Rose Rossner

This book is all right. I really appreciate the illustrations that are soft and textual. The story rhymes decently, but issues arrive with the cadence. The author is sometimes shoehorning the cadence in there, which makes it a tad tongue twister when reading aloud. The other thing that breaks up the cadence is the way the author has chosen to lay what words on what page. Sometimes the full stanza is on the page. Sometimes it’s half a stanza on this page half a stand on another. Then with the layout of the book in general, you have pages that are just illustrations and pages that are just words when most of the words could have been laid over the illustrations and been a much better. Overall, this book is not bad and there will be kids that thoroughly enjoy it.… (meer)

First sentence: You're my favorite gobble gobble, the tur-key to my heart. I only have eyes for you, so mumderful and smart. I'm always on your cider, here to help in any way. Nuthin's better than being together. I love you more each day. You really autumn know that I've fallen for you, it's true.

Premise/plot: This board book is full of puns.

My thoughts: The illustrations are precious in both senses of the word. Yes, this one is cutesy precious and a bit over-the-top. But it's also sweet and fun. The illustrations are colorful and fun--adorable. Will the sentimental cheese work for every reader? Maybe not.… (meer)

First sentence: Let's deck the halls with holly and cheer. The jolliest season is finally here!
Follow along in merry measure, Christmas has so much to treasure!
Hark! The celebration is about to begin. Glory to Christmas, that feeling within.

My thoughts (preview): My first thought when seeing this one in person on the library was OH NO, what have I done?!?!?! The amount of glitter on the cover was alarming. Part of me was like can I leave it on the hold shelf and just back away slowly?!?! There were also holly-jolly bears on the cover so I decided to check it out despite my initial misgivings.

Premise/plot: The animal creatures in this holiday picture book LOVE to sing. (Too bad they don't know any of the right words. Oops, that's my personal thoughts creeping up.)

It is written in rhyme. It stars animals--mainly woodland animals. These animals are singing, singing, singing. Each stanza is very loosely inspired by a single line of familiar Christmas carols.

For example, "O come all together, standing hand in hand, rejoicing as one in a winter wonderland."
or
"Joy to the World! The time has come to celebrate each other, no matter where you're from."

My thoughts: Would I feel better about this one if it didn't have glitter? A little perhaps.
Would I feel better about this one if it wasn't so forced into rhyming? Definitely.
Do I want anyone messing around with lyrics? No, not really.

The truth is this one is "not regular." I am almost okay with fooling around with secular Christmas songs like "Jingle Bells" or "Up On the Housetop" or "Deck the Halls" or "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." But I am absolutely NOT okay with fooling around with religious Christmas songs like "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "Joy to the World," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Silent Night."

The author's "inspired" stanza borrowed from "Joy to the World," for example, is so tasteless IF you are a believer who actually, you know, believes. I'll clarify. I am NOT speaking for any other believer other than myself. I am one person. One person does not make decisions for the whole body of Christ. I personally found it distasteful. "The time has come to celebrate each other, no matter where you're from." If you look at it from any other standpoint than looking for rhymes--come and from, then it falls short. Lyrics mean something or should mean something. And the religious Christmas carols are actually truly meaningful and worshipful. The lyrics mean EVERYTHING.

The book, without a doubt, is not meant to be overthought, scrutinized. Who could possibly be offended by the harmless stanzas and verses? (Possibly me.) Do I want to overthink picture books? No. Not really. Did I overthink this one? Absolutely.… (meer)