Library Corner - Stories for Older Children (4 and up)

This is not our regularly scheduled Library Corner, but I have a list of books I'd like to share.  A couple of weeks ago I went through the online catalog and put about 30 Christmas books on hold for us.  I picked them up last night, and after glancing through them, these are the ones I'll be returning today.  I've read them all, and they are great, they are just a little too advanced or long to hold M & R's attentions.  I would say these would probably be great for about 4 and up.
Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas by Elise Primavera - What a fun book!  Christopher Kringle, who lives with his parents, older sister and aunt in a posh New York suite, decides that he doesn't believe in Santa!  What a surprise when he is let in on a little family secret that will forever change his attitude about Christmas!

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck - This book made me cry!  A wonderful story about a teenager, who realizing that his father loves him, wakes up early to milk the cows on Christmas morning so that his father won't have to.  I'm looking forward to checking out this book again once the kids are a bit older. 

Christmas City by Michael Garland - A fun look-and-find and puzzle book.  The storyline is fairly simple, but the puzzles were a little outside M's understanding, and we have plenty of Christmas books, so I thought I'd return it so that an older child could get more use out of it.

Christmas Stories for the Very Young by Edited by Sally Grindley - A compilation of six short Christmas stories.  The stories range in topics from a story about the sheep that were left behind all by themselves when the shepherds went to visit Baby Jesus to a story about a little girl whose only wish is to have snow for Christmas.  They were really cute, I just knew that they were a little bit long and little bit sparse in pictures for M's taste.

Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anaya - This book tells the story about how luminarias, a New Mexican Christmas tradition, were invented.  Might not be a particularly relevant book to many of you, but for those of us born and raised in the traditions and customs of New Mexico, it is nice to have a children's book that reflects the unique aspects of our culture.

The Santero's Miracle by Rudolfo Anaya - Another great New Mexican book by this wonderful author.  (Check out his adult books as well, they are wonderful New Mexican classics).  It is so nice to be able to read about Santos, bizcochitos, and the beautiful culture of Northern New Mexico in a children's book.

The Magic Maguey by Tony Johnston - A Mexican Christmas story about a plant called a Maguey that provides so many needs for the entire village.  When someone talks about cutting it down to build a house, a little boy finds a way to save it.  It was a cute story, but not really one that M would be able to identify with.