Joy To The World! (World Of Celebrations)

Joy to the World! (World of Celebrations)

Product Description Explore Christmas traditions from 13 different countries! Rhyming text and detailed illustrations make the book accessible to younger readers, while educational endnotes about the 13 celebrations add interest for older children. Gold ink and festive illustrations capture the joy of the season and make this book a beautiful gift in itself. Engaging and informative for anyone who wants to learn about the holiday. Features Christmas traditions from: *Ethiopia *Colombia *Australia *Italy *Serbia *Mexico *India *Iceland *Egypt *Argentina *Philippines *Lebanon *Canada From School Library Journal PreS-Gr 2-A sweet journey around the globe to 13 countries and cultures that features how families celebrate Christmas. The ultra-colorful illustrations fill each page, complete with borders that represent traditional fabrics, tile work, or flora from each country. Readers are pulled into the homes of families celebrating their unique holiday traditions. The rhyming text describes family activities, meal preparations, and special moments, and the engaging illustrations are just the right match. When sharing with the youngest of listeners, adults could easily play "Eye Spy" at each reading, because there are so many details. The book shows multigenerational families enjoying each other's company, indoors and out, as well as a variety of inclusive family structures. Religious practices and beliefs are acknowledged for some countries, but are not the main focus. Back matter includes more information about each country. VERDICT While this book is not unique in presenting holidays around the world, it is certainly charming and attractive. A lovely addition for larger collections, especially where families eat books like these up seasonally.-Linda Annable, Newport P.L. Newport, ORa(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. About the Author Kate DePalma was born and raised outside Nashville, TN, USA. As Senior Editor at Barefoot Books, she has helped develop dozens of picture books, as well as authoring her own, including those published under her pseudonym, Sunny Scribens. She holds an M.A. in Classics from the University of Texas and is also a published poet and scholar. Kate lives with her husband and daughter in Pennsylvania, USA. Sophie Fatus is a full-time artist who is known for her exuberant illustrations. She was born in Paris into a family of artists and now lives in Florence with her partner and two cats.