Review by Booklist Review
PreS. From 10 tiny lights twirled around the tree, this cheerful holiday book counts down to one big, magical Christmas day for families to share. The double-page spreads, with lots of gouache-and-colored-pencil images, may be too packed with detail for the intended audience, and the text begins with rhyme and then unaccountably drops it. But with adult help, the lap-sit crowd will have fun pointing at all the holiday stuff, whether they spot the two jingling silver bells on Santa's sleigh or the nine wrapped, shiny presents. --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2003 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Katz (Counting Kisses) has got kids' number in this sweet counting book that taps into the air of anticipation on Christmas Eve. Three children and their parents prepare for a celebration with all the fixin's-10 lights, nine presents, eight cookies for Santa, etc., which help add up to "one magical day for families and children to share." A mix of collage, gouache and colored pencil creates a kaleidoscope of hues and patterns. With their large heads and minimalist features, Katz's rosy-cheeked, smiling figures have the appealing semblance of sweet-faced baby dolls. Ages 3-6. (Oct.) FYI: Katz brings the same cheerful illustrative style to My First Kwanzaa, a picture-book introduction to the seven principles celebrated during the weeklong festival of African heritage (Holt, $14.95 ages 2-5 ISBN 0-8050-7077-X; Nov.). (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Three young children make the transition from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day by counting backward from 10 to 1. (Perhaps a more apt title would be "Countdown Christmas.") The concept is accentuated by the representation of each number as a numerical expression, as a written word, and as an appropriate quantity of decorative snowflakes. The collage, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations are cheery and have a nice textural feel, with a plethora of seasonal motifs packed into every bit of space. (Some of the layouts have a full page of blank background to the text, allowing for some visual serenity.) The text is brief and lyrical, but is marred by an inconsistent rhyme scheme. Nevertheless, children will enjoy this depiction of a loving family as they carry out their pre-yule preparations and wake up on that magical day.-L. I. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This cozy, alliterative book counts down from ten to one as a family of five (plus a cat and dog) prepare for Christmas. Seven velvet stockings hang above the hearth. Six slippered feet race upstairs to bed. Katz uses collage, gouache, and colored pencil for her illustrations. Without looking cluttered, the eye-catching compositions fill the pages with bright, flat colors and patterns. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
