November 29, 2013

A Canadian Christmas Tale: Book List


While there are many who think that the onset of the Christmas season is marked by Black Friday deals, I like to think that pulling Christmas-related tomes off the bookshelf would be a more appropriate way to start off a virtual advent calendar to mark off the days until December 25th.  While some of these books are hard to come by and others are new releases, they are all youngCanLit worthy of reading over this holiday season.  Please enjoy!


PICTURE BOOKS

An Aboriginal Carol
Written by David Bouchard
Illustrated by Moses Beaver
Music by Susan Aglukark
Red Deer Press
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2007

Annie’s Bright Idea: A Christmastime Adventure
Written by Audrhea Lande
Illustrated by Jenny Prest
Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 5-8
2010

Aunt Olga's Christmas Postcards
Written by Kevin Major
Illustrated by Bruce Roberts
Groundwood
40 pp.
Ages 6-9
2005


Baseball Bats for Christmas
Written by Michael Kusugak
Illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka
Annick Press
24 pp.
Ages 6-9
1990

A Bluenose Twelve Days of Christmas
Written by Bruce Nunn
Illustrated by Doretta Groenendyk
Nimbus Publishing
26 pp.
Ages 7-9
2012

Buddy the Bluenose Reindeer and the Boston Christmas Tree Adventure
Written by Bruce Nunn
Illustrated by Brenda Jones
Nimbus Publishing
67 pp.
Ages 4-11
2007


Canadian Jingle Bells
Written by Troy Townsin
Illustrated by Jennifer Harrington
Polyglot Publishing
40 pp.
Ages 6-9
2011

Carl, the Christmas Carp
Written by Ian Krykorka
Illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka
Orca Book Publishers
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2006

Chinook Christmas
Written by Rudy Wiebe
Illustrated by David More
Red Deer College Press
32 pp.
Ages 5 -11
1992

The Christmas Bear  
Written and illustrated by Nathaële Vogel
Scholastic Canada
36 pp.
Ages 3-6
2001


A Christmas Dollhouse
Written and illustrated by Richard Rudnicki
Nimbus
32 pp.
Ages 7-10
2011

Christmas La Pouchinn
Written by Deborah L. Delaronde
Illustrated by Virginia McCoy
Theytus Books
32 pp.
Age 8-10
2010

Christmas Eve Magic
Written by Lucie Papineau
Illustrated by Stéphane Poulin
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2006

The Christmas Orange
Written by Don Gillmor
Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
1998/2003

The Christmas Wind
Written by Stephanie Simpson McLellan
Illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan
Red Deer Press
32 pp.
All ages
2017
Reviewed here

A Coyote Solstice Tale
Written by Thomas King
Illustrated by Gary Clement
Groundwood Books
64 pp.
Ages 5-11
2009

Dashing Through the Snow: A Canadian Jingle Bells
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
2014

Deck the Halls: A Canadian Christmas Carol
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
2016
Reviewed here


Elliot’s Christmas Surprise
Written and illustrated by Andrea Beck
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 2-7
2003

Finding Christmas
Written by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2012

A Forest for Christmas
Written by Michael Harris
Illustrated by Eric Orchard
Nimbus
40 pp.
Ages 6-9
2007

Forever: The Annual Hockey Classic
Written by Roy MacGregor
Illustrated by Brian Deines
Red Deer Press
56 pp.
Ages 7-9
2005

Fox and Squirrel, The Best Christmas Ever
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 2-7
2016
Reviewed here

Franklin's Holiday Treasure
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
128 pp.
Ages 3-7
2002

Gadzooks: The Christmas Goose
Written by Jennifer McGrath Kent
Illustrated by Ivan Murphy
Nimbus Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2010

Hanna Bear's Christmas
Written by Monica Devine
Illustrated by Sean Cassidy
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 2-5
2007

The Huron Carol
Words by Jean deBrébeuf
Illustrated by Frances Tyrrell
Key Porter
32 pp.
Ages 6-12
2006

The Huron Carol
Words by Jean deBrébeuf
Illustrated by Ian Wallace
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
2006

Jack and the Manger: A Christmas Jack Tale
Written by Andy Jones
Illustrated by Darka Erdelj
Running the Goat Books and Broadsides
40 pp.
Ages 4-7
2010

Listen, Said the Donkey: Tales of the First Christmas
Written by Jean Little
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
38 pp.
Ages 3-10
2006

The Little Crooked Christmas Tree
Written by Michael Cutting
Illustrated by Ron Broda
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
19 pp.
Ages 4-9
1990

The Man Who Walked the Earth
Written and illustrated by Ian Wallace
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2003

Merry Christmas: A Canadian Keepsake Collection
Scholastic Canada
176 pp.
Ages 4-9
2009
Incl. The Little Crooked Christmas Tree, Sadie the Ballerina, Moon and Star: A Christmas Story, One Special Tree, Woodland Christmas
Moon and Star: A Christmas Story
Written and illustrated by Robin Muller
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2005

A Moose in a Maple Tree: The All-Canadian 12 Days of Christmas
Written by Troy Townsin
Illustrated by Jennifer Harrington
Polyglot Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 5-7
2008

A Newfoundland Christmas
Written and illustrated by Dawn Baker
Pennywell Books/Flanker Press
21 pp.
Ages 5-8
2011


The Night Before a Canadian Christmas
Written by Troy Townsin
Illustrated by Jennifer Harrington
Polyglot Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 2-10
2011


The Night Before Christmas
Written by Clement Moore
Illustrated by Barbara Reid
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
2013

A Northern Nativity: Christmas Dreams of a Prairie Boy
Written and illustrated by William Kurelek
Random House
48 pp.
Ages 4-8
1976

On a Snowy Night
Written by Jean Little
Illustrated by Brian Deines
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
2013


One Christmas in Lunenburg
Written by Amy Bennet
Illustrated by Don Kilby
James Lorimer
24 pp.
Ages 4-8
2004

One Hundred Shining Candles
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Lindsay Grater
Tundra Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2008

One Special Tree
Written and illustrated by Olena Kassian
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2010

One Splendid Tree
Written by Marilyn Helmer
Illustrated by Dianne Eastman
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2005

Pippin the Christmas Pig
Written by Jean Little
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 3-10
2003

A Porcupine in a Pine Tree
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by Werner Zimmermann
North Winds/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 5-7
2010



Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas: A Safety Guide for Scaredies
Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt
Kids Can Press
80 pp.
Ages 5-8
2012

Silver Threads
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
1996

Snow for Christmas
Written and illustrated by Doretta Groenendyk
The Acorn Press
28 pp.
Ages 4-10
2010

A Star for Christmas
Written and illustrated by Trisha Romance
Tundra Books
40 pp.
Ages 5-10
2007

Steel Drums And Ice Skates
Written by Dirk McLean
Illustrated by Ho Che Anderson
Groundwood Books
32 pp.
Ages 6-9
1996

A Very Hockey Christmas
Written by Gilles Tibo
Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 6-8
2013

Woodland Christmas
Written and illustrated by Frances Tyrrell
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-9
1995

Woodland Nutcracker
Retold by Avril Tyrell
Illustrated by Frances Tyrrell
Key Porter
32 pp.
Ages 6-12
2006








NOVELS

The Best Worst Christmas Present Ever
Written by Budge Wilson
Scholastic
104 pp.
Ages 8-11
1984

Bright Shining Moment
Written by Deb Loughead
Second Story Press
178 pp.
Ages 9-13
2018
Reviewed here


Christmas at Wapos Bay
Written by Jordan Wheeler & Dennis Jackson
Coteau Books
145 pp.
Ages 8-11
2005

The Christmas Demons
Written by Tom Henighan
Stone Flower Press
156 pp.
Ages 12+
2012

A Christmas to Remember: Tales of Comfort and Joy (Dear Canada)
Written by Jean Little, Carol Matas, Maxine Trottier, Julie Lawson and Sarah Ellis
Scholastic Canada
241 pp.
Ages 9-14
2009


Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories
Written by L. M. Montgomery
Edited by Rea Wilmshurst
McClelland & Stewart
224 pp.
Ages 9+
1995

Dancing Through the Snow
Written by Jean Little
Scholastic Canada
238 pp.
Ages 9-14
2007


Elizabeth: A Hornbook Christmas (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Anne Laurel Carter
Penguin Canada
89 pp.
Ages 8-11
2005

Harley's Gift (Streetlights)
Written by Beth Pollock
James Lorimer
122 pp.
Ages 8-10
2007

Hidden
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Subterranean Press
193 pp.
Ages 14+
2011




House of Wooden Santas
Written by Kevin Major
Santa carvings by Imelda George
Photographs by Ned Pratt
Red Deer College Press
95 pp.
Ages 6-11
1997


Izzie: The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Budge Wilson
Penguin Canada
87 pp.
Ages 9-11
2002

Of Mice and Nutcrackers: A Peeler Christmas
Written by Richard Scrimger
Illustrated by Linda Hendry
Tundra Books
223 pp.
Ages 8-12
2001

Penelope: Christmas Reunion (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Sharon E. McKay
Penguin Canada
118 pp.
Ages 9-11
2004

Rachel: An Elephant Tree Christmas (Our Canadian Girl)
Written by Lynne Kositsky
Penguin Canada
84 pp.
Ages 9-11
2004

A Season for Miracles: Twelve Tales of Christmas (Dear Canada)
Written by Jean Little, Kit Pearson, Michelle Trottier, Gillian Chan, Sarah Ellis, Barbara Haworth-Attard, Julie Lawson, Karleen Bradford, Janet Lunn, Carol Matas & Sharon Stewart
Scholastic Canada247 pp.
Ages 8-13
2006







NON-FICTION

Early Christmas
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Crabtree Publishing
63 pp.
Ages 8-11
1982

Christmas Crafts From Around the World
Written by Judy Ann Sadler
Illustrated by June Bradford
Kids Can Press
40 pp.
Ages 6-11
2003

Christmas Long Ago from A to Z
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Crabtree Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
1999

A Pioneer Christmas: Celebrating in the Backwoods in 1841
Written by Barbara Greenwood
Illustrated by Heather Collins
Kids Can Press
48 pp.
Ages 8-12
2003

Santa Claus from A to Z
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Illustrated by Barbara Bedell
Crabtree Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
2000

Victorian Christmas
Written by Bobbie Kalman
Illustrated by Barbara Bedell
Carbtree Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 8-11
1996









FILM

The Christmas Orange
Bardel Entertainment
Directed by Ian Freedman
2002
30 min

An Old Box
NFB
Directed by Paul Driessen
1975
9 min 11 s
http://www.nfb.ca/film/an_old_box

Noël Noël
NFB
Directed by Nicola Lemay
2003
22 min 30 s
http://www.nfb.ca/film/noel_noel_en


2 comments:

  1. A wonderful selection of Christmas and holiday tales. Thanks so much, Helen, and best of the season to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank YOU for always sharing review copies. Happy holidays!

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