Friday, November 18, 2016

Christmas Book Advent Countdown with a Selection of Holiday Themed Simon and Schuster Books for Kids (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.




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Last year we started a new Christmas tradition with the girls.  In addition to their chocolate advent calendars they opened each morning, the girls would also take a wrapped book from a stack of 25 we had next to the Christmas tree, for us to read at bedtime that night.  I saw this idea online and fell in love with it, and the girls thought it was the coolest thing, as they like unwrapping gifts, and love getting new books. 

This year we will be doing another Christmas Book Advent Countdown where I will be wrapping an assortment of Christmas and winter-themed books to share with the girls.  With so many wonderful books out there to choose from, I thought I would spend the new few days sharing some of my family's favorites with you from some of our favorite children's book publishers -- that way you can choose 25 you think your family will love and wrap them, so that you can start your own book advent this holiday season with your kids. :-)

I am kicking off my Christmas Book Advent Countdown feature with a handful of holiday-themed books from Simon & Schuster, which I have been sharing with the girls, and they loved.

Simon & Schuster

Eloise Decorates for Christmas
  • Simon Spotlight | 
  • 32 pages | 
  • ISBN 9781481467476 | 
  • September 2016 | 
  • Grades P - 1

About this Book:

"Eloise decorates for Christmas in this hilarious Level 1 Ready-to-Read that’s perfect for emerging readers. How marvelous! 

It is holiday time at the Plaza Hotel! Eloise wants to decorate and find a way to make the Christmas tree super special. Will she be the one to place the star atop the Christmas tree?"

My Thoughts:

Even though we have a handful of Eloise books, the girls are not real big fans of this popular series.  But, this is changing thanks to this and the next few books I will feature below.  We started with this book back on Monday, and the girls couldn't stop giggling as I read through the story and they looked at the illustrations, which showed Eloise making a mess of the decorating at the hotel she lives in. 


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She thought she was helping out the workers by bringing decorations she found in the halls down to the lobby -- but, little did she know they hung them up and she just took them down.  



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And, when she arrives in the lobby with all the decorations she was taking down, she realizes the lobby Christmas tree is missing a star on the top.  So, she takes it upon herself to climb to the top to place a bow she has.  As she climbs to the top, she knocks down all the decorations in the process.  I can just hear the people in the lobby now crying out "Eloise" in anger and frustration.  But, these frustrating parts made my girls fall in love with the clumsy and oh so mischievous Eloise.  


Fans of Eloise will want to add this book to their collection if they haven't already.  And, those not familiar with 6-year old Eloise, will enjoy this quick holiday read.  It is the perfect to Eloise and will get you ready to enjoy these two other Eloise books from the folks at Simon & Schuster...




Eloise Skates!
  • Simon Spotlight | 
  • 32 pages | 
  • ISBN 9781481467490 | 
  • September 2016 | 
  • Grades P - 1 

  • About this Book:

"Join Eloise for some frosty fun at the ice-skating rink in this hilarious Level 1 Ready-to-Read that’s perfect for emerging readers. How marvelous! 

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On a very cold, very snowy winter day, Nanny decides to take Eloise and Weenie ice-skating! But can dogs ice-skate?"


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My Thoughts:


This is the book that got the girls hooked on Eloise.  They kept talking about how clumsy she was and how she is always messing things up, which they thought was funny.  In addition to the story line, my girls loved the illustrations in this book.  We are hoping to take them soon to NYC and this book was great in showing them what NYC and Rockefeller Center looks like this time of year with the tree and ice skating rink.  The girls couldn't believe how beautiful it was -- just seeing the illustrations.  Now, they can't wait to go.  

If you have an Eloise fan in your house, then you will want to share this cute holiday story with them.  
Eloise and the Snowman
  • Simon Spotlight | 
  • 32 pages | 
  • ISBN 9781481467483 | 
  • September 2016 | 
  • Grades P - 1 


About this Book:

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Eloise builds a marvelous snowman in this hilarious Level 1 Ready-to-Read that’s perfect for emerging readers. 

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Eloise loves, loves, loves snow! So when the snow starts to fall in New York City, she rushes outside to have some fun, and makes a snowman as only Eloise can! But what happens when something goes missing?

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My Thoughts:

This was Bella's favorite story.  She can't get enough of the holidays and especially snow and snowmen.  As we were reading this book the first time through she had me go back to a page just to look and comment on the illustrations.  And, when the story was done, she couldn't wait for me to read it again.  

This book has become a staple at bedtime with her, and she is quick at picking up the different sight words in the story, which is making it more fun to read, as she can now help me out reading. :-)

And, here is a non-Eloise book that I thought was so cute and perfect for Christmas...


See Santa Nap
  • Simon Spotlight | 
  • 32 pages | 
  • ISBN 9781481467872 | 
  • September 2016 | 
  • Grades P - K

About this Book:

"Otto helps Santa find a place to rest after a busy night delivering presents in this Pre-level 1 Ready-to-Read by New York Times bestselling author/illustrator, David Milgrim. This is part of the award-winning, star-reviewed The Adventures of Otto series.

See Santa deliver his last present.
See Santa yawn.
See Santa nap.
See Flop bang his new drum.
See Santa wake up!

Poor Santa is exhausted from delivering presents all night, but he can’t find anywhere that’s quiet enough to take a nap. Fortunately for him, Otto knows just the place…

This Pre-level 1 Ready-to-Read with bright illustrations and minimal text is perfect for the true emergent reader"

My Thoughts:

This is a really cute story about Santa needing a nap.  He tries so hard to get some zzz's on a beach/deserted island, but he has different animals coming to wake him and thank him for the gift they left him.  While this is nice, all Santa wants is to sleep.  The waking up of Santa and thank you's continue through the entire story, until the very end, when Santa finally is able to sleep -- just not on the beach like he had hoped.

A very cute holiday read, that little ones especially will like having read to them.  My girls love this book, and I know your kids will, too! :-)

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These are just a handful of over 40 books (yes, and more are still coming in) that I will be sharing with you over the course of the next few days from different publishers.  You are bound to find 25 books that your children will love unwrapping and having you read to them at bedtime.


Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publisher in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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