FROM SARAH:

Older kids and teens will enjoy this one a lot-- so will you, mama. It's the classic tale from O. Henry, and I like this edition as well as the one illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger.

Recommended for ages 6+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store. O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of unfaltering love, a haven from the harsh world outside. The poignancy of his story is captured in P.J. Lynch's eloquent art, wherein every glance, every gesture, tells a subtle truth.

**Description from Amazon: "Hest simply and faithfully holds a mirror to the milestone event for millions of turn-of-the-century immigrants." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)When a young girl from a poor eastern European village learns that she must leave her beloved grandmother for a new life — and a new love — i...

**Description from Amazon: A Parents Best Children’s Book of 2019A warm, uplifting story about a boy, his dog, and the healing power of music marks a first-time collaboration between two former Irish Children’s Laureates, Eoin Colfer and P.J. Lynch.Patrick has been desperate for a dog of his own for as long as he can reme...

**Description from Amazon: This collection of magical tales brings to life the boggarts, gowks, fools, hobgoblins, and other strange and wonderful creatures that populate English and Welsh folklore

FROM SARAH:

I just love P.J. Lynch's illustrations. This longer picture book tells the story of the pilgrims voyage, their deadly first year, and settlement with help from Squanto and local tribes, all told from John Howard's perspective.

Recommended for older kids (ages 7+)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Leaving the docks of London on the Mayflower as an indentured servant to Pilgrim John Carver, John Howland little knew that he was embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. By his great good fortune, John survived falling overboard on the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, and he earned his keep ashore by helping to scout a safe harbor and landing site for his bedraggled and ill shipmates. Would his luck continue to hold amid the dangers and adversity of the Pilgrims’ lives in New England? P.J. Lynch captures this pivotal moment in American history in precise and exquisite detail, from the light on the froth of a breaking wave to the questioning voice of a teen in a new world.

**Description from Amazon: Witnessed through the eyes of a young boy, a captivating story beautifully evokes John F. Kennedy’s return to his ancestral home.When the beloved president visited Ireland in 1963, he described it as the best four days of his life. And for a generation of Irish people, it was a trip they never for...

**Description from Amazon: “Rarely does a biography so robustly engage the audience's emotions.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)Historians claim him as one of America’s most revered presidents. But to his rambunctious sons, Abraham Lincoln was above all a playful and loving father. Here is Lincoln as seen by tw...

FROM SARAH:

I just love P.J. Lynch's illustration style, and pairing him with Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol was a brilliant move. Love this one.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

The story of Ebenezer Scrooge opens on a Christmas Eve as cold as Scrooge's own heart. That night, he receives three ghostly visitors: the terrifying spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Each takes him on a heart-stopping journey, yielding glimpses of Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit, the horrifying spectres of Want and Ignorance, even Scrooge's painfully hopeful younger self. Will Scrooge's heart be opened?