New Christmas Classic Picture Books

Five great new Christmas picture books.

There are plenty of classic holiday picture books out there. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs and Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh immediately come to mind. But there are plenty of new Christmas picture books to choose from. After all, Christmas is the season for giving, and publishers keep giving us new Christmas books (because they sell!).

Here are a few Christmas picture books I've thoroughly enjoyed.

1. Bad Kitty Christmas – Nick Bruel returns to the picture book format that launched Bad Kitty in the first place. This time, he spins two stories into one book, the first featuring Bad Kitty’s antics early on Christmas morning told, as always, with a romp through the alphabet. The second finds Kitty on his own, with no place to go for Christmas, until he finds a caring stranger. Christmas gains a new and heartwarming meaning for both of them.
2. Pete the Cat Saves Christmas -- Author Eric Litwin uses his rhythmic abilities to set a new Pete the Cat story to The Night Before Christmas. Santa’s sick and Christmas could be cancelled. It’s up to an enthusiastic Pete the Cat to deliver all the presents – and in the spirit of Christmas, he gives it his all. Illustrated by James Dean.
3. Charlie and the Christmas Kitty -- Poor Charlie. Everyone’s favorite ranch dog gets a Christmas present he didn’t want – a cat! If your child balks at socks or sweaters or that thing they can’t figure out from Aunt Gertrude, then this book could teach them to appreciate it (even if it’s not as a kitten!). Written by Ree Drummond and Illustrated by Diane deGroat.
4. Turkey Claus -- In this sequel to Turkey Trouble, Turkey’s still in trouble. He may have survived Thanksgiving, but now Edna wants turkey for Christmas dinner! Can Santa get him out of trouble? What’s our intrepid turkey to do? Written by Wendy Silvans and illustrated by Lee Harper.
5. How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?-- This series from author Jane Yolen and illustrator Mark Teague is a picture book phenomenon. If your little reader already knows How Dinosaurs Say Goodnight or I Love You, then this book is a great fit in the series. I mean really, Christmas wasn’t even around yet, so how did they say “Merry Christmas!”? And I know this one’s a week late, but there’s also a How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah book, too.

 

So if you haven't picked up a Christmas picture book for your little reader(s) and are looking for something fun that they'll probably want to read next year (or they just like cats), try one of these new Christmas classics.

Determination: Moving From Writer to Author

A writer is one who writes. An author is one who is published.

 

That’s a pretty common and accepted distinction. Plenty of people write, far fewer are published. For some people, making that leap is as easy as a stroll across the back nine, for others it requires building a whole new course. Regardless of the route, crossing the chasm requires two things:

 

1. Finishing the work. This one’s mandatory.
2. Submitting your work. When it's ready. Someone might stumble upon it, but they still have to read it. And like it. And be willing to put up money. 

But there’s one other quality: Determination. Drive. Yes, to do the above two, but also to study, research, know your craft, your genre. Participate. Be involved.

 

In short, to be immersed.

 

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, right after realizing that I’ve probably spent my entire first advance going to conferences and book events. And I also realizing it’s worth it. I have to be there professionally and personally.

 

But here’s where it gets muddled. Writers Conferences are a given. Writers go to get better, but mostly they go to gain access to editors and agents. Smart move. But why don’t they ever seem to be at the book events: 1. Doing the same and 2. Supporting authors. Soaking up the ambience. Learning.

 

In short, immersing themselves.

 

I belong to two writers groups (Eastern NY SCBWI and the Glens Falls Writers Group) and several defunct groups. Total membership for all the groups combined? More than 100. And yet I saw one writer – and the same writer at that – at all the book festivals and signings I’ve been to lately (see the Empire State Book Festival and the Hudson Children’s Book Festival entries).

 

I find myself freely talking to authors, watching them work, seeing who's selling books, how they’re selling them, what presentations move and which drag. But beyond that – far beyond that – I simply have to be there. I’m going this weekend to see Jane Yolen* and Mark Teague at Open Door Books in Schenectady . Why? Because I have to. I can’t explain it. Just like I had to see Hemingway’s house when I was in Key West . Some things you have to do.

 

Being around books is mine. I wish more writers looking to make the leap to author felt the same way. Maybe more of them would be published if they were Driven. Determined. Immersed.

 

And no, I’m not published yet. But I feel like I’m getting ever closer (see the Pocono SCBWI entry). But until then – and I’m sure after then, too – I’ll enjoy the next festival as much as the next conference – not to network, but to be surrounded by writers and readers who share my passion: books.

 

“Writers are not paid for their words. They are paid for their perseverance.”

*Jane Yolen says writing is a matter of 

"butt in chair." Don't make the mistake of using

book festivals to get out of writing. If anything,

write twice as much. Keep writing until you're

behind one of those tables selling your book.

Who knows? I might be there to buy it from you.

What's the last book festival you went to? Who did you go to see? What did you buy?