The Family Read-Aloud Holiday Treasury

Though at first glance the cover price on this 154-page book seems a bit steep, a quick perusal of the table of contents reveals that the expense is justified. Low has pulled together a richly diverse sampling of poems, short stories, folktales and book excerpts--all celebrating holidays of varying renown, from Thanksgiving to Earth Day, from Canada Day to Christmas. Kids will recognize some of Brown's art, including the typically high-spirited portrayals of his well-loved, bespectacled aardvark from the Arthur books. His illustrations,which are stylishly integrated with the text, convey the distinct mood of each holiday, from the apprehensiveness surrounding the first day of school to the good cheer emanating from a family's dinner table on the first night of Hanukkah. Langston Hughes, Jack Prelutsky, Eleanor Farjeon, Beverly Cleary and Russell Hoban are among the contributors to this exuberant collection, which proves that 'tis the season for celebration--at any point during the year. All ages. (Oct.)