The Oak Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library is packed full of great kid reads for winter – perfect for rainy weekends and quiet holiday afternoons.
· Batman: Noël by Lee Bermejo – Inspired by Charles Dickens’ immortal classic A Christmas Carol with hints of It’s a Wonderful Life, Batman: Noel features different interpretations of The Dark Knight, along with his enemies and allies, in different eras.
· Blizzard by John Rocco – A fantastic true-story adventure about a massive blizzard, and a boy who becomes a hero when he manages to walk to the local store and bring supplies back to his neighborhood which has been snowed in for days.
· Fox’s Garden by Princesse Camcam – This beautifully illustrated story without words reveals how an act of tender compassion is given (and repaid) in secret during an icy winter night.
· The Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman – This energetic celebration of Hanukkah tells the story of a family coming together for a jubilant night of dancing complete with a klezmer band (the Mazel-Tones).
· James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot – This beautifully illustrated treasury collects all of the beloved veterinarian’s delightful tales for young readers, including the yuletide warmth of The Christmas Day Kitten.
· More Boredom Busters: Over 50 Awesome Activities for Children ages 7 years+ by Caroline Fernandez – Be bored no more! You’ll love all the fun things to do and make in ‘More Boredom Busters.’ There’s a chapter of activities for each season of the year, and within those, you’ll also find ideas for the holidays.
· My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Rainbow Rowell – This collection by 12 bestselling young adult writers was edited by the internationally bestselling Stephanie Perkins. Whether you enjoy celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or New Years, there’s something here for everyone.
· No Two Alike by Keith Baker – This picture book’s combination of well-worded rhymes, evocative landscapes and playful characters make this a standout title for reading aloud, especially in winter.
· Santa Clauses: short poems from the North Pole by Bob Raczka – Twenty-five haiku give readers a fresh, humourous perspective on Santa’s December preparations, and rich illustrations pull readers into every wintry scene.
· The Usborne Book of Christmas Art Ideas by Fiona Watt – Packed with Christmassy ideas for painting, drawing, printing and making collages, this book helps children to explore different materials, including chalk, paint and pencil.
Sarah Isbister is the Children & Family Literacy Librarian at the Oak Bay Branch Greater Victoria Public Library, She writes about children’s and adult titles at the local library on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.