Death’s Door
Barbara Joosse

More and more, I hear kids (and the folks buying books for kids) ask for “real” stories (AKA non-fiction), so this illustrated non-fiction account of the Great Lakes looks like a real winner

All We Need is Love and a Really Soft Pillow
Peter and Henry Reynolds

After reading this book for story time, I want to give it to every preschooler! I love the message of what’s really important.

Books I'd like to give:

Goddess
Janina Ramirez, illustrated by Sarah Walsh

This beautiful book is an amazing introduction to strong and powerful women from a variety of religions, myths, and cultures. The illustrations are stunning! It’s a great one to broaden one’s horizons in an inclusive way.

Thank a Farmer
Maria Giannnnnferrari, illustrated by Monica Mikai

What does it take to put food on our tables? This lovely book celebrates the people and the work which feed us.

Joy to the World!
Kate DePalma and Sophie Tatus

Explore Christmas traditions from 13 countries around the world.

Books I'd like to give:

Construction Site: Taking Flight!
Sherri Duskey Rink and AG Ford

I love to see kids exposed to engineering at a young age!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer
Jeff Kinney

Love the humor.

A book I'd like to receive:

The Ogress and the Orphans
Kelly Barnhill

This middle grade fantasy sounds wonderful and I hear so many great things about the author so it is high time I pick up one of her books. 

A book I'd like to receive:

Skating Wild on an Inland Sea
Jean E. Pendziwol and Todd Stewart

Wow! That’s all, just wow. The pictures, the story. Wow!

Books I'd like to give:

Merry and Hark
April Genevieve Tucholke, illustrated by Rebecca Santo

When my kids were little, I would buy a new children’s Christmas book for the collection. This is the book I would give them this year.

This is story of a little hawk and a beautiful Norway pine that lived in a forest where all the trees and animals have names. It’s a story of freedom, kindness, and home.

If I was a Horse
Sophie Blackall

This is for someone who wants to be someone else for a while and do whatever they want. The pictures are bright and lively and add depth and detail to the story. I think it’s one to read and re-read.

A book I'd like to receive:

Red & Green
Lois Ehlert

I have a modest collection of children’s Christmas books, and this looks like an intriguing one: die-cuts, the night before Christmas with a humorous twist… could be an instant classic for people like me. Oh, and I’m confident that children visiting me will enjoy it, too!

A book I'd like to give:

Winter: A Solstice Story
Kelsey Gross, illustrated by Renata Liwska

My new great-nephew in Florida won’t see snow for a long time. This book, with animals celebrating the Winter Solstice, would surely fill him with wonder.

The books from the catalog that I would most like to give are the same ones I would most like to receive!

I would love to give these to my youngest grandchildren, and I would love to have them at home to be able to read to them when they visit. Why these? Well, gosh, Amanda Gorman(!) is the author of the first one on the list. And then Ted Kooser (another notable poet) is the subject of the second one. And who does not like to have a picture book about the Winter Solstice on the shelf for winter in Minnesota?

Books I'd like to give and receive:

Ted Kooser: More Than a Local Wonder
Carla Ketner, illustrated by Paula Wallace

Winter: A Solstice Story
By Kelsey Gross, illustrated by Renata Liwska

Books I'd like to give:

How the Grinch Lost Christmas!
Alastair Heim

Who doesn’t want to know what that Grinch is up to now?! I’m looking forward to reading this book with my son this Christmas!

Billy and the Giant Adventure
Jamie Oliver, illustrated by Mónica Armño

Forbidden woods with a secret entrance, friendship, and a mystery surrounding the rhythm of the forest sounds like a great read aloud for my family this winter. My son likes the illustrations, too!

The Lost Library
Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

I’ll be honest—I picked this book up for the cover! My child has since grabbed it and started reading, so I can’t tell you about much past the first couple chapters. When I asked my son, he said, “Mom, it has a cat, books, and ghosts. And cheese. It has to be good!”

Books I'd like to give:

The Lost Library
Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

This would be an excellent book for a young reader who you may be having a tough time choosing for.

The Littlest Yak
Lu Fraser

This is perfect for both youngsters and adults. It would be perfect as a stocking stuffer