Quail Ridge gears up for holiday events, recommends seasonal books

If books are on your holiday shopping list, check out these recommendations for kids from Quail Ridge Books & Music.

Posted 1:20 a.m. Nov 30, 2011 — Updated 1:20 a.m. Nov 30, 2011

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

It's a busy season at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh. They have all kinds of holiday events and concerts in December. And the children's staff, who I often rely on for recommendations for my own kids, also have picked some of their favorite children's books for the season.

Here are just a handful of the events scheduled at Quail Ridge next month. They're all free!

10 a.m., Saturday. Santa and Mrs. Claus make their annual visit to Quail Ridge. Bring your camera for photos.
6 p.m., Dec. 6. Raleigh Boychoir artistic director Robert Unger discusses "The Un-Changed Treble Voice in Boys" The Resident Choir will perform carols, and other favorites
7 p.m., Dec. 10. WRAL-TV's Bill Leslie will play from and talk about his new CD, A Midnight Clear: Christmas in Mitford.
3 p.m., Dec. 11.Raleigh poet Sally Buckner brings "Nineteen Visions of Christmas," an innovative and interactive collection of poems that celebrate the Christmas season. A delight for all ages.
7 p.m., Dec. 13. Carol Crane visits with "The Christmas Tree Ship," a story that draws the reader into another time, almost 100 years ago. The illustrations by Chris Ellison evoke a real sense of nostalgia and also a feeling of what the holidays should be truly about. For ages 4-8.
2:30 p.m., Dec. 18. Mishpacha plays from their CD "Celebrations." It's a free family-friendly Hanukkah concert.

Here are some of their holiday children's book recommendations:

The Christmas Tree Ship by Carol Crane (Sleeping Bear $15.95). Carol Crane has created a modern Christmas legend, based on the true story of an intrepid captain and his schooner. Ages 4 and up.
The First Christmas – Jan Pienkowski (Knopf $9.99). Pienkowski's work shows that small packages can still have much elegance. His detailed silhouettes and artful use of color for emphasis enhance the classic Biblical Christmas story. Ages 5 and up.
Joy To The World – Saviour Pirotta (Frances Lincoln $8.95). Reading from this collection of five Christmas stories from around the world, from Mexico to Ghana, could begin a new holiday tradition. Malta's 'Baby in the Bread' fills in a missing episode in the Bible. Ages 5 and up.
Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker – Mary Engelbreit (Harper Collins $17.99) The famed illustrator re-imagines the classic holiday story with a 1920s flair. Engelbreit's elaborate, colorful pictures contain many hidden surprises. It's a true Christmas confection. Ages 5 and up.
One Starry Night – Thompson (McElderry $16.99). It's bedtime at a certain stable in Bethlehem, even for the animals. All is calm, all is quiet. Ages 2 and up.
A Bad Kitty Christmas – Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook $15.99). The wild and (really not) Bad Kitty races through alphabets of holiday greed. But time with a wise new friend, and help from a faithful old one, ensure a happy holiday for all. Bruel's created a colorful, bold, frenetic Christmas keeper. Ages 4 and up.

I'll share more of their non-holiday book picks later this week.

For other holiday events, gift ideas, activities and more, check out Go Ask Mom's Holiday Page.

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