I’m writing this on Christmas Eve. It’s almost time for the gifts to be unwrapped. Along with the toys and clothes, just about everyone on my list is getting a book; the kids are getting a couple.

I gave my son (an eternal Potter fan even in high school!) J.K. Rowling’s The Tales of the Beedle the Bard.

For my two-year-old niece I chose several new Lucy Cousins (Candlewick) books while her four-year-old sister is getting Cynthia Rylant’s Puppies and Piggies (Harcourt) and The Great Gracie Chase (Blue Sky).

My six-year-old niece will read a few Seuss books, including the now 40-year old Yertle the Turtle (Random).

Even the adults on my list are getting books — everything from cookbooks to biography to fast-paced thrillers.

I hope that I get a few new books, too. They are truly the gift that lasts!

Until after the New Year, here’s hoping that the season is bright and filled with good stories!

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
December 24, 2008
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