Days after Thanksgiving, as I drove through our neighborhood with my two little girls, ages 5 and 2, they pointed out the cheerful houses decorated with white twinkly lights, the red and green wreaths and candy cane lawn ornaments, the animatronic deer bending their heads to nibble at the ground, the blow-up penguins, snowmen, and Santas. My two-year old sighed heavily as she looked out the window. “Mom? See the Christmas? Our house is NOT Christmas.”

It’s true. Though I actually remembered to replace my Halloween wreath with a harvest-themed one, I can hardly believe it’s time to replace it with an evergreen. I’ve gone from raising my eyebrow at our ambitious neighbor hanging lights in August to fearing I’ll be dangling from the side of the house on December 21st, stringing lights in 20 degree weather.

No, our house is not Christmas. Yet. But I remembered the sage advice from Buddy, the lovable character from the movie, “Elf”: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Thanks to the local radio station that begins playing Christmas music the day after Halloween, I cranked up the stereo and we all felt a little more Christmas.

So, to get us all in the spirit of the season, we are featuring a book that takes its title from the well-known, much-loved Christmas song, “Jingle Bells.” In Iza Trapani’s version, Jingle Bells begins traditionally with laughing happily through snow-covered fields, but then takes us on a magic ride around the world for a peek at the celebrations in other cultures. Your little reader will enjoy Trapani’s warm, colorful illustrations of the Polish family dining by candlelight and the smiling faces of the children in Kenya, the Phillippines, and Italy. Older readers will enjoy reading Trapani’s postscript, which explains more fully the traditions highlighted throughout the book. As you BookChat, discuss how your family traditions compare with those in the book or favorite customs you remember from your childhood.

And don’t be surprised if you and your readers spontaneously burst into song between verses (who can resist singing the chorus of “Jingle Bells”?). Whether your lights are hung or you’re still waiting to deck the halls, reading (and singing!) together is the perfect way to be Christmas with those you love.

Special thanks to Charlesbridge for making Jingle Bells available to read with your loved ones throughout the holiday season.

Don’t miss three NEW holiday additions to the Readeo library:

• Ricky’s Christmas Tree, by Guido van Genechten
• Little Snowman Stan, by Guido van Genechten, and
• Kevin’s Christmas, by Liesbet Slegers

Log in today or sign up for a free guest account to read our other holiday books, including:

• Angela and the Baby Jesus, by Frank McCourt
• Auntie Claus: Home for the Holidays, by Elise Primavera
• Bear’s First Christmas, by Robert Kinerk, illustrated by Jim LaMarche
• The Child in the Manger, by Liesbet Slegers
• The Christmas Baby, by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
• Christmas Delicious, by Lyn Loates, illustrated by Mark Jones
• Great Joy, by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
• Hanukkah Haiku, by Harriet Ziefert
• Ho, Ho, Ho Tucker, by Leslie McGuirk
• The Little Matchstick Girl, by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Debbie Lavreys
• The Little Red Elf, by Barbara Barbieri McGrath, illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet
• Looking for Christmas, by Peggy van Gurp
• Maisy’s Snowy Christmas Eve, by Lucy Cousins
• Olivia Helps with Christmas, by Ian Falconer
• Snow! Snow! Snow!, by Lee Harper
• Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star, by Petr Horacek
• Winter Trees, by Carole Gerber, illustrated by Leslie Evans

Happy reading–and happy holidays to you and yours,

Kristen

As a child, did you ever dream of owning an exotic pet, like a tiger or a giraffe? I wholeheartedly sang along with Gayla Peevey,“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” and thought she made it sound so practical and reasonable. And she’d apparently done her research, too: the hippo was clearly no danger (being a vegetarian) and there was plenty of room to house him in the two-car garage (where she could also give him a massage).

Why have a cat or a hamster, my small self reasoned, when I could have a hippo instead?

In November’s featured title, Me and My Dragon by David Biedrzycki, the little boy decides that–while it’s okay for some kids to want a dog or a cat–for him, only a dragon will do. Readers of all ages will appreciate this imaginative and charming exploration of what it would be like to own such an exotic, fire-breathing pet.

The adorable, bright red dragon starts out small, showcased in the window of “Eddie’s Exotic Pets,” hilariously grouped with a tiny chihuahua and two concerned-looking puppies. But the adventure grows, along with the dragon, as the pair goes camping (fire-breathing dragons are perfect for making s’mores), trick-or-treats, and even helps the community by clearing some snowy driveways.

Parents wishing to raise only the most responsible pet-owners will also appreciate the little boy’s attentiveness to his new pet, which includes a check-up at the vet, daily walks, filling Sparky’s bowl with “Dragon Chow,” and regular bathtimes. Ask your readers to look for the tiny animal Biedrzycki has hidden on almost every page, and while BookChatting, talk about what kind of exotic pet they’d like to have. Discuss what kind of care a dinosaur would need, or where they’d keep their pet rhinoceros.

Log in to read or Bookchat with Me and My Dragon, and don’t forget to check out our Facebook page. Let me know what you think of November’s Book of the Month and share reading activities with other Readeo fans. I’d love to hear from you!

A special thank you to Charlesbridge for making this book available to read for free during November.

The month of October means digging out warm sweaters, enjoying the brilliant golds and blazing reds of changing leaves, plump harvest pumpkins, crisp apples and pink cheeks. And of course, October brings the excitement and anticipation of a very special holiday–especially for children–Halloween.

Our October featured title, The Little Green Witch by Barbara Barbieri McGrath and illustrated by Martha Alexander, pays homage to the classic tale, “The Little Red Hen,” but with a humorous and spooky twist. Children will enjoy following the little green witch as she completes her “unhousework,” her list of unconventional chores that include hanging the cobwebs, dirtying the laundry, and pulling those “unsightly flowers” from the garden.

Alas, our little green witch works alone at her tasks, despite her continual requests for help from her lazy companions. As you BookChat, invite your little readers to come up with their own list of “unhousework”, or ask older readers whether they can guess the surprise ending. With delightful illustrations and expressive descriptions (have you ever “grouched,” “grumped,” “groaned” or “growled” about doing your chores?), this book invites multiple readings. (And while you’re at it, can you spot the Mickey Mouse mug, the discarded eyeglasses, and the hen-shaped cookie jar?).

Please log in to our Facebook page and tell me how you enjoyed The Little Green Witch –and share any of your own reading activities! I’d love to hear from you.

A special thank you to Charlesbridge for providing this entertaining book–for free!–through the month of October.

Log in today and enjoy some of our other featured titles offered free throughout October:

• Over in the Hollow, by Rebecca Dickinson, illustrated by Stephan Britt
• Haunted Party, by Iza Trapani
• Alice and Greta, by Steven J. Simmons, illustrated by Cyd Moore
• Jeepers Creepers, by Laura Leuck, illustrated by David Parkins

And don’t miss our other seasonal titles:

• Hello, Bumblebee Bat, by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne
• Mercy Watson Princess in Disguise, by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
• By the Light of the Harvest Moon, by Harrriet Ziefert, illustrated by Mark Jones

September is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors before fall and the cool temperatures set in. Rick & Rack and The Great Outdoors illustrates some of the fun there is to be had in spending time with friends, family, and Mother Nature.

In this entertaining series of short stories by expert illustrator and author Ethan Long, Rick the moose invites his friend Rack the raccoon to fish, hike, and canoe together. Each short story comes with a small (and sometimes big) surprise and humourous resolution.

Following the style of a comic strip, Rick & Rack is a great book for early or timid readers. With the simple story line, descriptive illustrations, simple text and engaging stories, readers have mentioned it’s perfect for reading to your children, or allowing 6-8 year old readers to have fun reading aloud to you. The stories are sure to entertain both child and adult as you follow the adventurous moose and timid raccoon on their trip through the woods.

A special thanks to Blue Apple Books for providing September’s Book of The Month.

Can you believe the summer is almost over!? Time is flying by and school is almost here—maybe it already is for some of you.

Whatever schedule you might be on, children all over the world are about to step into new classrooms, onto new playgrounds, and into new adventures. And when they do, they’ll be meeting new people and making new friends.

Most of us remember the first day of the new school year as an exciting, if not intimidating, time—unsure of ourselves and our new surroundings, and hoping that we’ll fit in. Our August Book of the Month tackles this situation head-on through the story of Crow.

With his “pitch-black” feathers and towering height, our friend Crow looks scary to the other colorful birds around. In an effort to make new friends, Crow tries to be what he thinks the trio of birds wants him to be, and discovers he just needs to be himself.

With beautiful artwork and a good lesson for all of us, renowned illustrator Leo Timmers shows us that we each have our own talents to offer, and that being ourselves is really the only way to be. Crow is sure to be a favorite among children who may soon find themselves in similar situations as they head back to school to meet new teachers and classmates.

Read Crow free throughout the month of August as our featured Book of The Month. Sign up as a Free Guest for access to this and other great children’s books—and read them with the children you love, no matter how far away they might be.

Special thanks to Clavis Publishing for making Crow available for free all month long on Readeo.