Auntie Claus
By Elise Primavera

Sophie Kringle's mysterious great aunt, Auntie Claus dresses in glamorous red velvet gowns with white ermine trim, and she serves Christmas cookies at teatime, even in July! Is Auntie Claus just another eccentric New Yorker? Yes, but answering that question takes Sophie to a faraway world on an adventure that leads straight to the heart of Christmas.

Large illustrations usable for group viewing, one of Dodie's favorites! (Dodie would like to be Auntie Claus.)

Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas
By Elise Primavera

The companion book to Elise Primavera's much-celebrated Auntie Claus, gives Sophie Kringle's younger brother, Christopher, a turn in the starring role. Finally, Chris will learn the Kringle family secret-- that his great-aunt Auntie Claus, inhabitant of penthouse 25C of New York City's Bing Cherry Hotel, is Santa Claus's older sister!

Dodie would prefer to be Santa's younger sister.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
By Eric Kimmel, Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

Hershel saves Hanukkah for the village by confrontng the Goblins that haunt the old synagogue at the top of the hill. And no one expected to ever see Hershel again!

Seven Spools of Thread A Kwanzaa Story
By Angela Shelf Medearis, Illustrated by Daniel Minter

In an African village live seven brothers who make family life miserable with their constant fighting. When their father dies, he leaves an unusual will: by sundown the brothers must make gold out of seven spools of colored thread. If they fail, they will be left with no inheritance and will be turned out as beggars!

Dodie did this reading interactively with the children, including seven enormous spools of brightly colored yarns. A big hit with parents, too!

How I Saved Hanukkah
By Amy Goldman Koss

Marla Feinstein is the only Jewish kid in her fourth grade class, and she knows what December will be like. She'll be staring at a big plastic dreidel. The holidays couldn't get much worse!

"A gem of a story." - Booklist.

The Nutcracker
By E.T.A. Hoffman

Adapted by Janet Schulman

Illustrated by Renee Graef

Includes CD!

The ballet is full of unanswered questions, and this beautifully illustrated edition restores the original story and enhances the appreciation of the ballet.

The Biggest, Best Snowman
By Margery Cuyler

Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

A little girl accomplishes big things in this winning picture book. "Big Mama, Big Sarah, and Big Lizzie" tell Little Nell she's too small to be of help, so Little Nell spends her days in the snow playing with her forest friends but discovers that no one is too small to accomplish BIG things! (Please note that the cover picture you will see on Amazon is incorrect, but the isbn number is correct.)

Santa's Twin
By Dean Koontz

Illustrated by Phil Parks

Here is a story for older kids (8-99 or so), about two little girls, Charlotte and Emily, who set out to save Santa from his mischievous twin, Bob Claus. (Dodie points out that now that we know who Auntie Claus is, we have at least three Claus siblings!)