LazyDayLit's December 2021 Reading Wrap Up

Goodbye December 
AND GOODBYE 2021!!! 

This has been... another year. 
I wish I could say it was better but at least I can say it wasn't worse.

I'm going to keep this short because ugggh I just want this year to be over. 
Here's hoping for a better year in 2022! 

Happy reading
&
Happy New Year! 

Book Reviews Shared on Lazy Day Literature in December:

Christmas, Here I Come by DJ Steinberg (pic book)
The Toys' Christmas by Claire Clement (pic book)
Beneath the Trees: Winter Chills by DAV (pic book)
A Christmas Too Big by Colleen Madden (pic book)
Dasher by Matt Tavares (pic book)
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper (pic book)
The Little Owl and the Big Tree by Jeanette & Jonah Winter (pic book)

Books Read in December:

Chapter Books read to my daughter:

CHALLENGE PROGRESS

ABC CHALLENGE

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AUG: 0
SEPT: +2 (K, N)
OCT: +1
NOV: 0
DEC: 0


POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE

AUG:
SEPT: +0
OCT: +0
NOV:
DEC:


52 BOOKS CHALLENGE

AUG:
SEPT: +2
OCT: +1
NOV: 
DEC:



NEW TO ME AUTHORS

Ivy Noelle Weir
Julia Quinn
Mark Manson


READ AROUND THE WORLD

__________________________________

What was your favorite read of the month?



You can keep up with what we are reading at @LazyDayLit on Bookstagram! 

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Kaleidoscope by Brian Selznick (Middle Grade Fantasy Book Review)

Kaleidoscope
by Brian Selznick
Published by Scholastic
on September 21, 2021
Genre: Middle Grade, Magical Realism, Fantasy
Length: 208 pages
Ages: 10 - 18 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
A ship. A garden. A library. A key.
In Kaleidoscope, the incomparable Brian Selznick presents the story of two people bound to each other through time and space, memory and dreams. At the center of their relationship is a mystery about the nature of grief and love which will look different to each reader. 


My Thoughts:

This is a beautiful collection of short stories that are all a bit like a kaleidoscope when read together; moving from one idea or thought or dream to another, all told by a narrator and including the narrator's special friend, James. All are dreamlike, fantastical,  and even a little spooky at times, but all are short and spectacular.

Each story has an illustration to match or 'head' it and each story is also separated by the others by a beautiful kaleidoscope image, each as unique and beautiful as the others. 

I've loved everything I've read by Selznick to date so I was extra excited to read this! It is a little different than what I'm used to from him, aside from the illustrations, but it's such a beautiful collection with a lot of magical realism and intrigue.

The author wrote this while isolated and separated by their partner during the Covid19 pandemic and while each story is beautiful in its own way, there is definitely a pang of sadness and longing in these stories. 

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The Little Owl and the Big Tree: A Christmas Story by Jeanette & Jonah Winter (Children's Picture Book Review)

The Little Owl and the Big Tree
by Jonah Winter
Published by Beach Lane Books
on October 9, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holiday
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 3 months to 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
One Christmas, a tiny owl stuck in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stole the hearts of the nation. Discover the true story in this heartwarming picture book from celebrated mother-son team Jonah and Jeannette Winter.

There once was an owl who lived in a tree. Until one day her home was uprooted and she was taken far away from what she knew. Follow Rockefeller ("Rocky") the owl as she journeys to the bustling center of New York City and she's discovered among the branches of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. With human kindness and a dash of holiday spirit, can this brave little owl find a new home?


My Thoughts:

 This is the true story of an adorable little Northern Saw-whet Owl that found it's home uprooted and shipped off to New York City where it would become the famous annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree! Dubbed Rockefeller, or "Rocky", the cute little adult owl was luckily discovered and removed to a wildlife center where she was nursed back to health and released back into the wild.  And now we have a wonderful Christmas story all about it! 

With bold and colorful illustrations, this picture book makes a great addition to any book advent or holiday story time. 
The simple text makes this a perfect 'easy read' for little readers or just a quick story to listen to during the most festive time of the year! 

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The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper & Carson Ellis (Children's Picture Book Review)

The Shortest Day
Written by Susan Cooper
 Illustrations by Carson Ellis
Published by Candlewick Press
on October 22, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Seasons
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
In this seasonal treasure, Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper's beloved poem heralds the winter solstice, illuminated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis's strikingly resonant illustrations. 

So the shortest day came, 
and the year died...

As the sun sets on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. 
Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper's poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before -- and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. 


Our Thoughts:

Welcome, Yule! 

  Celebrate the winter solstice and the Yuletide season with this fantastic picture book version of Susan Cooper's poem, "The Shortest Day." 

Paying homage to our ancestors and other people of the past, The Shortest Day shares the traditions of celebrating the sun that have endured through the ages, such as lighting candles in the trees and decorating with evergreens or keeping a roaring fire throughout the night and greeting the rising sun.

What better way to celebrate the first day of winter and the rebirth of life than to welcome the sun?! I love the simplicity of celebrating and welcoming the seasons with traditions of old and also love that so many of them overlap other religions/spiritualities so that no matter what you celebrate, there's something festive to look forward to for us all. 

I'll admit that I've yet to see a theatrical production of "The Shortest Day" but it sounds absolutely delightful! 


Do you celebrate the first day of winter?

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Dasher by Matt Tavares (Children's Holiday Picture Book Review)

 

Dasher
by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick Press
on September 10, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holidays
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
From the celebrated creator of Red and Lulu comes the story of a brave little doe who meets Santa and changes Christmas forever. 

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life--one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It's not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh--a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same. 


Our Thoughts:

Dasher is a beautifully illustrated tale of one of Santa's reindeer and how she went from pulling wagons in a traveling circus to pulling Santa's sleigh!

Dasher was born into a traveling circus and menagerie with her reindeer family and was told stories of the North Star and the cool, snowy winter as she grew so when faced with a chance to escape, Dasher seizes it and heads north where she meets a man in a red suit and an old horse named Silverbell that is trying to deliver toys to children but is stuck in the snow. Can Dasher help the joyful man? And will her Christmas wish come true?

This potential classic is perfect for the Christmas holiday season and shows us a new side to one of our most beloved but often overlooked characters. 

The illustrations and framed text have a very classic style that reminds me of greats like The Night Before Christmas and The Polar Express and will make this a family favorite for years to come! 

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A Christmas Too Big by Colleen Madden (Children's Picture Book Review)

A Christmas Too Big
by Colleen Madden
Published by Two Lions
on November 2, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holidays
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
A little too much Christmas cheer...

Kerry's family goes completely beserk with Christmas every year. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, her home becomes a whirlwind of lights, music, and elves, elves, elves!

Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming.

But will anyone in her crazy Christmas house understand? Join Kerry as she finds her voice in this delightful holiday tale. 


My Thoughts:

Kerry's family goes all out for Christmas every single year, starting the day after Thanksgiving. Her dad becomes a lights master, her mom becomes an all-time Christmas caroler, and her siblings join in as well, but Kerry thinks it's just too much so she heads outside for a walk where she runs into the only neighbor that doesn't seem to be having a Christmas too big.
Her neighbor, Mrs. Flores, is missing her family but shares her own traditions with Kerry and receives a truly special surprise in return. 

This holiday tale will absolutely warm your heart!

This beautifully illustrated picture book is packed full of Kerry's family's Christmas traditions, beginning with plenty of festive activities and excessive decorating that will keep you busy looking at ALL THE THINGS. There's even a page where you can find all Kerry's brother's elves!
 But as Kerry decides to step away from all the bustle, she learns how to have a different kind of Christmas with different traditions and share that joy with her own family. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is a BILINGUAL book! Mrs. Flores speaks Spanish but Kerry translates for us throughout the second half of the book. There's a page near the end that includes lots of Spanish word labels and the end pages share tons more Christmas items in English at the front and then again in Spanish at the back!  

This was such a sweet read with lots of fun and festive art to look at, a heartwarming story that is perfect for any time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and plenty of Christmas-themed Spanish words to learn!

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Beneath the Trees: Winter Chills by DAV (Children's Picture Book Review)

We received a  digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Beneath the Trees: Winter Chills
by DAV
Published by Magnetic Press
on December 14, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Winter is here, and snow covers the woods like a cold blanket. Mr. Fox has his enormous scarf to keep him warm, but it is almost TOO big--he can't help but trip over it and get caught on tree branches all the time. But as embarrassing as that is, it is even more humiliating when trying to catch the eye of a beautiful lady!


Our Thoughts:

Mr. Fox is out on a cold, winter's day but his oversized scarf makes it difficult to avoid branches and slippery slopes. It really doesn't help that a pretty fox is out and about as well and sees him falling on his face. Utterly embarrassed, Mr. Fox trudges off on his way home alone but quickly finds himself in trouble. Will he find the help he needs? 

This is such a cute story about a shy and unfortunate fox that finds a friend after all.

The Disney-inspired illustration style is lovely, with super cute animal characters, and is presented as wordless sequential art. Mr. Fox's misfortune is quite comical and had my six-year-old in hysterics.
There's also a cute little 'romance' added to the thick of the story that balances the comedy quite well. 

I loved that Mister Grumpf, whom we were introduced to in the first book in this seasonal series, The Autumn of Mister Grumpf, had a small cameo in this sequel. I was expecting the story to be about him again and was surprised by the new characters but loved that there is a sense of community within this series so far! 
We are looking forward to seeing what comes in Spring! 

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The Toys' Christmas by Claire Clement (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

The Toys' Christmas
Words by Claire Clement
Illustrated by Genevieve Godbout
Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books
on November 9, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages 
Ages: 3 - 7 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
This cozy, cuddly Christmas story tells how Santa makes sure he leaves the perfect gift for each child--with a little help from their favorite toys! 


My Thoughts:

It's Christmas Eve and Little Noah can't find his favorite toy, an elephant named Fanfan. Why? Because Fanfan is off on a very important errand to deliver Noah's Christmas wish! 

Every year, beloved stuffed animals and other toys take a long journey to the North Pole to deliver their owner's Christmas wishes to Santa Claus. Who else would know a child's most secret wishes? 

This is a magical and heartwarming holiday story that little ones will absolutely adore! With soft, calming illustrations and colors, this picture book is a perfect bedtime story for the holiday season.

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Christmas, Here I Come by DJ Steinberg & Laurie Stansfield (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a copy of this picture book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Christmas, Here I Come!
by D.J. Steinberg
Illustrated by Laurie Stansfield
Published by Grosset & Dunlap
on October 12, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Holidays
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 6 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Celebrate Christmas with a collection of funny and festive poems from the author of the hugely popular Kindergarten, Here I Come!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit! From writing letters to Santa to picking the perfect tree, these heartwarming poems--plus a page of stickers!--from author D.J. Steinberg are sure to delight even the most sullen Scrooge.


Our Thoughts:

Christmas, Here I Come is the perfect book to fill your Little One's days leading up to the most wonderful time of the year!

This festive little book is full of fun poems about Christmas traditions such as choosing the perfect tree, decorating gingerbread houses, writing letters to Santa, and more! There are fun lists with great ideas of things to make or do this time of year and there's even a wonderful poem about what children around the world call Santa Clause!

The illustrations are wonderfully festive but also have a very cozy feel that makes this Winter-based book perfect for cold days stuck inside. 
To top it all off, there's a sheet of cute stickers in the same illustration style at the end of the book that makes this poetic picture book a great gift!



Many, many thanks to Grosset & Dunlap for the review copy of this book! My 6yo loved it and the stickers! 

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LazyDayLit's December 2021 TBR & Reading Goals

Happy December, readers! 


I'm hoping everyone has a lovely, cozy month! 
Happy reading!

Here's some of what I have to choose from this month!


For Review:

Many thanks to Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, Back Bay Books, and Gallery Books for the chance to read these! 

Started but need to finish:

Current Library Loans:

From My Shelves:

I'm hoping to read these with my daughter this year and am really looking forward to it! 

Anything new on your TBR pile this month?

You can keep up with what I am reading over on Bookstagram @LazyDayLit! 

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