You'll find a variety of books in my directory of children's books about the holidays. Read about Christmas pop-up books, Kwanzaa books that include recipes and crafts, Hanukkah books, including a poetry book, new Christmas picture books and nonfiction books about the holidays before you buy children's books about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

(Cover art courtesy of Marshall Cavendish)

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Since I love dogs and New York City, I'm particularly pleased with Ankle Soup, which is on my list of recommended children's Thanksgiving books. You'll see some New York sites and get an ankle-high view of Thanksgiving Day with Carlos the French Bulldog in this rhyming picture book. For a quiet after-dinner activity, why not read some children's Thanksgiving books to your kids or do some Thanksgiving crafts. Make a pinecone turkey or do one of the many other Thanksgiving crafts recommended by Family Crafts Guide Sherri Osborn.

(Cover art courtesy of MoJo Inkworks)

Although I love many of the entertaining and quirky children's books by author Roald Dahl, I don't particularly like Fantastic Mr. Fox. I think it is a mean-spirited book, and I am uncomfortable with the derogatory tone of all of the comments about Mr. Fox's human adversaries. The plot of the story is slight, and the book is certainly not of the caliber of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach. The movie version of Fantastic Mr. Fox seems to be quite different in many ways from the book, which in this case, might be a good thing. I would be interested in knowing what you and your kids think of the book and the movie and how you would compare them. I hope you will share your opinions by clicking on "Comments" below and posting a message. Thanks.

The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, has announced the 2009 Award winners. The winner in the Young People's Literature category is Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose, which was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. "How could we not know of this courageous teenager and her remarkable contribution to the U.S. civil rights movement? Phillip Hoose's riveting and intelligent portrait incorporates photographs and other galvanizing primary source illustrations, as well as Claudette Colvin's own voice, to draw the reader fully into 1950s Montgomery." (National Book Foundation).

For information about other awards for children's literature, see my Award Winners / Notable Children's Books directory. Are you more apt to buy children's books if they are award winners? Let me know by clicking on "Comments" below and posting a response. Thank you.