 Press Here: The Game by Herve Tullet Press Here is now available in game form! Hervé Tullet has reimagined his groundbreaking book in an entirely new dimension. Players take turns completing color sequences by placing red, blue, and yellow playing pieces on one of twenty-five fabulously designed game boards. What seems like a simple choice is likely to lead to animated discussion as players come to understand the visual logic at the heart of the game. With two levels of play to choose from--so that it's easy enough for a toddler to grasp, but also complex enough to challenge older siblings and adults--this engaging game delivers hours of entertainment for the whole family. Ages 3 and up. (Chronicle,$19.99)
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 Peek-a-Who?: Matching Game by Nina Laden This classic matching game features 36 jumbo-sized cards adorned with Nina Laden's eye-catching illustrations from her bestselling Peek-a-Who books. Children will adore pairing lively, brightly colored gnus, choo-choos, and cockatoos as they develop memory, concentration, and identification skills. Ages 3 and up. (Chronicle,$14.99)
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 The Animals' Santa by Jan Brett Among my favorite authors and illustrators of classic children's picture books is Jan Brett who brings readers a new holiday animal adventure that will delight ages 4 to 8. Little Snow is asking Big Snowshoe and his forest friends who the animals' Santa is. But Little Snow becomes upset when he thinks everyone is teasing him into believing in something no one else has seen. But on Christmas Eve, Big Snowshoe comes up with an idea which awakens them all to a wonderful discovery. Brett's stories are always engaging and throughout the book her smaller side panels and large illustrations bring life to the story, and offer a prediction as to who the Animals' Santa will be. (G.P. Putnam's Sons, $17.99) Reviewed by Carol
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 Memoirs of an Elf by Devin Scillion Spark the elf has an important job: keeping Santa on schedule while he delivers presents around the world. The GPS is programmed and they're off on time. Six hours into the trip Santa is falling behind as he wants to stop and pet every dog. And of course he must eat all the cookies left for him, and even the tamales for him in Mexico City! Then he just has to play with the train set he just delivered. How can Spark get him to make up lost time? Finally they're back on track, landing at the North Pole after a world-wide trip in just one night. But what's this? The toy bag's not empty! They have a stowaway. Santa has brought someone's dog home. How can they get Tugboat back to his family in time? A clever Christmas story with colorful illustrations by Tim Bowers for ages 4 to 8. (Sleeping Bear Press, $16.99) Reviewed by Carol
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Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale
by Eric Kimmel
When young Simon sets out for America to find work and save money to send tickets to his family to follow, he promises his mother he will celebrate Hanukkah and light the menorah she has packed for him. The voyage is hard, but every roll of the ship brings him closer to his new home. Then suddenly one night a gigantic wall of ice rises from the sea, causing the ship to begin sinking as Simon sacrifices his place in a lifeboat for another passenger. As Simon climbs onto a shelf of the iceberg, he remembers his mother's words about lighting the menorah's candles as he prays for a miracle. This delightful story tells how Simon's courage is answered in the form of an enormous white bear. Along with Kimmel's beautiful tale, Matthew Trueman adds the illustrations that make this a classic holiday story for ages 4 to 8. (Disney Press, $16.99) Reviewed by Carol
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