The holiday countdown begins...!

With promises of snow for this coming weekend, it's beginning to look a little bit like...Christmas here in the Square! It's hard to believe -- as a little boy looking at our turkey stories in the chapter book room said so yesterday: "But it's just been Halloween!" Yet we have crates full of adorable polar bears in bows and tiny rattle Santas practically bleating to be stocking stuffers. Some of you may have noticed the appearance of bookcases, bedecked with green and red, already displaying the newest in Christmas and Hanukkah books and activity kits. It has only just begun, so be prepared for all kinds of holiday goodies from sweet (Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit Holiday Collection in a red and gold box set) to funny (Lemony Snicket's Lump of Coal, winging its cheeky way to us as I write).

What better way to jumpstart your holiday spirit than with an advent calendar (or two, if you really need that sugar kick)? We have traditional manger scenes, a fold-out Nutcracker stage, and all kinds of sticker and chocolate ones, too. One of these days I'm going to break down and get the 24 Penguins Before Christmas calendar, regardless of my kitchen's red schemata. It's a pop-up! It has at least one penguin per day! What more could you want from life? (visions of singing chocolate penguins that pay my bus fare...move over, sugar plums.)


If you're trying to just take it one holiday at a time, we still have pilgrim bears, harvest beanbags (no matter how many people try to tell me it's a pear, it's a squash to me), and of course, a range of Thanksgiving stories. Early and middle readers everywhere can rejoice over Peggy Parish's new book, Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey, as well as old standbys It's Thanksgiving! by Children's Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky and The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater. A particular staff favorite is Lydia Maria Child's poem Over the River and Through the Woods, illustrated with gorgeous woodcuts from Christopher Manson.


In addition to holiday joy in all shapes and sizes, be sure to keep your eye out for some new features right here, we three wise monkeys are cooking up a few tricks and treats for you.