The Great Holiday Cookie Swap

by Melanie Kyer, Joe Kulka (Illustrations)

December is full of holidays around the Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and more. When eight cookies representing different cultures come together, they scramble for a spot on top of the holiday pile. The wise Indian shortbread counsels peace, in this rhyming picture book filled with recipes and facts about traditional cookies from Greece, Germany, Israel, central Africa, the U.S., and Mexico.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 5, 2020

Reviews

[Mary Catherine's · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a totally awesome book! It’s cleverly written and really incorporates what the holiday season is about: Peace on earth and good will toward men via cookies! It incorporates the diversity that exists in our world today. Bonus for everyone, are the recipes included so we can try them!

[Elley Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice holiday story told in a rhyming pattern that (for the most part) isn't awkward and flows very well. You can read just the story text of the interactions between the various types of holiday cookies, or for a more informative experience you can also read the text in little scroll banners at the bottom of the page. The story flows better if you just read the story text, but the scrolls have more information on the various types of cookies and the cultures they come from. I read the story text and the scroll text for the first few pages, but that got a bit heavy for my 4 and 6 year old, so I switched to just reading them the rhyming story text.

Guest review by Jaime (age 6):
"I want to eat them all, but not the spicy chocolate one. It's like 'No, I'm the best cookie!' 'No I'm the best cookie!' BAM!"

Guest review by Link (age 4):
"Hey, I want to eat the snowflake one!"

A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.

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Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter

[Maria Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because of the promise of cookie recipes from around the world. But, the argument about what cookie is best is what made me fall in love with it. The cookies bring up valid points, like the mess of the powdered sugar-coated cookie and the potential for peanut allergies with Buckeyes. No modern-day recipe book would be complete without a mention of refined sugar, and the value of nut free, gluten free options. "The Great Holiday Cookie Swap" does this with humor.

The best way to enjoy the rhymes of this book is to save the additional treat information (found in scrolls at the bottom of the page) for a second, separate reading. The flow of the cookie conversation is more fun when not interrupted. Then, returning to each page for the extra details feels like dessert.

[Debra Shumaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Holiday Cookie Swap cracked me up. Eight tins of cookies at the "Cookie Swap" duke it out, each claiming they are the Top Cookie. From Kourabiedes to Mandelbrot to Benne Wafers to Buckeyes, the cookies squabble in a fun, rhyming text until finally one cookie calls for calm. With cookies from all over the world to celebrate the many winter holidays, this book is perfect for everyone! Kids will love it, especially the bonus: recipes for each cookie in the back of the book!

[Pamela Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun new holiday picture book for anyone who likes cookies! I enjoyed learning about different countries and cultures. I really like that the book contains the recipes so you can try some new traditions with you child:)

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable, and can't wait to try the recipes!