"The Sweet Smell of Christmas" by Patricia M Scarry

I know this comes a little late for the past holiday season, but you can always put this in your knitting queue. I had this book when I was little and now read it with my daughter. She loves the scratch and sniff aspect of this book.

Suggested Book:

The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia M. Scarry

Book Description (from Amazon):

Christmas is almost here! Little Bear can smell it—and so can you! The air is filled with the aroma of gingerbread cookies, minty candy canes, the piney Christmas tree, and yummy hot apple pie. Celebrate the holiday season with this classic Golden storybook which includes six scratch-and-sniff scents.

Suggested Pattern:

I suggest you pair this book with the following:

• An Orange
• A Gingerbreadman Cookie
• A Candy Cane
• Hot Cocoa Mix
• Fun Fur Kitschmas Tree by maryse roudier (Free Knitting)

(Photo image © 2007 by maryse roudier)

For you secular types:

Book Suggestion:

A Solstice Tree for Jenny by Karen Shragg (Author), Heidi Schwabacher (Illustrator)

Book Description: From Booklist (Ages 5-8) There are a number of things wrong with this book--among them, the drippy title. But there's virtually nothing around like it, and the unique point of view is its strength. Jenny, and her parents, who are archaeologists, have never before been home during the holiday season. Now that they are, Jenny notices for the first time that her house is not decorated; her parents don't celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, and she doesn't understand why. The text is purposive, but nevertheless the conversation rings true as Jenny's secular parents explain their beliefs. Jenny is particularly insistent to know whether they believe in the "same good things" as the neighbors. Her mother says that they do, but they don't believe a god created the world. "We think we can be very good people and know what is right to do and not do without having to follow rules that some people believe were written down long ago by their god or by important people in their religion." Throughout, Jenny's parents are sympathetic to their daughter's feelings, and Jenny's questions are thought provoking. Still, she wants a celebration, and when she suggests a winter solstice holiday, her parents gladly agree. Most secular families aren't so strident as Jenny's about holiday observation, but children who are raised without religion will be glad to find a book that mirrors their experience. Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved