From hot-off-the press picture books to toys, games, and gifts that give back, Canadian Living family life editor Kathryn Dorrell rounds up 21 gifts your kids will adore. Better hurry -- they're flying off the shelves of your local toy and bookstores! Read on for her picks, and print off this list to take with you to the toy store.
New books
There are great new Canadian books out for the holidays. Many of them are featured on the "Your Kids" pages in the December 2006 issue of Canadian Living. Don't forget to check it out! Here are some other new books for the season.
• The Christmas Star by Barbara Shook Hazen (Reader's Digest, 2006)
Bright and colourful pictures help tell the tale of Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem for the birth of baby Jesus. As they follow along, kids can watch for the star symbol in the text that cues them to press a button that lights up a white star in the story. $14.95. Ages 2 to 5.
• Sharing -- How Kindness Grows by Fran Shaw, Ph.D. (Reader's Digest, 2006)
This book doesn't have a Christmas narrative, but it teaches kids an important holiday lesson: sharing can bring happiness. Kids will love lift-up flaps that show the impact of sharing. $19.95. Ages 3 to 6.
• Noah's Mittens by Lise Lunge-Larsen (Houghton Mifflin, 2006)
Fun illustrations give the tale of Noah building his ark a contemporary feel. The narrative is also a departure as Noah struggles to take care of a boatload of seasick animals, shearing overheated sheep to make himself a pair of mittens. $23.50. Ages 4 to 8.
• One Winter's Day by M. Christina Butler (Good Books, 2006)
A delightful little hedgehog gives his hat, mitts and scarf to other animals as he braves a big storm, only to find that his forest friends have used these things to make him a cozy nest when the blizzard blows over. Kids will want to touch the soft and colourful hat, mitts and scarf on each page. $20.95. Ages 3 to 7.
• Christmas Tree Farm by Ann Purmell (Holiday House, 2006)
This charmingly illustrated story of a boy's visit to his grandfather's tree farm features different types of trees, as well as how they are grown and harvested. The back page features interesting Christmas tree lore, tree facts and the history of Christmas trees. $22.95. Ages 4 to 10.
• Peter Pan in Scarlet -- The Offical Sequel by Geraldine McCaughrean (Oxford University Press, 2006)
This is a magical holiday read that will enchant kids and parents. The writer won a literary contest put on by the London children's hospital that owns the rights to the original J.M. Barrie book. A portion of proceeds go to the hospital's foundation. Find out more about this much-anticipated novel at www.peterpaninscarlet.com. $24.95.
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