For The Younger Reader
Books for children are gifts that don’t require batteries or assembly, won’t come apart (in most cases) or disturb the neighbors and are sensibly priced:
“The Hobbit”
A 60th anniversary edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, “The Hobbit” (Houghton Mifflin, $35 hardcover), arrives in time for the holidays, with new illustrations by Alan Lee. Drawing on Celtic and Norse mythology, the story takes one Bilbo Baggins through mystic and magical adventures to a fateful encounter with a dragon, Smaug the Magnificent. This story is the prelude to another Tolkien classic, “The Lord of the Rings.”
“The Iliad”
Another classic, Homer’s “The Iliad” (Kingfisher, $17.95 hardcover), has been retold for children by Ian Strachan, with illustrations by Victor Ambrus. Originally written 2,000 years ago, the tale chronicles the battles between the Greeks and Trojans growing out of the abduction by Paris of Helen, Queen of Sparta and daughter of Zeus.
“The Nutcracker”
And the holiday favorite, E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $24.95 hardcover) is out in another new version, based on a translation by Aliana Brodmann and illustrated by Gennady Spirin.
“A Christmas Carol”
Bah! Humbug. Here comes Scrooge again, this time in a new illustrated (by Andrew Wheatcroft) edition of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” (DK Publishing, $14.95 hardcover). But this version pauses now and then to give readers a documentary picture of 19th century London, its social strata, slums and personalities that Dickens explored - and mined - for background to his stories.
“Once Upon a Bedtime Story”
Familiar tales are retold by Jane Yolen in “Once Upon a Bedtime Story” (Boyds Mills Press, $17.95 hardcover), with illustrations by Ruth Tietjen Councell. The selection includes “The Three Bears,” “The Princess and the Pea,” “Dick Whittington’s Cat,” and 13 others.
“Breaking the Spell”
“Breaking the Spell” (Kingfisher, $17.95 hardcover) is a collection of stories about enchanted people and places, quests, spells and sorcery, all selected by Sally Grindley and illustrated by Susan Field.
“Echoes of the Elders: The Stories and Paintings of Chief Lelooska”
Edited by Christine Normandin, “Echoes of the Elders: The Stories and Paintings of Chief Lelooska” (DK Publishing, $24.95, hardcover with CD), captures ancient myths, folk tales and chants handed down through oral tradition among the Indian tribes of the Northwest coast. The book is based on recordings and drawings made by Chief Lelooska before his death in 1996. The chief, whose name means “he who cuts against wood with a knife,” devoted his life to preserving the culture of these Indians, including the Kwakiutl Nation.
“The Vision Seeker”
Another tribute to Indian culture is “The Vision Seeker” (Stoddart, $18.95 hardcover), by James Whetung, with illustrations by Paul Morin. The author, of Anishinaabe and Celtic heritage, introduces the reader to sweat lodge teachings and ritual.
“Milo and the Magical Stones”
Some picture book choices to read to the very little ones include “Milo and the Magical Stones” (North-South Books, $18.95 hardcover), written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister, with two endings, happy and sad; and “Lumina” (North-South Books, $15.95 hardcover), a Christmas story in an Alpine setting, by Brigitte Weninger, with illustrations by Julie Wintz-Litty.