The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
	The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based booklist available as an online-only Bulletin feature. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months.
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On Beyond Rudolph:  Christmas with the Animals  --selected by Deborah Stevenson, Editor While a few animals hit the holiday big-time with television specials, there are plenty more waiting within the pages of books to share Christmas joys.  Between luminous volumes of Nativity poetry, delicate tales of domestically concerned mice, and raucous accounts of wannabe helpful cows, there’s something for every animal-loving celebrant.  Beast wishes!

• Cazet, Denys.  Minnie and Moo:  The Night Before Christmas; written and illus. by Denys Cazet.  HarperCollins, 2002.  Gr. 2-4
  The ever enjoyable pair of clueless cows decide to help out the farmer by dressing up as the Clauses and their reindeer (chickens with forks on their heads) and delivering the farmhouse gifts in this gleefully silly holiday adventure.  (BCCB 12/02)
  
  
• Christelow, Eileen.  Not until Christmas, Walter!; written and illus. by Eileen Christelow.  Clarion, 1997.  4-8 yrs
  Louise’s dog, Walter, chews up Louise’s carefully wrapped presents for her family, but he redeems himself by finding her when she gets lost as the family hunts for a Christmas tree, and then he meets someone very special when he stays up late on Christmas Eve. (BCCB 12/97)
  
  
• Cunningham, Julia.  The Stable Rat, and Other Christmas Poems; illus. by Anita Lobel.  Greenwillow, 2001.  Gr. 3-6
  Eloquent, thoughtful free verse, mostly in the voices of animals witnessing the birth of the baby Jesus, combines with vivid paintings touched with naïve joy.  (BCCB 11/01)
  
  
• Demas, Corinne. Two Christmas Mice; illus. by Stephanie Roth. Holiday House, 2005.  5-8 yrs
  Two mice neighbors, rounded and personable in the rich-hued art, realize that sharing what they have makes for a much nicer Christmas. (BCCB 12/05)
  
  
• Dewan, Ted. Crispin, the Pig Who Had It All; written and illus. by Ted Dewan. Doubleday, 2000.  4-9 yrs
  Comedic art softens the message in this story of wealthy young pig Crispin, who finds his shallow, lonely life changed by a new Christmas present (an empty box that’s a magnet for creative play) and the friends it brings. (BCCB 12/00)
  
  
• Farber, Norma.  When It Snowed That Night; illus. by Petra Mathers.  HarperCollins, 1993.  Gr. 2-4
  This collection celebrates the Nativity in the musing, musical voices of animals and a few humans traditionally left out of the picture; Mathers’ Japanese-inspired artwork adds friendly humor to its spareness.  (BCCB 11/93)
  
  
• Foreman, Michael.  The Cat in the Manger; written and illus. by Michael Foreman.  Holt, 2001.  4-7 yrs
  The Nativity story is retold from a cat’s point of view, with Foreman’s cool, blue-tinged art providing a luminous setting for the story.  (BCCB 11/01)
  
  
• Hobbie, Holly.  Toot & Puddle:  I’ll Be Home for Christmas; written and illus. by Holly Hobbie. Little, 2001.  4-7 yrs
  A snowstorm threatens the best piggy buds with separation at Christmas eve, but fortunately a kindly passerby—red-clad, driving a sleigh—gives Toot a lift home.  (BCCB 11/01)
  
  
• Kennedy, X. J.  The Beasts of Bethlehem; illus. by Michael McCurdy.  McElderry, 1992.  Gr. 3-5.
  Eminent poet Kennedy gives voices to the animals gathered around the baby in this collection of poems that are compact, reverent, and wise, while McCurdy’s colored woodcuts add intriguingly timeless visuals.  (BCCB 12/92)
  
  
• Kvasnosky, Laura McGee.  Zelda and Ivy One Christmas; written and illus. by Laura McGee Kvasnosky.  Candlewick, 2000.  Gr. 1-3
  These fox sisters return in a seasonal chapter-book outing that treats the holiday from cooking to craving loot to considering those less fortunate.  (BCCB 12/00)
  
  
• McPhail, David.  Henry Bear’s Christmas; written and illus. by David McPhail.  Atheneum, 2003.  4-7 yrs
  Two friends, a bear and a raccoon, find that while Christmas-tree shopping may have its setbacks, a good friendship always makes Christmas worth celebrating.  (BCCB 11/03)
  
  
• Palatini, Margie.  Three French Hens; illus. by Richard Egielski. Hyperion, 2005.  6-9 yrs
  As might be expected from this creative team, humor is the hallmark of this bouncy Christmas-and-Hannukah story about three mis-delivered French hens and the fox who hungrily receives them—and then grows fond of them.  (BCCB 11/05)
  
  
• Sharkey, Niamh. Santasaurus; written and illus. by Niamh Sharkey. Candlewick, 2005.  3-5 yrs
  While his brother and sister little dinos are yearning for traditional presents, young Milo’s Christmas dream is to meet Santasaurus himself.  (BCCB 12/05)
  
  
• Thompson, Lauren.  Mouse’s First Christmas; illus. by Buket Erdogan. Simon, 1999.  1-3 yrs
  In this sweet and accessible story, an out-and-about little mouse on Christmas Eve explores the house, finding not only the trappings of Christmas but also the big guy himself. (BCCB 11/99)
  
  
• Ward, Helen, ad.  The Animals’ Christmas Carol; ad. and illus. by Helen Ward. Millbrook, 2001. 4-7 yrs
  Ward takes the carol “The Friendly Beasts” and adds touches of her own, setting verses against a world of paintings that use creative perspectives and gilded touches to glorify animals presented in absorbing realistic detail.  (BCCB 11/01)
  
  
• Wells, Rosemary.  Morris’s Disappearing Bag; written and illus. by Rosemary Wells.  Dial, 1975.  4-6 yrs
  Youngsters will enjoy discovering this old favorite about the youngest in a family of Wells’ illustratogenic rabbits, who finally finds the present that makes him the envy of his older siblings.  (BCCB 11/75)
  

This page was last updated on December 1, 2007.