A Homemade Together Christmas

by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, Maryann Cocca-Leffler (Illustrator)

Overview

A family decides their Christmas gifts to each other must be homemade rather than store bought.

A family of adorable pigs decides that this year they will make their gifts to each other for Christmas rather than buy gifts. Each family member is excited to try. Momma makes breakfast, Dad makes a blanket, and sister Rosie sings a song. But the littlest pig struggles to come up with an idea. What can he make?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807533673
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	10/01/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Maryann Cocca-Leffler has been a passionate disability rights advocate since the birth of her daughter Janine. Maryann is also an award-winning author and illustrator of over sixty books for children, including We Want to Go to School!, Same Way Ben, and Theo's Mood. She lives and works on the coast of Maine.

Read an Excerpt

A Homemade Together Christmas

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By Maryann Cocca-Leffler

ALBERT WHITMAN & Company

Copyright © 2015 Maryann Cocca-Leffler
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8075-3366-6

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CHAPTER 1

Luca was helping decorate for Christmas.

Luca's sister, Rosie, held up the star she made last year out of twigs and moss.

"The homemade ornaments are my favorite," said Momma.

"Things we make by hand are always the most special," said Dad.

"Why don't we make each other Christmas gifts this year?" suggested Rosie.

"We'll have a homemade Christmas!" said Momma.

"What does that mean?" asked Luca.

"We are going to make our gifts instead of buy them," explained Rosie. "I already have an idea!" She ran upstairs to her room.

"What can I make?" asked Luca.

"You'll think of something," said Dad.

Luca went to his room and wrote some ideas in his notepad.

bake a cake

"No, I can't use the oven by myself."

plant a garden

"That won't work. It's not spring."

make a warm hat

"But I don't know how to knit."

He looked over his notes.

Luca needed some new ideas.

He followed a sweet smell to the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Luca asked Momma.

"I'm making something for my homemade gift," said Momma.

"What is it?" asked Luca.

"You'll find out on Christmas morning!" said Momma.

"What can I make?"

"How about making something with origami?" suggested Momma.

Luca wrote in his notepad.

Luca tried his origami bird idea.

But he could not get the folding just right.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from A Homemade Together Christmas by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Copyright © 2015 Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Excerpted by permission of ALBERT WHITMAN & Company.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

09/14/2015
Homespun in both its message and delivery, Cocca-Leffler’s ode to the true spirit of Christmas introduces an amiable pig family that is shaking up its traditions. When Luca’s sister, Rosie, proposes they create homemade presents for each other this year, Luca is stumped. He bungles gift-making ideas from his parents and Rosie, but Momma’s words of consolation (“the best part of Christmas is spending time together. There is no better gift”) provide just the right inspiration. A heartwarming Christmas-morning finale crystalizes the story’s theme of togetherness, as the presents (elderberry syrup, a blanket big enough for four, a song, and a jar of family activity suggestions) are enjoyed equally by all. Playful details in Cocca-Leffler’s festive watercolors—Luca’s impractical gift ideas scribbled on sticky notes; hair curlers Momma wears but scarcely needs—add a touch of spice to the sweetness. Ages 4–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"The story is satisfying in both length and emotional tone, with everyone contributing to the family's celebration in a meaningful way. Charming watercolor illustrations of the porcine household include amusing clothing for all the pigs and a cozy home decorated for Christmas."—Kirkus Reviews

"A heartwarming Christmas-morning finale crystalizes the story's theme of togetherness, as the presents are enjoyed equally by all. Playful details in Cocca-Leffler's festive watercolors—Luca's impractical gift ideas scribbled on sticky notes; hair curlers Momma wears but scarcely needs—add a touch of spice to the sweetness."—Publishers Weekly

"The whimsical watercolor illustrations depicting a family of clothed, dainty-hooved, rotund pigs will charm readers, as will the way each family member's gift harmonizes with the others to create a special Christmas morning. A sweet and nonpreachy depiction of an old-fashioned, noncommercial way to celebrate the holiday."—School Library Journal

"This thoughtful text is a winsome ode to the joys of creating and of sharing holiday time with loved ones. Add this to a holiday storytime lineup (possibly followed by a gift-making craft session) or use it to inspire some homemade family gift-giving."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

10/01/2015
PreS-Gr 1—When Luca's family decide to give one another only homemade Christmas presents this year, his sister, mom, and dad get to work on their surprises right away. Although he has plenty of good ideas—build a snow bear, make honey granola, make origami birds—none of them work out right. Luca's mother consoles him by saying the best part of Christmas is spending time together, which gives him a terrific idea that incorporates parts of his earlier failed gifts. The whimsical watercolor illustrations depicting a family of clothed, dainty-hooved, rotund pigs will charm readers, as will the way each family member's gift harmonizes with the others to create a special Christmas morning. VERDICT A sweet and nonpreachy depiction of an old-fashioned, noncommercial way to celebrate the holiday.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

2015-08-12
As they decorate their tree together, a family of anthropomorphic pigs decides to make all their Christmas gifts instead of buying them. The story focuses on Luca, the son in the family of four, who struggles to come up with an idea for a gift he can create by himself. He writes down all sorts of ideas, but everything is too hard or out of season. With suggestions from his family, he tries origami birds, homemade granola, and a snow-bear sculpture, but nothing works out quite right. Finally, on Christmas Eve, he uses the remains of his previous projects to create a jar of 365 ideas for "Together To-Dos"—activities for the whole family to experience throughout the year. On Christmas morning, the first activity chosen is to "watch the sunrise from the porch." So the family does that while sharing Momma's gift of a tree-shaped stack of blueberry pancakes. They are kept warm by Dad's gift of a family-sized quilt as they are entertained with sister Rosie's original Christmas song. The story is satisfying in both length and emotional tone, with everyone contributing to the family's celebration in a meaningful way. Charming watercolor illustrations of the porcine household include amusing clothing for all the pigs and a cozy home decorated for Christmas. This pleasing story might well inspire some homemade Christmas gifts or even an outdoor Christmas morning breakfast with a tree-shaped stack of blueberry pancakes. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews