Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons

Cookies

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Jane Dyer (Illustrator)

From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of I Wish You More , Amy Krouse Rosenthal, this scrumptious follow-up to the bestselling Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons captures the real spirit of the Christmas season. Makes a thoughtful gift, especially accompanied with some home-baked cookies. From making the same kind of cookies at the same time each year ( tradition ) to decorating them with lots of sprinkles ( celebrate ), emergent readers will gobble up gentle holiday lessons in this charming book. Amy Krouse Rosenthal's timeless morsels of wisdom paired with Jane Dyer's cozy illustrations are as irresistible as the aroma of cookies fresh from the oven. Perfect for learning concept words as well as for readers of all ages as they celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Food, Cooking, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

SHORT BIO:

Amy Krouse Rosenthal was.
She divided her time.


NOT SO SHORT BIO:

Amy Krouse Rosenthal was a person who liked to make things.
Some things she liked to make include:

Children's books. (Little Pea, Spoon, DuckRabbit)
Grown-up books. (Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life)
Short films. (The Beckoning of Lovely, The Money Tree)
Guided journals. (The Belly Book)
Something out of nothing. (see above)

A longtime contributor to WBEZ and to the TED conference,
Amy lived with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book that defines some really extraordinary vocabulary words in a way that all readers can relate to them. Just lovely!
The words covered are: anticipation, tradition, disappointed, celebrate, appreciative, prosperity, charitable, responsible, moderation, reciprocate, frustrated, perseverance, selfish, thoughtful, lonely, sharing, gratitude, family, gracious, believe, joy, peace, hope.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of the container of vintage cookie cutters I inherited after my grandma passed away. I always liked looking at these impression cutters as a child and imagining the elaborate cookies I would make. Somehow I feel the imagining was far more fun for me than actually making the cookies would be.

I liked The unusual choice of having both human and animal characters in this book. It lent it a whimsical and magical feeling. Christmas cookies are used to present a variety of values like sharing and helping to young readers.

Vegan parents note: The book concludes with a Christmas cookie recipe that calls for eggs. However, eggs are easy to substitute in baked goods.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each page has a word defined in expressions of Christmas and baking.

Ages: 4+

Cleanliness: has Santa Claus. "My goodness" is said.

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[The Bougie Twins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

So darling! Great lessons on faith, sharing, friendship, etc. I adore Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s books.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever book to help children understand concepts like reciprocal, prosperity, charitable, tradition and more all through the making and eating of Christmas cookies.

The illustrations evoke a nostalgic Christmas.

Warning: You'll want some cookies after you read this.

[Cecile · Rating 1 out of 5]

Each page has a word, what it means for the holiday and an illustration. Prosperity has nothing to do with the spirit or meaning of the day or season.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

25 months - O really loves this book and the original one as well. Heck it's about cookies and it has exceptionally cute pictures. The vocabulary learned in these book seems as though it would be over her head but she's seems very interested in their meaning. I've also heard her use more than one of these big concept words in her daily life! Blows me away! Sometimes when we read this book I will add a bit more explanation or reword things in a way that I think O will understand. It's a great discussion book and a book every kid should read a many times. We all need to have better manners and appreciate one another more.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it's because this one has a holiday theme, or maybe it's because I make cookies around Christmas for my neighbors and co-workers, or maybe it is because I can embrace sweetness so much more now, but this was my favorite of Rosenthal's cookie books. I liked the gentleness and sweetness of the illustrations. Liked seeing the additions of elves, dancing bunnies, a giraffe. And I liked the various aspects one may experience not just at the holidays in actions and emotions. Very good. Probably wise to have all the Cookie books in the home to help teach children these important life lessons.

More of a 3.5.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the "Bite-Size" lesson books by Amy Rosenthal that I have read. Picture books that encourage vocabulary expansion and variety like this one always have a special place in my heart. Christmas Cookies does just that while also giving sprinkles of ethics such as: tradition, appreciation, charity, responsibility, moderation and perseverance. This would be a wonderful book to share with early elementary age students or younger, and a great gift for the holiday season.

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a great book with simple definitions and beautiful and engaging illustrations! I loved reading this book to my daughter this fall. I had to even make a request to have it delivered to library nearest me because it was a part of my local library. Especially seeing how my daughter tried to use the vocabulary in her conversations...that is priceless! I'll definitely hunt down a copy to add to our personal library.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So beautiful. Not sure whether to mark this a "picture" book or not ... there are lovely pictures. But the word definitions are what "makes" the book for me. My favorite is probably the one about eating more than zero cookies but less than too many. Can't remember what that was ... restraint? Anyway. Reminded me of my very favorite in all the world Frog and Toad story.

[Jennifer (sullivan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book/Non-Fiction

I really enjoyed this book and I think most young boys ans girls ill enjoy it too. You learn life lessons which is always good and you also learn the meaning of different words while baking Christmas Cookies.; it can't get much better than that! I really liked the illustrations too.

[Alexis Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas cookies is a super cute book. Each page has one larger vocabulary word on the page in bold letters followed by an example of the word in reference to the story. This book would be great to read around Christmas time, of course. I really like how this book incorporates larger words that indirectly teach children the meaning through the text.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiction; Older Children/Christmas
3 stars

I wanted to like this more than I did. I had a different idea of what these "lessons" would be. I expected a picture book geared towards young children but it really isn't.

Basically, this book is page by page of word + definition. It is okay if your child is old enough to understand such terminology but it seems like something for kids much older.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book was originally written in 2008 they use illustrations such that it appears it was written in the 1950's or so giving it a nostalgic feeling to it. It is sort of a dictionary of sorts of all emotions that go along with the Christmas holiday. Like tradition, gratitude, appreciative etc. All associated with baking cookies.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully warm and deliciously enticing, these bite-size lessons have everything to do with understanding life's most precious moments, whether good or bad, without all the calories, of course. Christmas hopes and winter dreams are encapsulated in beautifully illustrated vignettes.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this addition to the "Cookie" series. Each word ties well with the act of baking Christmas cookies and the words chosen define "Christmas spirit." I liked "Tradition means each year at the same time we make the same cookies and wear our special matching aprons."

[Laura Giessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still an amazing approach to unpacking these big words/ideas, but I didn't like this one as much as the others in the series, maybe because I have my own slightly different thoughts about important words like joy and peace.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces longer, more difficult words that a young reader may not understand, but through the descriptions of how these words relate to Christmas cookies and baking a child would learn their meanings a little easier.

[Whitney Pittsenbarger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore these books. So far I've found a holiday and a non-holiday one. If anyone knows of more please let me know. These are BY FAR the best ways I've ever seen to explain complicated emotions and feelings.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I add a Christmas book to our family collection every year, and I do believe I've found my 2008 book.

[Deirdre K]

Sounds like a fantasy pairing---one of my favorite illustrators, Jane Dryer, with Rosenthal, a funny and endearing writer. Glad to learn of it!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet for the holidays. I like this one as much as the original "Cookies".

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful holiday vocabulary lesson with charming illustrations by Jane Dyer. There's even a recipe for Christmas Cookies at the very end :)

[Josette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learn new vocabulary words while you read!

[Kristel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The format is great - word and definition / lesson in small bite size portions. Great springboard for discussion with children about everyday values especially at Christmas time.

[Candi]

Ages 5-10

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely way to introduce vocabulary words often heard around the holidays, such as "tradition", "charitable", and "joy". A recipe for Christmas cookies is included.

[Mariella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!!