you like the subject of nativity plays, don't miss Barbara Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for middle grade readers.)

2. SHALL I KNIT YOU A HAT? A CHRISTMAS YARN - Kate Klise/M. Sarah Klise (Square Fish, 2007) - Mother Rabbit knits a hat to keep Little Rabbit's ears warm in the snow. Her gift kicks off a collaboration between mother and son as they work together to make hats for all their friends. Not only is this a snuggly story of friendship and giving, but the hats make fantastic fashion statements. Break out your knitting needles.

3. SANTA DUCK - David Milgrim (Putnam, 2010) - The bold illustrations are a perfect match for this funny story about Nicholas Duck who finds a Santa hat on his doorstep. He becomes the go-to guy for Christmas wish lists, and when it's all getting to be just a bit too much for Nicholas, he runs into Santa himself. A winner with a warm message and lots of laughs.

4. SANTA'S STUCK - Rhonda Gowler Greene/Henry Cole (Puffin, 2006) - I can definitely relate to eating too many Christmas cookies! Unfortunately for Santa, all this munching results in getting stuck in the chimney. Not to worry, with a little help from his animal friends Santa is soon on his way. Fun rhymes make this one a great read aloud.

5. STICK MAN - Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler (Arthur A. Levine, 2009) - This quirky story stars Stick Man, who despite being a stick somehow manages to have a big personality. Stick Man gets into a series of scrapes until some help from Santa returns him to his Stick Lady Love. Gotta love a book with a character named Stick Lady Love.


Childhood Favorites (that are still available!):

1. MR WILLOWBY'S CHRISTMAS TREE  - Robert Barry (Doubleday, 2000) - Originally published in 1963, this fun Christmas classic was reprinted in 2000 with full color washes. An ode to recycling before its time, it tells the story of a giant Christmas tree that bring happiness to many, from a Monopoly-like millionaire to a tiny mouse family.

2. Richard Scarry's FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROLS - Richard Scarry (Sterling, 2009) - True, I was a teenager when this one first came out in 1990, but I'm putting it on my childhood list since Richard Scarry was one of my favorite childhood illustrators. I'm not usually a fan of books that make noise, but who can resist the play-along keyboard attached to this jolly volume of carols. It was reprinted in 2009, perfect timing for my son to enjoy Scarry's wonderful animal illustrations.

3. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - Clement Clarke Moore/Tasha Tudor (Little Brown, 2002) - No Christmas collection is complete without at least one copy of The Night Before Christmas. While many illustrators have put their spin on these famous words, the one nearest to my heart is Tasha Tudor's interpretation, which I have read with my parents every year since its first publication in 1975. Perhaps this book is the reason that I now have a Corgi...

4. TALES FROM MOOMINVALLEY - Tove Jansson (Square Fish, 2010) - OK, so I'm cheating and this isn't a picture book, but I can't miss an opportunity to talk about my favorite characters, the Moomintrolls. This reissued collection of stories includes one holiday tale, The Fir Tree, in which the Moomins wake up from hibernation just in time to experience the mystery of Christmas.

5. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS - Dr. Suess (Random House, 1957) - I couldn't leave this one off my list. I love the characters (yay Max!), the word play, and the message. Perfection.

There you have it, my Christmas library. And while I'm at it, I can't resist mentioning two of my favorite Christmas movies - A Christmas Story for pure nostalgia, and White Christmas for pure glamour. In fact, I am off to watch White Christmas right now... Happy holidays to all!

What are some of your Christmas season picture book favorites?