July 15, 2024
A family prepares for Christmas to the tune of the titular carol. This white-presenting family lives in a tidy row house that's within a short drive of a Christmas tree lot. They buy their tree, bring it home, decorate it, stop by the Christmas market, make cookies, go caroling in the neighborhood, and finally welcome extended family for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The unremarkable (and uncredited) rhyming text seems meant to be sung rather than read, but uneven scansion and the absence of a refrain may have readers struggling to keep tune. Exactly where do the emphases land in "We unbox our decorations, / Unwrap ornaments and hang them..."? Swaney's matte, muted illustrations have a mildly folk-art vibe, with details splayed out on the spreads, but they do little to enliven the experience. The family seems to be made up of a mom, a dad, two kids, and two dogs, all cheerily going through their holiday motions; they're so unmemorable as characters that little listeners may have difficulty finding them among the busier tableaux, which reveal a racially diverse community all united in the celebration of Christmas. The extended family includes a white grandparent, three brown-skinned cousins, and two aunts (one white, one brown-skinned). Lacking even figgy pudding, this outing underwhelms.(Picture book. 4-7)
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July 26, 2024
PreS-Gr 1-This homage to the labor of holiday magic-makers depicts a family's preparation for Christmas. They pick and decorate a tree, make cookies, host their loved ones, and more. Text is inspired by the song "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Swaney's soft digital and pencil illustrations show a multigenerational and multiracial family celebrating the holiday with traditions such as Christmas crackers and stockings. The family's two pet dogs lend a gentle humor to the story as they join in the festivities. VERDICT While the story is nothing new, the charming illustrations make this a worthy addition to a holiday collection.-Nora Clancy
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