Story Season

“Snowballs” by Lois Ehlert - Ehlert’s books are always full of surprises: photographs of real leaves, cut-out holes, recipes, nature lessons, stories told in two languages, amazing colors. One of her most recent books, “Moon Rope,” used a gleaming silver probably never seen in a children’s book.

“Snowballs,” an apt title for the upcoming season, has its share of surprises. The narrator is waiting for snow with a bag full of saved objects. When the snow finally comes, a snow family is created using the saved objects for detail and decoration.

The snow folks, collages of cut paper and real objects, are fantastic. For each to be viewed in its full height (2 feet) and right side up, the book must be turned sideways. Young children will enjoy naming the objects used to create the faces and details. There’s corn, a cinnamon stick, a Peruvian hat, toy compass, peanuts, colorful buttons, hardware, coffee beans and pretty bits of trash.

After the inevitable melting of the snow people, the reader is treated to a bright double-spread that names all the objects used as decoration. The next spread gives information and shows colorful mittens from different cultures. Also included is a recipe for snow (popcorn) balls. (Harcourt Brace & Co., ages 2-6, 32 pgs., $15)

“The Tie Man’s Miracle: A Chanukah Tale” by Steven Schnur - It is the last night of Chanukah. Seven-year-old Seth waits anxiously for his father to get home so the family can light the candles on the menorah. Up the walk comes an old man with a tattered cardboard box. “Mr. Hoffman’s coming,” Seth tells his mother. Mr. Hoffman is a door-to-door tie salesman. Seth’s mother comes out, holding baby Hannah (who enchants the old man). Mr. Hoffman unwraps his box and spreads ties all over the table. Seth asks “Isn’t your family waiting for you?” He’s worried that his own celebration will be delayed by the salesman. It turns out that Mr. Hoffman has no family. He lost them in the war, including a baby girl named Hannah.

Seth’s father arrives home. Eventually the old man is coaxed into staying for the lighting of the candles and some warm soup. He tells the family a story: “In our village, we believed that every Chanukah was a time of miracles, just as it had been for the Maccabees. On the eighth night we didn’t just light the menorah but watched the candles burn all the way down, believing if they all went out at exactly the same instant, those nine little columns of smoke would rise as one up to heaven, carrying our wishes straight to the ear of God. … It had to be all nine. Nothing less could travel that far.”

Mr. Hoffman tells Seth that he has never seen the candles go out all together. Later, after Mr. Hoffman has trudged out into the snowy night, Seth watches the candles and wishes: “Please give the tie man back his family.” Amazingly the candles go out at the same instant, and the nine columns of smoke rise and seem to braid themselves together. Over the next months, Seth watches for the tie man. But he never comes again. Readers are left to come up with their own explanation. This hauntingly lovely story is illustrated with gentle watercolors by Stephen T. Johnson. (Morrow, ages 5 and up, 32 pgs., $16.)

“The Story of Santa Claus” by Tom Paxton - Ever wonder how the jolly old fellow got his start? Folk-singer and song-writer Paxton has come up with a charmingly plausible story. Woodsman Claus lives with his wife Eva in the Old Forest. All the local children are delighted by the wonderful wooden toys Claus carves for them. As his fame spreads, Claus finds that he is working day and night to please all the children who have learned about him. Eva asks the elves of the Old Forest to help him, and before long they need a bigger workshop. Hence the move to the North Pole.

Paxton’s nicely written story and Michael Dooling’s wonderful paintings make this a tale that youngsters are sure to enjoy. (Morrow, ages 4 and up, 32 pgs. $15.)

Here are brief reviews of a few other worthwhile holiday offerings:

“Inside-Outside Grandma: A Hanukkah Story” by Joan Rothenberg - Grandma wears her clothes inside out to remind her to make the traditional latkes. “Why?” asks Rosie. The answer is a story, that leads to another story and another until Rosie learns a colorful dose of family lore. A recipe for potato latkes is included. (Hyperion, ages 4-8, 32 pgs., $14.95.)

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” - The traditional song is given wonderful new illustrations by Seattle artist Linnea Asplind Riley. The colorful cut-paper pictures almost dance off the pages. The musical score is included, along with a fold-out spread depicting all of true-love’s gifts. (Simon & Shuster, ages 3-7, 32 pgs., $15.)

“The First Christmas” by Nonny Hogrogian - The Christmas story is told using passages from the Authorized King James version of the Bible and a connecting narrative. Hogrogian’s evocative paintings make this a fine version of the story of Jesus’ birth. (Greenwillow, all ages, 32 pgs., $15.)

“Christmas Around the World” by Mary D. Lankford - In Guatemala, part of the Christmas celebration involves three men hanging by their ankles from a 50-foot pole. In Greece, the fishing boats are decorated with blue and white lights, the colors of the country’s flag. In Ethiopia, Christmas, or “Ganna,” is celebrated on Jan. 7. This useful book is full of information about Christmas in 12 other cultures. Colorfully illustrated by Karen Dugan, the volume includes crafts, a pronunciation guide and a list of Christmas sayings. (Morrow, all ages, 48 pgs., $16.)

“Grandfather’s Christmas Camp” by Marc McCutcheon - It’s a snowy Christmas Eve and grandfather’s dog, Mr. Biggins, hasn’t come home. Lizzie and Grandfather bundle up and hike up the mountain after him. They finally find the dog, but not before they’ve cooked supper over a fire and spent a magical night camping in an igloo on the mountain. Lovely oil paintings by Kate Kiesler illustrate the unusual story. (Clarion Books, ages 4-8, 32 pgs., $15.95.)

“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens - This is the more sumptuous (and more expensive) of two brand-new versions of this holiday classic. Lovely, detailed paintings by Roberto Innocenti are placed generously throughout. Each page is bordered in gold and decorated with sprigs of mistletoe or pine cones. (Harcourt Brace, all ages, 152 pgs., $35.)

“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens - This version, with its bright red cover, is illustrated with lively ink and watercolor drawings by acclaimed children’s book artist Quentin Blake. Blake’s pictures are full of wit and verve. (Margaret K. McElderry Books, all ages, 144 pgs., $19.95.)

MEMO: Children’s book reviews by Tacoma writer Rebecca Young appear monthly on the Families page.