Librarians offer tips on books for kids at Christmas

With such a bewildering array of choices, picking children’s books for holiday gift giving can be tricky. And often the most heavily marketed and conspicuously displayed volumes have the least to offer in story or artistic quality.

Anne Mundy, head of children’s services at the Bangor Public Library, and Laurie Rose, youth services librarian at Orono Public Library, were kind enough to make recommendations to help out parents.

Mundy highly recommends “The Story of Holly and Ivy” by Rumer Godden, illustrated by Barbara Cooney. “It’s such a beautiful story. My husband reads it to me every year at Christmas. It’s a family tradition.”

Maurice Sendak’s “The Nutshell Library” contains four of his most popular books: “Chicken Soup with Rice,” “Alligators All Around,” “Pierre” and “One Was Johnny.” They’re “wee books,” perfect to tuck into a diaper bag or backpack for those inevitable waits at restaurants or doctors offices. Mundy spends time now and then reading the library’s set. “They’re so dear. I’d love to own one of them. The stories are so nice.”

As far as Christmas themed books, Mundy finds Robert Sabuda’s “The Christmas Alphabet” enchanting. It’s the kind of paper sculpture pop-up book that young and not-so-young children find irresistible. (Mundy notes that this book is exquisitely beautiful and very delicate. If you plan to buy it for a child, examine it carefully. Kids do not always handle books in just the way the manufacturers intend them to. If your child is very young, this might be a good book to buy and save for another year.)

Mundy feels that poetry is great for holiday giving. For school-age children she recommends Shel Silverstein’s “A Light in the Attic,” “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “Falling Up” as books kids will return to again and again. “It means so much for a child to have them.”

She thinks Mother Goose is great for younger children. “Some people think they’re much too violent. But I still think the rhythm works and the imagery is magical. They’re a rich part of our cultural heritage. It would be a shame if they weren’t passed on to the next generation.”

For older children, Mundy recommends Holling C. Hollings’ “Paddle to the Sea” and Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” series.

Rose suggests buying a book a child can keep forever rather than a one-time read. Like Mundy, she recommends poetry, noting that a child can come back to it again and again, gaining new insights every time. She’s also partial to Mother Goose for the very young.

The classics are high on Rose’s list — particularly Robert McClosky books. “They’re great for out-of-state grandchildren to give them a flavor of Maine.”

Rose is excited about reissues of older books that make them available to the younger generation. The “Wizard of Oz” series can be purchased in very affordable paperback copies. Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” has been reissued with illustrations by Wendall Minor. And Simon and Schuster has just brought out a new version of Rachel Field’s 1930 Newbery Medal winner, “Hitty, Her First Hundred Years.” “It’s a really nice Maine book.”

Rose finds that books in series are especially popular with children of all ages. Giving one book in a series may cause a child to want to read the whole series. Scholastic has come out with three historical fiction collections. Their largest and oldest, the “Dear America” series, fictional diaries of young women in fascinating periods of our nation’s history, is very popular with young Orono Public Library patrons. Their new and growing “My Name Is America” series can be an answer to prayers for parents who have lamented, “Where is good historical fiction for boys?” And they have just started a new series about Europeon monarchy, “The Royal Diaries.” All three series come in beautiful volumes that nicely meet Rose’s criteria of lasting quality.

When Rose asked older children what books they would like to receive, the Harry Potter series was most requested.

If book store prices are too high, try school book fairs, clubs, and church rummage sales. Good luck in finding the book that’s just right for every child on your list!