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14 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • December 2014 T he holidays are right around the corner, and no matter what you are celebrating, the public library has a great children's book to get into the spirit! THE POLAR EXPRESS by Chris Van Allsburg is not only a Christmas classic, it is also one of the best picture books of all time. Our narrator recounts taking a secret Christmas Eve trip to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus, where he receives the first gift of the night from the man himself. He only asks for one sleigh bell, which can only be heard by those who believe in Santa. Allsburg's lush illustrations gorgeously capture the child- hood memory of the magical journey. HANNUKAH BEAR by Eric Kimmel is a delightful take on the Jewish holiday. In a case of mis- taken identity, old Bubba Brayna takes in a bear on break from hibernation. Bubba thinks that the hungry visitor is her Rabbi. She loads him up with delicious latkes, gives him a scarf and sends him on his way. When the Rabbi finally arrives, confusion ensues. Hannukah Bear manages to incorporate the traditions of the holiday with a fun story of generosity. Library Tidbits BY CRAIG GRAZIANO Holiday Books for Children In LI'L RABBIT'S KWAN- ZAA by Donna Washing- ton, the Rabbit family might have to cancel their feast because Granna is feeling ill. As Li'l Rabbit attempts to save the feast for his Granna, he mentions the situation to all the animals nearby. Though they do not celebrate the holiday, the animals all care for Granna Rabbit and want show their appreciation. When Li'l Rabbit gets home, he finds quite a surprise! The book even has a section that talks about the seven principles for Kwanzaa and how they appear throughout the story. With stories like these, you can celebrate even when reading! Happy Holidays from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library! All titles are available at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library; place them on hold at LibraryPoint.org