December Reflections

Stand-Out Books in December 2016

1. Borden Murders. Sarah Miller. 2016. 304 pages. [Source: Library] 
2. Saving Red. Sonya Sones. 2016. HarperTeen. 448 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard. Jonathan Auxier. 2016. Harry N. Abrams. 464 pages. [Source: Library]
4. Ghost. Jason Reynolds. 2016. 192 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Lucky Lazlo. Steve Light. 2016. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
6. Stowaway in a Sleigh. C. Roger Mader. 2016. HMH. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

5 Places "Visited" in December 2016

1. Prince Edward Island
2. Santa Monica, California
3. Maine 
4. New Hampshire
5. New York City

Board books and picture books:

1. Hair. Leslie Patricelli. 2017. Candlewick. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy; board book]
2. Itsy-Bitsy I Love You! Sandra Magsamen. 2016. Scholastic. 10 pages. [Source: review copy]
3. I'm Wild About You. Sandra Magsamen. 2016. Scholastic. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
4. Louise and Andie. The Art of Friendship. Kelly Light. 2016. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths. Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Josee Masse. 2016. 32 pages. [Source: Library]  
6. This is My Dollhouse. Giselle Potter. 2016. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
7. Peppa Pig and the Day at Snowy Mountain. 2014. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8. Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes. Jennifer L. Holm. Illustrated by Matthew Holm. 2016. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
9. The Lost Gift. Kallie George. Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. 2016. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10. Lucky Lazlo. Steve Light. 2016. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
11. Walk This World At Christmastime. Illustrated by Debbie Powell. 2016. Candlewick. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]
12. The Christmas Eve Tree. Delia Huddy. Illustrated by Emily Sutton. 2016. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
13. Stowaway in a Sleigh. C. Roger Mader. 2016. HMH. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
14. The Nutcracker. Rita Balducci. Illustrated by Barbara Lanza. 1991. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]
15. Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad. (Little Critter) Mercer Mayer. 1982. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]
16. The Nutcracker. Niroot Puttapipat. 2016. Candlewick. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy]
17. How Many Sleeps 'Til Christmas? Mark Sperring. Illustrated by Sebastien Braun. 2014. Tiger Tales. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

Early readers and early chapter books:

1. The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation. Shannon Hale. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2016. Candlewick. 96 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Contemporary (general, realistic) fiction, all ages:

1. Saving Red. Sonya Sones. 2016. HarperTeen. 448 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Ghost. Jason Reynolds. 2016. 192 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Moo. Sharon Creech. 2016. 288 pages. [Source: Library book]
4. The Sun Is Also a Star. Nicola Yoon. 2016. 348 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Merry Christmas From Betsy. Carolyn Haywood. 1970/89. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]

Speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, etc.) all ages:

1. Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard. Jonathan Auxier. 2016. Harry N. Abrams. 464 pages. [Source: Library]
2. The Hammer of Thor. Rick Riordan. 2016. 471 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Maybe a Fox. Kathi Appelt. 2016. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
4. The Reader. Traci Chee. 2016. 442 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Letters From Father Christmas. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1976/1999. 160 pages. [Source: Library]
6. An Ember in the Ashes. Sabaa Tahir. 2015. 446 pages. [Source: Library]
7. A Torch Against the Night. Sabaa Tahir. 2016. 452 pages. [Source: Library]

Historical fiction, all ages:

1. The Twisted Root. Anne Perry. (William Monk #10) 1998. 368 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Slaves of Obsession. Anne Perry. 2000. 368 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Christmas Journey. Anne Perry. 2003. 180 pages. [Source: Library]
4. A Christmas Visitor. Anne Perry. 2004. 199 pages. [Source: Library]

Mysteries, all ages:

1. Cornish Coast Murder. John Bude. 1935. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2. The Twisted Root. Anne Perry. (William Monk #10) 1998. 368 pages. [Source: Bought]
3. Slaves of Obsession. Anne Perry. 2000. 368 pages. [Source: Library]
4. Christmas Journey. Anne Perry. 2003. 180 pages. [Source: Library]
5. A Christmas Visitor. Anne Perry. 2004. 199 pages. [Source: Library]

Classics, all ages:

1. Rilla of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1921. 277 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Our Town. Thornton Wilder. 1938. 181 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Everyman. Anonymous. 1485. 98 pages. [Source: Library; play; classic]
4. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain. 1876. 225 pages. [Source: Bought]
5. Tom Sawyer Abroad. Mark Twain. 1894. 108 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. Treasury of Christmas Stories. Edited by Ann McGovern. 1960. Scholastic. 152 pages. [Source: Bought]

Nonfiction, all ages:

1. Borden Murders. Sarah Miller. 2016. 304 pages. [Source: Library]
2. The World of Little House. Carolyn Strom Collins and Christina Wyss Eriksson. 1996. 160 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. Six Dots. Jen Bryant. Illustrated by Boris Kulikov. 2016. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. I Am Jane Goodall. Brad Meltzer. 2016. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Identifying Barbie Dolls. Janine Fennick. 1998. 80 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. Koko's Kitten. Francine Patterson. Photographs by Ronald H. Cohn. 1985. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 
7. Will's Words: How William Shakespeare Changed The Way You Talk. Jane Sutcliffe. Illustrated by John Shelley. 2016. Charlesbridge. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
8. Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths. Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Josee Masse. 2016. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 
9. Smart Fat. Steven Masley and Jonny Bowden. 2016. HarperOne. 336 pages. [Source: Library]

Christian fiction:

1. Everyman. Anonymous. 1485. 98 pages. [Source: Library; play; classic]
2. Newton and Polly. Jody Hedlund. 2016. Waterbrook. 400 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. Mary's Christmas Story. Teresa Olive. Illustrated by Nancy Munger. 1996. Concordia. 16 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. The Time of Christmas. Suzanne Richterkessing. 1999/2002. Concordia. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
5. Mortimer's Christmas Manger. Karma Wilson. Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. Song of the Stars. Sally Lloyd-Jones. Illustrated by Alison Jay. 2011. Zondervan. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

Christian nonfiction:

1. Alive in the Spirit. A.W. Tozer. 2016. Bethany House. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2. The Barbarians Are Here. Michael Youssef. 2017. 272 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. Beyond the 95 Theses. Stephen J. Nichols. 2016. P&R. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. The Dawning of Indestructible Joy. John Piper. 2013. 94 pages. [Source: Bought]
5. From Heaven: A 28 Day Advent Devotional. A.W. Tozer. 2016. Moody. 128 pages. [Source: Bought] 
6. God the Son Incarnate. Stephen J. Wellum. 2016. Crossway. 480 pages. [Source: Review copy]
7. Good News of Great Joy. John Piper. 2012. 70 pages. [Source: Bought]
8. Help Heavenward: Guidance and Strength for the Christian's Life Journey. Octavius Winslow. Foreword by Joel R. Beeke. Banner of Truth. 195 pages. [Source: Bought]
9. Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room. Nancy Guthrie. 2010. 112 pages. [Source: Bought]
10. Sketch of the Life and Labors of George Whitefield. 1854. J.C. Ryle. 80 pages. [Source: Bought]
11. You Can Change. Tim Chester. 2010. Crossway. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]
12. Zechariah. J. Vernon McGee. 1979/1997. Thomas Nelson. 204 pages. [Source: Bought]

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews