Ivereadthis Jr. Edition: Christmas Picture Books for 2023 Holiday Season

I received close to 10 holiday picture books for review this year, but I’ve been picky and gave away a few, while I also siphoned off a few to highlight for my radio segment. I chose to highlight these 3 books because they were some of my kids’ favourites (cats make an appearance in each of them), and they didn’t want me to use them in my media giveaways.

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

This was the clear favourite of my kids among all the books I received for the holidays. I’m not sure they recognized the illustrations from other Barnett/Klassen books we have, but I suspect it was the humourous expressions on the characters that drew them in. I have an adorable picture of my oldest reading this book to my youngest, and when she goes ahead and just starts reading to him, I know it’s because they are both eager to sit down and explore it, and don’t want to wait around for me to read it at bedtime.

They love it because it’s fully of silly suggestions of how exactly Santa gets into houses, especially those without chimneys – does he flatten himself and slide under the door? Does a reindeer push him through the mail slot? The ideas get more and more ridiculous, but what I found most funny was the pictures of reindeer, waiting for Santa to do his thing, standing on their two hind legs and holding a coffee mug – because they would get bored, wouldn’t they? This one’s perfect for kids aged 4-8, but kids even younger than 4 will still enjoy it as there is very little text on each page so it goes quickly.

The Twelve Hours of Christmas by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Bea Jackson

Written in the style of the Christmas carol “Twelve Days of Christmas”, this book details the 12 hours of Christmas Day and all the fun that comes along with it, including a large family gathering. It begins with one kitten under the Christmas tree, two twin boys dressed up as dinosaurs, three French toasts for breakfast , etc. Each page brings a new verse to the song, with the expected repetition of the previous lines, so there’s not much text on each page, making it great for young kids. My 8-year-old enjoyed singing the words along with me, so it could stretch into the older kids too if you involve them in the singing.

My kids really enjoyed the pictures because each page has a hiding kitten you need to seek out, and I liked the book because it accurately displays the chaos and joy of having a big group of extended family over: grandpa sleeping, the kids chasing each other around, little ones sticking their tongue out at the veggie dishes, and on and on. The story features a black family, and representations of racialized families at Christmastime is something we are starting to see more of in books for kids, which I’m happy to see. Last year I reviewed a picture book featuring a black Santa Claus (Mrs. Claus actually) so I’m hopeful this will become more common.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree by Vikki VanSickle and Miki Sato

I’m always excited when a new book by Vikki VanSickle comes out because my kids always enjoy her stories and the illustrators they pair her with always do a fantastic job. Her latest release is about the beloved tradition of decorating a Christmas tree, and examining how the ornaments tell a story about one’s life. A little girl is decorating her tree with her parents and Uncle, and they come across ornaments from when she was a baby, her late grandmother’s ornament, and her baby brother’s ornament that she puts on the tree for him because he’s too young still. The tree becomes a symbol of their family’s origins, including the time before her parents had kids (an unfathomable period for most children).

It’s a nice story to read, but what makes this book memorable are the accompanying pictures made of cut paper and fabrics, known as collage illustrations. From the textured fabric of the girl’s sweatshirt to the popcorn garlands hanging on the tree, each page contains enough detail to not only keep a child of any age engaged (adults included), but the images are so life-like it feels like you are right there in the living room with them, decorating their tree and thinking about loved ones and the legacy they’ve left behind, symbolized by an ornament that gets displayed only once a year.

Like the other books above, this story is firmly rooted in one’s home; how it makes you feel, what makes it your own, and the cozy feeling one gets in just rooting oneself down in the familiar. With such a strong focus on the home, it’s no wonder that cats appear in all three books, winding their way around the trunks of the Christmas trees, or poking their head into the branches of twinkling lights. Makita was kind enough to let me take this picture today – when our Christmas tree comes out, she almost always sleeps under the tree, but only when it’s lit! Happy Holidays :)