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Community Corner

Holiday Gift Guide: Children's Books for Gift Giving

Vicki Erwin, owner of Main Street Books, has 10 books for children in your life.

SAFARI, Created by Dan Kainen, Written by Carol Kaufmann, Workman, $24.95

This spectacular picture book gives us color photos of animals in their natural habitat movingacross the page. Informational essays accompany each photo making the book entertaining forall ages.


I WANT MY HAT BACK by Jon Klassen, Candlewick, $15.99

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This picture book has become a classic. Klassen’s bear has lost his red, pointy hat and searchesthe forest asking each animal he meets. Finally, he gives up but in mourning the hat he realizeshe HAS seen it and goes back looking for the culprit who has stolen it. There is subtle humor andeach animal character is imbued with personality.

THIS IS NOT MY HAT by Jon Klassen, Candlewick, 15.99

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In the follow-up to I WANT MY HAT BACK, Klassen once again enchants both the child and adultreader. A small fish admits right up front he has stolen a hat but the fish he stole it from doesn’tknow it was stolen and if he does, he doesn’t know who stole it, and if he does, he doesn’t knowwhere the small fish is hiding. Or does he?

SNOWMEN AT WORK by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner, Penguin, $16.99

A child builds a snowman, goes to sleep and when he awakes the next morning new snow hasfallen and the sidewalk is clear. No one but the snowman is around. Could snowmen workat night clearing snow? Or as dentists? Or bakers? The brightly colored pictures are perfectaccompaniments to the fun jobs the snowmen enjoy. Look for the rabbit, cat, Trex and mousein each picture!

HOW DOES SLEEP COME? By Jeanne C Blackmore, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles, Sourcebooks,$16.99

This charming picture book should become a night-time classic. Jacob asks his mama how sleepcomes and as she tucks him in, she tells him in evocative prose. Just as the story lulls Jacob intoa peaceful sleep, your little one will also find it soothing. The author is the granddaughter ofauthor/illustrator Roger Duvoisin

ONE by Kathryn Otoshi, KO Kids Books, $16.95

This is one of the best books about bullying ever. The story is for all ages and entertains as wellas teaches a lesson. Using colors and numbers, the author gives the reader a look inside bulliesas well as bullied.

BEAR HAS A STORY TO TELL by Philip C Stead, illustrated by Erin E Stead, Roaring Brook, $16.99

Bear wants to share a story with his friends but the days are growing shorter and they are busyreadying for a long winter. Will anyone still be awake to hear his story before he forgets what hewants to share? The delicate, detailed illustrations add to the charm of this story about patienceand friendship.

THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR MORRIS LESSMORE by William Joyce, Atheneum, $17.99

This is the gift book for every booklover and potential booklover you know. Morris Lessmorewrites in his book everyday – his joys, his sorrows and his hopes. One day a wind comes alongand scatters Morris’ life. After a long wandering he ends up in a building full of books wherestories fill his days.

STRANGER IN THE WOODS by Carl R Sams II & Jean Stoick, $21.95

This one is an oldie but a goodie. All the animals in the woods grow curious as a stranger invadestheir space. Word passes from one to another as they gather to investigate. The illustrations areas beautiful on the twentieth reading as they were on the first.

PETE THE CAT SAVES CHRISTMAS by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean, HarperCollins, $17.99

Put a little fun under the Christmas tree with Pete the Cat! In this installment, Santa has fallenill. Will Christmas be cancelled? Goodness no! Not if Pete the Cat can help it! Guaranteed tomake your Christmas groovy. Be sure to check out Pete’s songs on his website or YouTube.

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