Can you believe it? The Carle is 10 years old! We threw a big bash here at The Carle last month to celebrate. It was a weekend full of book signings, artist doodling, stellar storytimes, reconnecting with old friends and making lots of new ones. It was the perfect time to thank our friends for their support over the past ten years, but we wanted to make sure we thanked those of you who were unable to attend as well. One of the special highlights of the weekend was a chance to purchase a special, autographed doodle by three amazing artists: Eric Carle, Tony DiTerlizzi, and Peter Laird.
Peter Laird, Eric Carle and Tony DiTerlizzi at The Carle
For those of you who were unable to attend, we are going to give away one doodle by each of these artists in the next three weeks. Each doodle is an original sketch, autographed on 9″ x 6″ heavy cardstock. They are a special treasure to frame and give as a holiday gift or keep for yourself as a special memory of The Carle’s 10th Anniversary.
Today we are giving away this doodle by Tony DiTerlizzi:
It’s Thimbletack from The Spiderwick Chronicles! Pair it with an autographed copy of Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You for a fantastic combination.
We want to thank Tony DiTerlizzi for his hours spent doodling for fans and are so grateful he made an extra one that one of you lucky readers will be able to take home! You can read a really touching post Tony wrote on his blog about what The Carle Museum means to him here. Thank you so much, Tony!
How to enter:
1. Leave a comment telling us the title of your favorite holiday picture book and why you love it.
2. Increase your chances of winning by spreading word about our giveway with your friends. In a SEPARATE comment below, leave the direct link to your post about our giveaway on your blog, Twitter, Facebook or other social media site and we’ll enter you in to win TWICE. Remember to leave the link so we can check or your entry won’t count.
Please note: Comments are individually approved to filter out spam, so there may be a delay in your comment appearing below.
Entries must be received before 12:00 pm Eastern time on Wednesday, December 12th. We’ll pick a winner at random and announce it on Thursday, December 13th. Be sure to check back every week for upcoming giveaways of a Peter Laird doodle of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and an Eric Carle doodle of The Very Hungry Caterpillar as well!
Tags: 10th Anniversary, Carle Museum, doodle, Giveaway, Spiderwick Chronicles, Tony DiTerlizzi
Becky’s Christmas, by Tasha Tudor. Tudor depicts a close-knit New England family getting ready for Christmas. The family’s traditions — setting up the creche, cutting the tree, making cookies — are as important as Christmas day itself. Also, Becky is just as excited about the gifts she is making by herself and giving, as she is about what she might receive. And of course, Tudor’s illustrations of the cozy farmhouse, the rural countryside, and an absolutely adorable advent calendar are detailed, warm, and inviting. Although far removed from how many families celebrate Christmas today, with trips to big-box stores and artificial trees, this book shows that it is your family’s traditions which will remain in your Christmas memories.
My favorite picture book is Will Moses’ The Night Before Christmas. He illustrates the classic Clement Moore poem with charmingly vintage scenes, evoking nostalgic memories of country Christmases long ago.
My favorite Christmas picture book is an oldie. I still love How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
One of my most favorite picture books for the holidays is Richard Jesse Watson’s version of The Night Before Christmas!
Our family favorite is How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. Every Christmas day at some point in the afternoon, we go out in the woods as a family with hot chocolate and read it together. The girls love it and is my favorite part of the holiday.
The Night Before Christmas adapted by Jan Brett. I adore the distinctive artwork of this talented author/illustrator and also love that she is from MA as well!
I like a lot of them but Megan McDonald’s Holly Joliday reminds me that even if there is no white Christmas, well you can always make one.
i think my favorite holiday book is Dream Snow by Eric Carle. i love the mystery of it all and the animals are gorgeous, not to mention the twinkling lights on the last page. i teach it every year to my enrichment art class.
“Santa Calls” by William Joyce because I love a story about siblings on an adventure which brings them closer! And of course the wonderful illustrations.
It is too hard to pick just one favorite… but Robert’s Snow (Grace Lin), Gingerbread Baby (Jan Brett), Cobweb Christmas (Climo/Manning), Little Tree (Chris Raschka),and Dream Snow (Eric Carle) are some of our family’s favorites!
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg… the illustrations are incredible, the story is simply amazing, and the magic never fails to tear me up.
My favorite books change all the time, partially because so many new and wonderful books are being written all the time, and partially because I seem to see things differently as time passes. This year, I like Christmas Magic by Michael Garland because it is full of the magic, whimsy, and wonder that should fill this time of year.
My favorite Christmas books if The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett. It is an amusing story and the details of the illustrations are wonderful.
Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel, illustrated by John Ed. Mayer and Trina Schart Hyman. My son just loves the trickery that Hershel plays on the goblins to get them to light the menorah. We both enjoy the lush illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman on every page. Just wonderful.
My favorite Christmas book is The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett. It is an amusing story and the details of the illustrations are wonderful.
The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg. I can still vividly picture my introduction to this masterpiece. It was 1988, I was 7, and starting to enter the worlds of Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Louis Sacher, and all. Picture books were beyond this “well read man of the world.” Yet, I walked into my elementary school’s library and there was this book. I had never seen anything like it. It was carefully placed on display upon the top of a small tattered oak bookshelf. Around it were other fine stories of winter, yet here was this book, the cover reaching out to me with the glow of the engine. I could only take out one book, and while I yearned for yet another Judy Blume story, there was no choice: I had to explore and live in the world of The Polar Express. This wasn’t a picture book, though. It was artwork. It was a world I couldn’t believe somebody managed to dream and then proceed to share with me in such detail. Not only has it remained my favorite Christmas book, it remains one of my all-time favorite books. It allows me to dream, and allows me to always remain a picture book loving kid.
me and my sons favorite book for the holidays is Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh, illustrated by J.Otto Seibold!
My favorite is ‘The Mitten’ by Jan Brett. My mother brought it to us from England in 1989 for my son’s first Chirstmas. It has wonderful illustrations of some resorceful animals. I also like the repeated patterns.
My favorite Christmas picture book is Rocking Horse Christmas by Mary Pope Osborne. The boy in the story is the spitting image of my oldest son when he was a child. From the blond bowl cut to the red slippered pj’s to the horse we had from my aunt. It’s a beautiful story about how a father shares a dear friend from his childhood with his own son.
My favorite holiday picture book is Cornelia Funke’s When Santa Fell to Earth. Her simple story of how Santa and a couple of kids save Christmas resonates with me. Her pencil drawings add so much life to the story.
I love Tony’s artwork!
When I was small, T’Was the Night Before Christmas as our only Christmas book, so it has a place in my heart. When my son’s were smaller they loved Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express. It is such a magical story. My mother sent my son a bell one year that he can still hear ring today! ; )
Better late than never, right? I finally read Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day (today!) and loved the story and the artwork. The story takes me back to the day it snowed in San Francisco when I was in kindergarten. It gets my vote as a great holiday book.
Niroot Puttinapat’s cut-paper version of the Night Before Christmas – the illustrations are exquisite, and the moonlit silhouettes are magical.
All versions of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. It’s a tradition passed down that we read the book 12/24 Eve.
“The Finest Christmas Tree” by Ann and John Hassett. This book came to me when I was a Golden Kite Award judge for SCBWI. It did not win the award but I loved the art and the story still brings a lump in my throat. I kept the book and the Hassetts were nice enough to send me an autographed illustrated book plate.
I have many “favorites”, but Mary Newell DePalma’s Nutcracker Doll is one I return to often during the season. It’s the story of a little girl who dreams of performing in a production of The Nutcracker–and her dream comes true. The detailed illustrations capture the excitement of audition, rehearsal, and performance, as seen by a child. Beautiful!
I have so many favorites but I’ll mention a title I was re-reading this morning, December by Eve Bunting and art by David Diaz. It’s magic and leaves me with such good feelings for this time of year.
Tomie dePaola’s The Clown of God is our new favorite Christmas book. Beautiful illustrations as ever, and a wonderful touching story.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. This book wasn’t around when I was a little girl, but I was thrilled to discover it during my college years when I worked at a lil toy shop called Snoozy’s Kids. It came with a collectible Brio engine, and I bought the set for my niece. She loved trains, but she hardly looked at that one until we’d read the book four times. A bell came with it, too, and she fell asleep with it in her hands. Eleven years later, I gave a similar set to a my own lil boy. He was too young to hold the train, but I read the story to him, tiny and swaddled in my arms. David grew up on that story. In kindergarten, he spent a whole day at school in his pajamas and robe, sipping hot cocoa and playing TPE inspired games. That year, he wrote a secret letter to Santa asking if he could have something special, too, like the bell. He received a wonderful bell that surprised us all. Since then, Santa has brought a crystal ball, an antique iron lock with a raised S on it, a hand stitched suede elf hat, and even an ekf’s hammer. Now that 14yo reads The Polar Express to his baby brother Pax, our 3yo, and we all marvel about how a book becomes family.
Merry Christmas, Everyone:).
I like all of Jan Brett’s winter series, especially The Mitten. As a child I really liked the Grinch. As an adult, I love to read Tomie dePaola’s Christmas Remembered, Little Christmas Pageant, Old Befana, and The Legend of the Poinsettia.
Cries, “I missed it” but I painted on tissue and I’m applying it to my new grand baby’s room, all Eric Carle. I watched the video. But I’m going to have to buy a signed print for Kora.
I really love Snowmen at Christmas. The illustrations and story are so captivating! My students always enjoy this addition to Snowmen at Night. Such fun!