Hanukkah Haiku
By Harriet Ziefert
Illus by Karla Gudeon
Haiku is a form of Japenese poetry. "Hanukkah Haiku" celebrates each night of Hanukkah with a separate poem. With every turn of the different sized pages a new candle is lit, one by one, until all eight are blazing brightly. The family celebrates with dreidels, latkes, gifts, stories and dancing. The simple poems and delightful illustrations make a fun celebration of Hanukkah. (Ages 4-8)

How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?
By Jane Yolen
Illus by Mark Teague
Little dinosaurs can sometimes be hard to handle - they make messes, misbehave and act up in the car, but their mamas and papas still always love them. This humorous and brightly illustrated book shows the special love between parents and children, and the magic of three special words - I love you! (Ages 4-8)

Out of This World: The Amazing Search for an Alien Earth
By Jacob Berkowitz
Is there life on other planets in our universe? Could there be another Earth somewhere with people just like us? Or could there be a completely different planet with life forms very different from us? This book is packed with stories, activities and outer-space facts. Today, scientists are searching for an Alien Earth, a whole planet that can support life. You'll meet these scientists and find out what tools they use to spot faraway planets. Are you ready for an out of this world experience! (Ages 9-12)

Secrets of a Christmas Box
By Steve Hornby
It's Christmas time and the family has just put up the tree and all the ornaments. Larry, a snowman, and the other "Tree-Dwellers" have awakened after their long sleep since being put away last Christmas. Everyone is visiting and catching up, but when Larry can't find his brother, he gets worried. Larry, his friends Debbie and Tinsel, and a newcomer Splint, break the laws of the Tree Elder and climb down the tree to look for clues in the house. Larry and his friends find the Christmas Box, and what they discover inside is terrifying. They've uncovered a dreadful secret, but can they make it back to the tree in time to warn the rest of the dwellers? A fun Christmas fantasy for the holidays. (Ages 9-12)

Snowy Sports: Ready, Set, Play!
By Per-Henrik Gurth
Do you like snowy sports? Join this cast of daredevil animal characters as they try out all types of snow sports like skiing, snowboarding, luge, hockey, bobsledding and more. Then brush off the snow and warm up with a steaming cup of hot cocoa! Young readers will enjoy the bright, snow sports in action illustrations. (Ages 4-8)

The Secret of St. Nicholas
By Ellen Nibali
Illus by Lon Eric Craven
"Long ago when Christmas was new, there was no St. Nicholas. Most people had never even heard of Christmas." But a boy named Nicholas who lived near a great blue sea, did know the Christmas story, and he loved hearing over and over again the story of Jesus' birth in a manger. Soon Nicholas' parents died and left him with just three bags of gold. He hid the gold and went into the village to earn his way. Nicholas watched as a greedy merchant spent all his money and was left with no other choice but to sell one of his daughters into slavery. Nicholas didn't want that to happen, so he secretly left one bag of gold at the merchants house. But soon that gold was gone and Nicholas left more until it was all gone, and the merchant's daughters were safe from slavery. But the merchant learned of Nicholas's generosity, and soon the whole world knew of Saint Nicholas and his generous deeds. A wonderful story about the power of kindness. (Ages 4-8)

The Seeing Stick
By Jane Yolen
Illus by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini
Young Hwei Ming, the only daughter of the emperor of China, has been blind since birth. The emperor is very sad and offers a reward of jewels for the person who can help his daughter to see. People come from far and wide, but no one can help the princess. Then one day an old man with a strange seeing stick shows up at the palace gates. The old man touches the faces of the guards and the princess and carves them into his seeing stick. Then he tells them the story of his journey with his stick. He guides Hwei Ming's hands over the stick and then over her own face. Hwei Ming is thrilled to discover there is more than one way to see the world. This enchanting tale with it's magical illustrations open up a whole new world of seeing. (Ages 4-8)

Under the Star: A Christmas Counting Book
By Jane Yolen
Illus by Vlasta van Kampen
This beautifully illustrated Christmas counting book counts from one to ten as the mothers, fathers, children, shepherds, wise men and all the animals follow the bright shining star to the manger on the night of Jesus's birth. A wonderful book for young readers that combines counting and Christmas! (Ages 4-8)