HOLIDAY BOOKS For kids

The holidays bring out the biggest names. Here are some gems to share with your younger elementary student -- and your family -- during winter break.
"Auntie Claus and The Key to Christmas" is a sequel to Elise Primavera's popular book. This one will charm readers too, with its sense of fun and bright, witty illustrations.
Another festive holiday book is "Under the Christmas Tree" by Nikki Grimes, a Coretta Scott King Award-winner (HarperCollins, $15.99). The book of poems captures events of the season from skating and shopping to playing in the snow or kissing under the mistletoe. Art by Kadir Nelson is full of neighborhood and family scenes.
Jan Brett is a gifted illustrator, known for her intricate details on every page. This year, "Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve?" (Putnam, $16.99) is a delightful tale of trolls and a Christmas Eve surprise.
"Christmas Tapestry" by Patricia Polacco (Philomel, $16.99) is another finely woven story of a Michigan miracle by an award-winning Michigan author and illustrator. Like many of Polacco's stories, this one weaves in diversity of generations, religion and nations. The tale involves a pastor's family recently relocated to Detroit.
Another story bringing together generations is the more simple 'Christmas in the Country" by Cynthia Rylant and Diane Goode (Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $15.95). It's the second time the gifted writer and illustrator have teamed up, this time celebrating the traditions of an old-fashioned Christmas.
The young artist at your house can deck the halls -- or at least the windows -- with "Christmas Window Art" by Barbara Kane (Klutz, $19.95). This gives you a book and supplies to create holiday art. Also from Klutz is "Very Fun, Slightly Sticky Stuff To Do with Candy" ($16.95). Like all the Klutz books, it's filled with fun and fairly easy projects to keep young chefs busy. It has candy ideas for all year-round.
Speaking of cooking, a great gift book for the family is "Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup: Recipes for the Kid in Everyone" (HarperCollins, $22.99). Emeril Lagasse has lots of adult fans, but his sense of fun, humor and style translates well to a children's cookbook. Illustrator Charles Yuen makes the recipes easy to follow with colorful icons that help illustrate steps.
Knight Ridder Newspapers