Merry Christmas Merry Crow by Kathi Appelt (2005)

A busy crow flies around town picking up all kinds of interesting and unexpected items and uses them to create a beautiful Christmas tree. Rhyming text has a nice flow and young kids will enjoy finding our swooping bird as he makes his way through a festive holiday village on each beautifully illustrated two-page spread. Great for storytime! Ages:2+

I've Seen Santa! by David Bedford (2006)

Little Bear is so full of questions and concerns about Santa that he cannot fall asleep on Christmas Eve. Illustrations are bright and simple - great for a holiday themed storytime. The whole family ends up waiting up for Santa but alas sleep wins out. Wonderful ending. Ages: Preschool-3rd grade

Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini (2000)

Moose thinks he has all his Christmas preparations taken care of, but at the last minute he must come up with a substitute for the Christmas tree. Moose has everything "perfectly perfect" for Christmas, except for one major oversight. With a little imagination and innovation, the day is saved. Text rhymes nicely with rich vocabulary. A little long for very young kids but older preschool and elementary children will find it highly amusing especially if read with a flair. Ages: 4+

Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr (2007)

The day before Thanksgiving, Turkey tries to disguise himself as other animals in order to avoid being caught by the farmer. Great for toddler or preschool storytimes. "Run, turkey, run!" is repeated throughout giving a great audience participation device. Onomatopoeia throughout making this picture book tons of fun and phonologically aware. Artwork is simple, yet vibrant and expressive. A twist at the end will give the preschoolers something to think about. My favorite outcome. A Thanksgiving must!!

One is a Feast for Mouse by Judy Cox (2008)

Everyone in the house is napping off their Thanksgiving dinner, including the greeny-eyed cat, when Mouse ventures out of his hidey hole to investigate the leftovers on the dining room table. Starting with a single pea, Mouse's eyes grow bigger than his stomach , not to mention his grasp. He collects more and more food and then attempts to carry his feast back home. As his stash grows in size, Mouse's grasp of the situation becomes more and more precarious. Great flannel story! Lots of excitement as Mouse's meal towers above him. Ages: Preschool+