Patricia Toht

I rarely review holiday books - they circulate only once a year and for Christmas books especially I have a superfluity. However, I will make an exception for an illustrator I really like - like Jarvis!

The cover has splashes of pine tree green against the white snow, and a sparkling red ribbon making the book look like a gift. The end papers are decorated with sparkling white snowflakes against a blue background. Simple, brisk rhymes tell the story of a biracial family choosing and show more decorating a pine tree. After a joyful meeting of friends and family and an explosion of decor, the tree shines forth in all its glory as a Christmas tree.

Jarvis' bright splashes of color really make this festive book. One page shows the glowing yellow light of an open door and lights against the cold blue of a winter night. Purple and silver tinsel sparks against the warm yellow walls, glowing against many different skin colors as the children and their friends happily deck the tree. A final spread is flipped vertically to make room for the glory of the decorated tree and the admiring decorates, including a dog and cat, sitting around it.

Verdict: The text is short and brisk enough to appeal to small children and Jarvis' bright, cheerful illustrations will make this a cozy book for the whole family to enjoy while preparing for decorating a Christmas tree. Sure to be a hit in my Christmas-themed town!

ISBN: 9780763695712; Published 2017 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the the library show less

A family picks out and decorates the perfect Christmas tree in this charming holiday picture book from American author Patricia Toht and British illustrator Jarvis. As the rhyming text describes the various trees found at the lot, and then the many steps necessary to turn the one selected from a freshly-cut outdoor evergreen to a magnificently decorated indoor Christmas tree, the artwork expressively depicts the joy of family and friends as they do it all together...

A few years ago I enjoyed show more Pick a Pumpkin, the Halloween title from this author/illustrator team, and I have been meaning to track down Pick a Pine Tree ever since. I'm glad I finally did this Christmas season, as I found it every bit as delightful as the Halloween title (which happens to have been published subsequently). With a rhyming text that reads well, and colorful artwork that captures the good cheer and fun of the season, this would make an excellent picture book for the Christmas holiday, whether at bedtime or in a story hour event. Recommended to anyone seeking fun holiday reads for the younger picture book set. show less

American author Patricia Toht and British illustrator Jarvis, the team who produced Pick a Pine Tree in 2017, return with this new rhyming holiday picture-book. The text describes a visit to a pumpkin patch, the carving of a jack-o-lantern, and the preparation for Halloween festivities, while the lovely illustrations depict a mixed-race family at the center of a crowd of friends and fellow celebrants, all getting prepared for the big night...

With a rhyming text that reads well - "Let show more grown-ups cut the top a bit, / big enough for hands to fit. / Reach down deep into the hole, / grab the seeds and give a pull. / Lumpy chunks. Sticky string. / Clumpy seeds. Guts and things. / With a spoon, scrape sides neatly. / Clean the inside out completely" - and bright artwork that boasts plenty of beautiful autumnal colors, Pick a Pumpkin is a lovely new picture-book for Halloween time, and would make an excellent read-aloud selection at story-time. I am a little surprised that it was published so early in the year - it officially released two days ago (on July 9th) - but then, that's a sign of the times, I suppose. In two weeks time they'll probably have Christmas cards for sale at the stationary store. Recommended to anyone looking for new Halloween picture-books for this coming fall. show less

I really wanted to like this book. The ending made up for a beginning I hate. The beginning says that there are rules to dressing that girls need to find their own ways to “adhere” to. And then the next few pages are about wearing white or wearing a dress. The ending gets more into wear what you want, and if it doesn’t exist, then design it, but I hate that at the beginning the book says you need to “adhere” to any rules. I think it would have been better to explain while certain show more things are standard or considered proper than saying you must obey some arbitrary rule. show less