The big book of Christmas

This large-format board book gives Christmas newcomers a basic overview of common holiday elements. Saunders's simple, cheerful cartoons gain additional visual interest from digitally collaged fabric textures and large, multicolored circles that serve as a backdrop. Each spread has its own holiday theme ("Christmas dinner!" "Christmas elf!"), which is represented by anywhere from three to eight labeled objects. Religious and secular traditions both get glancing mentions (the "Christmas nativity!" spread features the Three Wise Men, a donkey, a lamb, and an unlabeled picture of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus) in a bare-bones primer for those who are just starting to learn what Christmas is all about. Ages 1-3. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Toddler-PreS-This large board book presents, on eight spreads, all the familiar objects of Christmas (and some unfamiliar to American children, such as figgy pudding and Christmas crackers) in darkly outlined, cheerful cartoon illustrations set against a pastel background dotted with large patterned circles. The effect has plenty of child appeal; however, note that the children depicted dressed up for the Nativity play and singing Christmas carols all happen to be white. VERDICT Pleasant but unnecessary.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.