ISLANDPORT PRESS

Children's books for holiday gift-giving

If you're a Time Warner Cable customer, you may have already seen our new TV show, Between the Lines, hosted by Islandport Press senior editor Genevieve Morgan. Every few weeks, she chats with people in the book world, from Islandport authors to Maine writers, booksellers, and people of letters. The spots are part of the Time Warner community program, Your Magazine.

If you haven't seen them, here's a link to the previous Between the Lines shows.

I had the pleasure of being Genevieve's guest on the current segment to talk about and recommend some holiday gift books for kids. I rattled off quite a few titles, so in case you missed it, here's the list! 

Great Islandport Press children’s books to give for the holidays:

Picture books for ages 4 to 8: 

Merry Moosey Christmas  (Written by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Russ Cox): Silly fun as Rudolph trains a moose to take his place delivering presents.

The Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever! (Written by Rebecca Rule, illustrated by Jennifer Thermes): An epic sled ride down a scary, slippery hill.

My Wonderful Christmas Tree (Written and illustrated by Dahlov Ipcar): Twelve scenes of woodland animals in this holiday classic.

For younger readers:

Dahlov Ipcar’s Farmyard Numbers and Dahlov Ipcar’s Farmyard Alphabet: These two board books would make a great gift set for babies or kids learning letters and numbers.

For middle-grade readers:

Cooper and Packrat: Mystery on Pine Lake and Cooper and Packrat: Mystery of the Eagle’s Nest (written by Tamra Wight): Mysteries set at a campground, sure to appeal to kids who love the outdoors. 

For young-adult readers:

Lies in the Dust (Written by Jakob Crane, illustrated by Tim Decker): Spooky, haunting graphic novel based on true story of only girl to apologize for her role in the Salem Witch Trials.

Other (non-Islandport) picture books by two of our favorite Maine authors:

My Bibi Always Remembers (Written by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka): About a baby African elephant, guided by the strength and love of the herd’s matriarch; great for grandmothers! 

The Secret Galaxy (Written by Fran Hodgkins, photography by Mike Taylor): Ideal for a child who likes to read nonfiction; a glorious exploration of the galaxy and universe.

Have a favorite Islandport Press book for gift-giving? Tell us and we'll add your picks to the list. 

--Melissa Kim, Senior Editor, Children's Books (follow me on twitter: @MKIslandport)

 

Gift Ideas for Young Readers

It's December 2 and if you are like me, you're just starting to think about your holiday shopping. One of the lovely things about working for a small press like Islandport, is there are so many wonderful books to choose from. For children, you'll find titles that make perfect gifts. And if you use a little creativity, you can pair each book with a thoughtful gift from Maine. 

The Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever written by Rebecca Rule and illustrated by Jennifer Thermes

The young adventurer will love this fun thrill ride up (and down) one of the iciest hills around! The book received a Kirkus Star, given to titles of remarkable merit. 

Companion gift ideas: A Maine K-sled or a handknit mittens (holiday fairs are a great resource). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Wonderful Christmas Tree by Dahlov Ipcar

This beloved classic is one of the most beautifully illustrated holiday books for children. Little ones will enjoy counting the woodland creatures among its pages. 

Companion gift ideas: An adorable, crocheted hat from Sweet Stuff or a paper snowflake star ornament like this one. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scallop Christmas written by Jane Freeberg and illustrated by Astrid Sheckels

This award-winning book transports children to a small and struggling New England fishing village. During scallop season, young Marcie find herself in an unexpected adventure and learns a lesson about love she'll never forget. 

Companion gift ideas: A Fisherman cardigan or colorful rain boots from L.L.Bean  

Like this collection of books? Enter to win signed copies of all three on our Facebook page. Contest ends tonight at midnight EST. Good luck!