A Treasured Christmas Book #24

For the last book I thought I'd go traditional and to make it from my favorite paper engineer.

The Night Before Christmas by Robert Sabuda
This is a treasure with the white mice, detailed pop ups, and delightful story line.

It is been a joy to share some of my favorite books, although I'll admit I didn't know I had so many for Christmas.  No, I didn't share them all, there's about half as many again, both pop up and picture.  I have a problem collecting books, specifically by favorite authors and illustrators, but what a problem to have!

Yes, by the time this last book has been shared, I have bought the one that started it all ... The Night Before Christmas by Holly Hobbie!

Have a wonderful Christmas and dream happy thoughts about BOOKS!

A Treasured Christmas Book #23

Having enjoyed the first pop up [sort of] by this paper engineer, I jumped at his next two holiday books.  They're hard to share so I'm only showing one, but they are a wealth of information in the small side pamphlets.

Christmas Around the World by Chuck Fischer

A Treasured Christmas Book #22

Taking the paper-cut idea a step further is the next book and one I gave to a few different hostesses as a thank you for the party kind of gift.

The First Noel: A Christmas Carousel by Jan Pienkowski
Each page is a beautiful image with a few words, but it's a marvelous book when tied open and hanging from the loop attached to the top spine.

A Treasured Christmas Book #21

Silhouette art is an old style and it's gorgeous, done today and it's stunning!

Recently a cut paper Christmas book was released and I bought it and a few copies for friends with kids.  It wasn't quite pop up, although there is one at the end, but the cut paper, silhouette images and color blocking was a pure joy to read.

I haven't said this so directly during this sharing of my collection, but I am now ... if you can find this book, check it OUT!

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore and Illustrated by Niroot Puttapipat

A Treasured Christmas Book #20

This series has to be the most recent additions to my collection and I still give the first one as a gift to newborns.  They are the cutest pigs who are polar opposites which makes for interesting and entertaining stories that are relevant!

I'll Be Home for Christmas by Holly Hobbie
One little pig goes traveling and the other stays home, decorating and preparing for Christmas, will the other make it back in time to celebrate the day?  I so love these piggies!

A Treasured Christmas Book #19

Another series I've collected since I was a kid is about a mouse who wants to be a ballerina.  It's cute and fun, and then her cousin joins in for even more fun.

Angelina's Christmas by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig
Cookies are baked and halls are decorated, but cousin Henry wants to see Santa, badly!  It all is well, but there are mouse tears along the way and COOKIES!

A Treasured Christmas Book #18

Different author, but a relative, and same illustrator ... how unique is that?!?

Okay, I'm a cat lover, have always been and so its no surprise I bought this treasure when I was a kid.  The story always makes me cry, a kitty left alone in the woods, but there's a happy ending with a saucer of milk to come.

The Christmas Cat by Efner Tudor Holmes and illustrated by Tasha Tudor

A Treasured Christmas Book #17

Same illustrator, different book ... I've mentioned earlier that I was a huge fan of Tasha Tudor and this kind of shows my devotion.

The Dolls' Christmas by Tasha Tudor
This tale is about two sisters and their dolls at Christmas.

A Treasured Christmas Book #16

The second book has different images and is also setup differently ... they have elaborately framed medallions.  Each page is unique and looks nothing like the first.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and illustrated by Tasha Tudor

A Treasured Christmas Book #15

Can an illustrator approach the same story in two different way?  Yes, actually, Tasha Tudor does this with the next book and I'll share both ... yes, I have both in my collection, acquired nine years apart.

The first one I got was...

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore Tasha Tudor
This is a hardcover picture book without a jacket and each page was a painting.

A Treasured Christmas Book #14

The female character, the star of this series, is so very spectacular I have a stuffed version of her on my desk to remind me it's all possible ... yes, that's only one of the many lessons she teaches in her fun books.

Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer
The antics of Olivia and her family are hilarious and fun, making this a must read .... then again I'm biased, I think this is a must read series for every girly!

A Treasured Christmas Book #13

How about another pop up, another pop up by my favorite paper engineer and let's make it one that depicts an old beloved song!

The 12 Days of Christmas by Robert Sabuda
This is one of the last book of his that the white mice appear ... love those critters1

A Treasured Christmas Book #12

Another series, this one with a bear on a farm is adorable ... drawings and story!

Willow at Christmas by Camilla Ashforth
There are other Willow books, but sadly I only have two others.

A Treasured Christmas Book #11

A series from the 40's was republished and I was able to collect all but three, yes, those three haunt me and I still look for them.  While this is one of two books of mine that aren't first edition, it is a first edition of the republished set.  Told you I'm a big book collector!

Miss Flora McFlimsey's Christmas Eve by Mariana
This series is about a doll, Miss Flora McFlimsey, who has some fabulous adventures and her personality reflects the times.

A Treasured Christmas Book #10

Tasha Tudor is a long time favorite author and illustrator of mine.  She and a relative will make more appearance before Christmas.  In later years her drawings became a little less precise but remain treasured.

Corgiville Christmas by Tasha Tudor

A Treasured Christmas Book #9

I remember when I was young going to a Christmas Festival with my mom.  She was all up for seeking a jam, chutney or something like that, I was after books.  I came back with one and it's signed by the author and illustrator ... cool!

Sophie's Surprise by Shirley Holt and Lee Richardson
This is a tale about a found cat who becomes the mouser for a local toy store and then she gifts the owner with a fabulous surprise ... a bevvy of little mousers!  A great read and I wish it was around today.

A Treasured Christmas Book #8

Gift books bought at the counter are a part of my collection an, again, so are illustrator from the past.

Christmas is a Time of Giving by Joan Walsh Anglund
This little gem offers brief statements on why it is such a joy to give something to another ... great reminder for every age.

A Treasured Christmas Book #7

 Illustrators from years gone by have not passed me by.  At some point I've collected them, but many didn't make the move to England and back again, the next two did.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

A Treasured Christmas Book #6

Everyone knows I'm a huge pop up fan and a few are on this list but not all, we'd go into the New Year if I did ... yes, my love for pop up's is that big.

Anyway, I chose this one because it's the first holiday book by this paper engineer that I put into my collection and it's a good advent calendar book.

The Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda

A Treasured Christmas Book #5

New York City is where this story takes place and is full of magic!  Oh, and a animation movie has recently been optioned ... yah.

Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
There are two books that come after this one and are called Auntie Clause and the Key to Christmas and Auntie Claus, Home for the Holidays