Impressionistic watercolor illustrations filled with blowing snow and blue-gray skies set a wintry tone in this poetic exploration focusing on the sounds and sights of Christmas Eve, such as a church bell ringing from “an icicle-pointed steeple.” Johnston’s poem uses the word “Noel” in bold type throughout the text to indicate the sound of the church bell, but there are also the sounds of a brass band, sleigh bells and Christmas carols.

It's Christmas Eve and Harold needs a Christmas tree. So, with purple crayon in hand, he sets off to find one. Before long, Harold arives at the North pole, where a snowbound Santa Claus needs his help to save Christmas.

Gr 4-6 - Ross offers 29 handmade gifts for children to create for their families and friends. Most of the materials can be found in the home and often involve recycling items (old felt-tip pen caps, film canisters, laundry-bottle caps, Christmas catalogs). For example, discarded children's socks can be used to make a "Jingle Bell Bracelet" and a cap for a "Snowman Antenna Ball" (useful for locating the car in crowded mall parking lots). The lists of materials are clearly illustrated as are the step-by-step instructions.

Christmas is coming, and Corduroy has a list of gifts he'd like from Santa-until he discovers the true meaning of Christmas is not about train sets and ice skates, but about good friends. Celebrate the season with Corduroy in this Christmas story that is sure to be a holiday read-aloud favorite.

A novella by English author Charles Dickens. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The book was written and published in early Victorian era Britain when it was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at the time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced.