ARE WE THERE, YET?

Having family in various places, we always seem travel during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  When our kids were little and we made the 2 and 1/2 hour drive on holidays, I tried to have good books in the car for the trip or to look at with Grandma and Grandpa after we arrived.  The kids would get so excited, it was nice to have something to help calm them down for a little quiet time in the middle of all the hustle and bustle!  Here are some fun holiday versions of books that I featured in a past post that will keep your kids busy "looking" and "spying":


I SPY CHRISTMAS, by Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick (4-8)


I SPY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, Jean Marzollow, Walter Wick (baby-preschool)


CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Walter Wick (4-8)


LOOK A-LIKES CHRISTMAS by Joan Steiner (4-8)

I SPY...

For parents who've heard, "How long until we get there?" (from the backseat) or "How much longer do we have to wait?" (often asked at doctor visits) - these books are for you! Filled with hidden objects, animals, people, and fairytale characters, the artwork and photographs in these books will keep your children happily occupied during long drives, plane trips, waiting time at doctor appointments, or just good old Quiet Time!

The WHERE'S WALDO? books, by Martin Hanford, became a craze in the late 1980's. While I can't deny that this cartoon-style series is fun, see my recommendations below for some extra special choices...

EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM by Allan Ahlberg, illustrations by Janet Ahlberg (ages 4-8) Nursery rhyme characters sneak their way into gentle drawings - in the cupboard, on the stairs, in the forest...little ones will love this clever story! Also look for: THE JOLLY POSTMAN, where every other page is an envelope containing letters to fairytale characters. For example, there's a note for the Three Bears from Goldilocks, who not only apologizes for the trouble she's caused, but invites Baby Bear to her birthday party. Adorable!!

ANIMALIA by Graeme Base. (ages 4-8) This, the first of many original books by Base, is an elaborately illustrated alphabet book of paintings like no other you've ever seen! Packed with detail and layers and layers of objects matched to their corresponding letter on each two-page spread.

I SPY... (series) by Walter Wick, began with I SPY: A PICTURE BOOK OF RIDDLES, published in 1992. All the books have riddles by Jean Marzollo, in two-page spreads of objects hidden in photographs by Walter Wick.

CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? (newer series, ages 4-8) written and photographed by Walter Wick. These books not only have riddles, but also puzzles and brain teasers matched to the pages jam-packed with photos of objects to be found.

CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE, SEYMOUR? (ages baby-preschool) Same as above, but for a younger crowd.

LOOK-ALIKES: THE MORE YOU LOOK, THE MORE YOU SEE! (series, ages 5 & up) by Joan Steiner. These amazing books are full of photographs and riddles, but unlike Walter Wick's series, Steiner photographs three dimensional scenes that are made of everyday objects - like matchboxes, pretzels, crayons, and slices of bread, that double as trucks, chairs, a sidewalk, etc. Delightfully deceiving!!!

LOOK-ALIKES JR. (series, ages 2 & up) "To Look-Alike Land! We're blasting full throttle on a spaceship that looks like a THERMOS BOTTLE!" You've got to see it to believe it.