It's Chanukah. Are those naughty dinosaurs getting into a lot of mischief, blowing out the candles on the menorah? Peeking for presents under dad's bed? Making a mess around the house? Well it seems that way, but not really. The first half of the book is just a set up, because those funny dinosaurs really do everything right. A fun romp in rhyme.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Once again those naughty dinosaurs get into a lot of mischief and muck up the house as Christmas approaches. But the first half of the book is just a set up, because those good old dinosaurs really do everything right. A fun romp in rhyme.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

After a bad winter, Santa and his missus decided to retire to Miseltoe Island. But, when Christmas rolls around there is no way Santa can just play tennis and do yoga. Not to worry, as always, that jolly old fellow and his Missus have got things under control. This may be more an adult book than one for the kiddies, but it is amusing.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A small but feisty wombat takes on Santa's reindeer and other animals along the way who try to eat the many carrots at each stop. Though we hardly see good old St. Nick, this tour de carrots has a nice wry sense of humor. 4 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Everyone knows the song Jingle Bells, but did you know it was written by a minister in Savannah, Georgia. Based on a true story, John Pierpont was an abolitionist from Boston and was seriously missing the cool days of New England when November rolled around. He realized that his daughter had never seen snow or been in a sled. Although his Unitarian Church is under attack by pro-slavery brickthrowers, he writes his annual Christmas song for the children's chorus and the rest is history. Adam Gustavson's illustrations capture the 1850's setting and John Harris has spun a good yarn that kids will remember when they sing about that one horse open sleigh.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Though most of us know a verse or two of this old song, this oversized picture book includes many more stanzas than you probably ever heard. Best of all, the glorious illustrations follow a 19th Century family in their horse and sled on the way to Grandfather's house. The sights and scenes capture a sense of another time and place that takes the song back to its roots and gives young children a bit of visual history.

Age: Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Little Bunny thinks it's not fair that he is the smallest bunny in the family. On Christmas Eve he falls asleep under the Christmas tree. When the ornaments come alive, as they do every Christmas Eve, they invite Bunny up into the tree. They tell him how to shrink to their size and together they share a magical adventure until Bunny's sisters and brothers come down to open their stockings.  The illustrations are full of action and the story has a not too surprising but satisfying ending with Bunny finding happiness being the size that he is. 4 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A mysterious French Canadian folktale about six fur traders far from home on Christmas Eve. A stranger comes to their camp and offers them a chance to go home for the holiday if they can travel there in silence. The images of the six men in a flying canoe give this holiday tale a very different look from the usual Santa and his sleigh. In the end the men get the better of the bargain they have made. It's a bit strange--though oddly haunting.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Finding Halloween books that are seriously funny rather than scary just got easy! Pumpkin Trouble will make you laugh out loud as Duck scoops out a pumpkin and accidently slips inside. When his friends come looking for him they think they are seeing a pumpkin monster and start running away. The chase ends quickly with nothing less than a quack up. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This is not just a classic Christmas story, it's a clever idea that is packaged to allow grandparents (who are miles away) or parents (who travel a lot) to read this classic storybook aloud for young listeners even if you cannot be there in person. It's a book with a built-in recording machine that you can personalize for the children in your life. You need to open the recording box on the side of the book to unlock the recording mechanism.  Then record the text on each page. By the way, we have read online about folks having a problem with doing this, but honestly, if you follow the simple directions on the back of the first page, it works like a charm!  When you are done you open the battery box and lock in your recording. What a charming keepsake! It might also be fun for older sibs to record this for a younger sibling, as a special gift. The sturdy cardboard pages are nicely illustrated and look like they will hold up. This is one of a new series of books kids can listen to again and again. True, this is not the same as sitting with the child in your lap or side by side and looking at the pictures together--but it is a memorable gift that has a kind of magic quality. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.