YEAR OF THE CAT Written by Richard Ho Illustrated by Jocelyn Li Langrand (Greenwillow Books; $18.99, Ages 4-8)         The story of the Chinese zodiac is beloved in my household. In Year of the Cat, Richard Ho digs deeper to follow up on how Cat feels about not receiving a calendar year—she was pushed into a river by Rat! This story is as good as the original and then some.     Jocelyn Li Langrand’s fun illustrations begin even before the title page. I especially like the behind-the-scenes scoop on the animals such as…

  SNOW HORSES:  A FIRST NIGHT STORY Written by Patricia MacLachlan Illustrated by Micha Archer (Margaret K. McElderry Books; $18.99, Ages 4-8)         ★Starred Reviews - Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly Visit an enchanting snow-covered country town in Snow Horses: A First Night Story written by late Newberry Medal-winning author, Patricia MacLachlan and illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winning artist, Micha Archer but be sure to have a hot drink at hand while cozy under a blanket.     As you turn the pages you'll be treated to MacLachlan's lyrical prose that set an anticipatory tone for the once-a-year celebration…

BEST NEW CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR KIDS 2022 ~A ROUNDUP~           CHRISTMAS WITH AUNTIE Written by Helen Foster James Illustrated by Petra Brown (Sleeping Bear Press; $17.99, Ages 0-4) My Aunt Shirley wasn't my real aunt but she treated me as if I were her niece and I loved her the same as all my other aunts. Since Aunties can be blood relations or close family friends, Christmas With Auntie should find a large readership. When Auntie picks up little bunny for the day, preparations for Christmas get underway. "Bunny-kins bunny, we'll make and then bake/gingerbread goodies,…

  BEST NEW HANUKKAH BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS ~A ROUNDUP~     I'm happy to say this year I've received more review copies of new Hanukkah books for children than any previous year! Not only do these books approach the holiday from fresh new angles, but they've made the holiday more accessible for non-Jewish readers who want to learn about this joyful Jewish celebration. Enjoy the super selection and be sure to share these books with family and friends.     HANUKKAH NIGHTS Written and illustrated by Amalia Hoffman (Kar-Ben Publishing; $8.99, Ages 1-5) I had a huge grin…

      ICEBERG: A LIFE IN SEASONS Written by Claire Saxby Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft (Groundwood Books; $19.99; Ages 3-6)         From the Publisher: “An iceberg shears from a glacier and begins a journey through Antarctica’s seasons. In the spring, penguins trek across the ice while krill stir beneath. With summer comes more life…the sun softens its edges and undersea currents wash it from below. When autumn arrives with cooling temperatures, the sea changes and the iceberg is trapped in the ice for the winter freeze. Then spring returns and the iceberg drifts into a sheltered…

THE BLACK HOLE DEBACLE Written by Keri Claiborne Boyle Illustrated by Deborah Melmon (Sleeping Bear Press; $17.99; Ages 4-7)         Written by Keri Claiborne Boyle and illustrated by Deborah Melmon, The Black Hole Debacle is the perfect choice for any child who has a deep wonder for outer space and an appreciation for stories with heart and humor.  An astronomer at heart, Jordie “even name[s] her dog Neptune.” When a literal out-of-this-world incident happens in her class one day, she is more than excited to explore it. A little black hole, “churning in [her] desk” is eating anything…