Patricia TohtRecensioni

Toht has a nice sense of rhyme in her books, and I enjoy her vivid and retro-ish illustrations.

Flawless rhythm and charming illustrations make this story of decorating for Christmas shine.

A family picks out and decorates the perfect Christmas tree in this charming holiday picture book from American author Patricia Toht and British illustrator Jarvis. As the rhyming text describes the various trees found at the lot, and then the many steps necessary to turn the one selected from a freshly-cut outdoor evergreen to a magnificently decorated indoor Christmas tree, the artwork expressively depicts the joy of family and friends as they do it all together...

A few years ago I enjoyed Pick a Pumpkin, the Halloween title from this author/illustrator team, and I have been meaning to track down Pick a Pine Tree ever since. I'm glad I finally did this Christmas season, as I found it every bit as delightful as the Halloween title (which happens to have been published subsequently). With a rhyming text that reads well, and colorful artwork that captures the good cheer and fun of the season, this would make an excellent picture book for the Christmas holiday, whether at bedtime or in a story hour event. Recommended to anyone seeking fun holiday reads for the younger picture book set.

This was a fun things online book about pumpkin picking and pumpkin carving. In particular the illustrations are beautiful to look at. This would be fun not just at bedtime, not just at Halloween, but at story time all through the year.

This is a story that walks you through picking a tree....then taking it home....then decorating it. What I do love is that it manages to say "Christmas" without being overt religious (and thus, sadly, turning people off.) I mean, it talks about all the different possibilities that can be on the top of the tree.

Not everyone does do a real tree though, which isn't really stated. I mean, I didn't do a real one (minus one exception) until I was 25 ;)

Fun takes on fashion and reminders on the variety of things girls can do. But not as good as "Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes". Not even close!

Fun illustrations and rhyming story about picking out a tree for Christmas and decorating it.½

What a great trip through the sights in the city of London on a classic bus! Rhyme your way about town together as you read and all of you enjoy the fantastic things to see!
The pages are filled with delightfully colorful illustrations by Sam Usher (reminiscent of Where's Waldo) which add even more fun to this book.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books, via NetGalley. Thank you!

There illustrations were charming, but the rhyming text didn’t always work well when read out loud. But overall, a nice Halloween picture book..

picture book (gender roles/strong careers for girls, preschool through 1st grade)
longer, rhyming text describes an ethnically diverse group of girls acting in various careers--arctic explorer, orchestra conductor, doctor, field scientist, fashion designer, etc.

This book would be wonderful for early readers specifically young girls to encourage them to dress however they want.

I really wanted to like this book. The ending made up for a beginning I hate. The beginning says that there are rules to dressing that girls need to find their own ways to “adhere” to. And then the next few pages are about wearing white or wearing a dress. The ending gets more into wear what you want, and if it doesn’t exist, then design it, but I hate that at the beginning the book says you need to “adhere” to any rules. I think it would have been better to explain while certain things are standard or considered proper than saying you must obey some arbitrary rule.

American author Patricia Toht and British illustrator Jarvis, the team who produced Pick a Pine Tree in 2017, return with this new rhyming holiday picture-book. The text describes a visit to a pumpkin patch, the carving of a jack-o-lantern, and the preparation for Halloween festivities, while the lovely illustrations depict a mixed-race family at the center of a crowd of friends and fellow celebrants, all getting prepared for the big night...

With a rhyming text that reads well - "Let grown-ups cut the top a bit, / big enough for hands to fit. / Reach down deep into the hole, / grab the seeds and give a pull. / Lumpy chunks. Sticky string. / Clumpy seeds. Guts and things. / With a spoon, scrape sides neatly. / Clean the inside out completely" - and bright artwork that boasts plenty of beautiful autumnal colors, Pick a Pumpkin is a lovely new picture-book for Halloween time, and would make an excellent read-aloud selection at story-time. I am a little surprised that it was published so early in the year - it officially released two days ago (on July 9th) - but then, that's a sign of the times, I suppose. In two weeks time they'll probably have Christmas cards for sale at the stationary store. Recommended to anyone looking for new Halloween picture-books for this coming fall.½

Wonderful story of girls dressing as what they choose to be, fireman, football player, astronaut. Girls are not limited in this book. Great book for both girls and boys. Illustrations are bright and beautiful.

This is a great book to show the tradition of picking out a Christmas Tree. It goes through the process of picking out a pine tree. Hanging up the stockings and putting the decorations on the tree are just part of the things discussed in the book. When all is said and done it is no longer a pine tree, but a Christmas tree. The author does a great job of putting it all together from the time they pick out the tree to the very end when all of the decorations on put on the tree. The book has a great retro feel to it and the characters are bold and well drawn. I love the page with the lights out and the children’s eyes glowing with excitement. I would recommend this for any collection looking for a traditional book about Christmas in our present time.

I rarely review holiday books - they circulate only once a year and for Christmas books especially I have a superfluity. However, I will make an exception for an illustrator I really like - like Jarvis!

The cover has splashes of pine tree green against the white snow, and a sparkling red ribbon making the book look like a gift. The end papers are decorated with sparkling white snowflakes against a blue background. Simple, brisk rhymes tell the story of a biracial family choosing and decorating a pine tree. After a joyful meeting of friends and family and an explosion of decor, the tree shines forth in all its glory as a Christmas tree.

Jarvis' bright splashes of color really make this festive book. One page shows the glowing yellow light of an open door and lights against the cold blue of a winter night. Purple and silver tinsel sparks against the warm yellow walls, glowing against many different skin colors as the children and their friends happily deck the tree. A final spread is flipped vertically to make room for the glory of the decorated tree and the admiring decorates, including a dog and cat, sitting around it.

Verdict: The text is short and brisk enough to appeal to small children and Jarvis' bright, cheerful illustrations will make this a cozy book for the whole family to enjoy while preparing for decorating a Christmas tree. Sure to be a hit in my Christmas-themed town!

ISBN: 9780763695712; Published 2017 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the the library