It’s time to share Children’s Christmas Books perfect for reading and gifting this season. With just two months to Christmas, I wanted to get a jump on all the new children’s Christmas books available this year. These books are great additions to your library, whether you are looking to add to your collection or maybe start your own Bookish Advent Calendar. Click HERE to see all the Christmas-themed books I’ve previously shared on the blog.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, ZOO
By: Lisa Eickholdt and Lola M. Schaefer
Illustrated by: Laura Watkins
Published: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Fiction
Echoing the classic ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Christmas Eve at the zoo is full of anticipation as well. Santa and the zookeepers work together to surprise all the animals in the zoo. Even though this is a fictional tale, it’s based on real events at various zoos on Christmas Eve because the animals deserve special treats too.
The zookeepers work hard to check all the lists and gather all the supplies to decorate and create special treats for the animals at the zoo. They search for the freshest sweets and yummiest treats that each animal would like.
“We dash to the coolers
for the freshest of sweets-
ripe veggies and fruit,
the yummiest treats!We line up the food
to sliver and slice.
We scoop, plop, and spread!
We cut, chop, and dice!”
With a jovial rhyming text and cartoonish illustrations, kids will naturally get excited to see what the zoo animals receive as gifts. When Santa arrives, the zookeepers help him load all the gifts as he sets out to travel through the zoo making his deliveries. The excitement as the animals receive their gifts is clear in the illustrations on the page. From the kangaroos bouncing around a tree of apples to monkeys finding grapes in a stocking, the zoo animals share in the excitement of Christmas.
An author’s note at the end of the book explains that this type of celebration happens at zoos during the month of December. Zoo staff hang lights and place decorations around the zoo to make it festive for the visitors. But, they also spend a lot of time preparing gifts for the animals. They make sure to give gifts that will be stimulating for the animals to open or gifts that have new scents or special treats and toys to challenge them and add excitement to the animal’s day.
I was surprised that the zoo keepers don’t just drop the gifts off, but stay and watch to make sure the animals are safe. The zoo staff also watch to learn about how the animals interact and/or play with their new treat, taking notes on their behaviors. To make some of the fruit and vegetables extra special, zoo staff will use cookie cutters to slice the food into holiday shapes or create wreaths out of kale and other vegetables. Sometimes staff will even bury the treats so the animals have the joy of digging and finding their treat. Imagine a tree decorated with rings of peppers or clusters of grapes for the animals to enjoy.
All of this preparation and decorating takes a lot of time and effort and many zoos are looking for volunteers to help with these projects. If you live near a zoo, this might be a great activity for your family to engage in during the holiday season.
One of my favorite children’s books was written by Lola M. Schaefer, BECAUSE OF AN ACORN. I highly recommend both of these books by Schaefer as well as her other numerous titles.
Lisa Eickholdt is an educational consultant and former associate professor of literacy education. She lives in northern Georgia.
Lola M. Schaefer is the author of many children’s books and a recipient of the Charlotte Zolotow Honor and the Children’s Choice Book Award. She lives in the mountains of northern Georgia. Check out her website, HERE.
Laura Watkins is an award-winning illustrator and the founder of the fine art shop Watkins Prints. She lives in London.
To purchase a copy of MERRY CHRISTMAS, ZOO, click HERE.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
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Posted Under animals, Book Review, Children's books, Christmas, fiction, Laura Watkins, Lisa Eickholdt, Lola M Schaefer