What's Coming for Christmas?

by Kate Banks, Georg Hallensleben (Illustrator)

You can see it in the way the snowman's eyes sparkle. Hear it in the voices of carolers echoing in the streets, and in the sounds of children trimming the tree. You can feel it in the warm fire dancing in the hearth. Meanwhile, the mother hen hushes her chicks, the pigs' little tails curl in excitement, and the sheep nod knowingly as all wait in eager anticipation for a joyous Christmas surprise. With lush illustrations as comforting as a Yule-time fire, this tender Christmas lullaby about cherished traditions and welcome surprises is sure to become an annual favorite.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2009

About the author

Kate Banks has written many books for children, among them Max’s Words, And If the Moon Could Talk, winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and The Night Worker, winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award. She grew up in Maine, where she and her two sisters and brother spent a lot of time outdoors, and where Banks developed an early love of reading. “I especially liked picture books,” she says, “and the way in which words and illustrations could create a whole new world in which sometimes real and other times magical and unexpected things could happen.” Banks attended Wellesley College and received her masters in history at Columbia University. She lived in Rome for eight years but now lives in the South of France with her husband and two sons, Peter Anton and Maximilian.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/katebanks

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 1 out of 5]

With the miraculous build up, you'd think Jesus was being born ... but no, just a little pony.

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I thought this would have ties to the birth of Jesus as it eluded to fresh hay in the barn, footsteps in the snow, wise men at a Manger and the sheep nodding to ine another but in the end it was a new pony born in a barn. I didn't get it.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a captivating mystery to Kate Banks' "What's Coming for Christmas?", a mystery further enhanced by Georg Hallensleben's sweepingly beautiful illustrations.

SOMETHING WAS COMING, its pages excitedly declare. Children, animals, and the skies alike are breathless, awaiting the glorious unknown that is Christmas Day. Needless to say, this book is pure magic!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the activities leading up to Christmas and then a new foal born on Christmas Day.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book ended abruptly.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a confusing book!! It ended and my kids and I had no idea what “had come for Christmas”. Very badly written.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

What's coming for Christmas.......a baby horse?!?

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoiler alert: it's the birth of a horse. The way it's presented is a bit of a head-scratcher. Missed opportunity for an actually humorous twist.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is anticipation with very little in the way of resolution. Many of the sections of text start with “Something was coming.” The event is of course Christmas and there is a great deal of snow, the animals are also feeling anticipatory as the main event approaches. There is the smell of cinnamon, spice and fresh pine in the air in the house that is so warm after being out in the cold. Cookies and other goodies are being baked in preparation and the children are excitedly tucked into bed.
However, the actual event of Christmas is dealt with in a very low-key manner. While there is mention of the gifts suddenly appearing under the tree, greater attention is given to the birth of a new pony in the barn. It is an exciting time for the children as they examine the new addition. This lack of a significant treatment of the event of Christmas, there is no mention of the children opening their gifts, will leave many children with a sense of uncertainty. I can envision a child asking, “Did they open their presents daddy?”

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wants to be Snow by Uri Shulevitz, and the Bible.

Good luck with that.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Christmas book. My 3 y.o son liked the questions which repeated and quickly said that those were the parts he'd "read".

[Elaine Bearden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the strong brushstrokes used to create the atmosphere for this Christmas story. Anticipation for the season with Santa is in the book, but also anticipation for a new pony.

[Kifflie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, warm picture book about the anticipation the Christmas season brings, to both humans and animals.

[Courtney Baird]

This is a very colorful book about the changes that this child has noticed as the time for Santa to come to town has arrived. He notices the obvious changes around him but he notices the changes in the animals behavior as if they are telling eachother something is happening or something is close to happening. I think this is a very cute book for younger readers and even a little older readers as well. Obviously there is some probelsm because the use of books that talk about holidays aren't really allowed in school anymore but I think with permission from familes this would be a very cute book to read before Christmas break.