The Best Parts of Christmas
Written and Illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia
Remember when you enjoyed the family Christmas tree so much that you hated to see the tree leave? Even when it had lost all the needles and turned into a fire hazard? This is the premise for this fun new book. The author follows Fritz and his dog as he and his parents select a tree at a farm. Fritz is a little confused, since rule #5 of the house rules is “No branches, sticks, or twigs allowed indoors.” But he doesn’t bring it up. He is in charge of the ornaments. The usual ornaments must be places close together so they can be close to their friends. Quickly, he notices anything can be an ornament, so the tree ends up beautifully decorated. And the decorating continues with cookies, candy canes, and many gifts. Fritz loves the tree so much, he wishes for it to always stay. Of course, it can’t stay, but Fritz can decorate one branch in his room. And that way, he can remember. The illustrations add to the fun by showing the personalities of Fritz, his dog, and his parents.
First graders can practice their literacy skills while learning about holiday traditions.
Title: The Best Parts of Christmas- Author/Illustrator: Bethanie Deeney Murguia
- Published: Candlewick, 2015
- Reviewer: Sue Poduska
- Format: Hardback, 32 pages
- Grade Level: PreK to 2
- Genre: Fiction, Holidays, Family
- ISBN: 978-0-7636-7556-1
