December Classic of the Month: Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates

This December, pick up a classic for the little one in your life! We recommend our Book of the Month, Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge and illustrated by Alice Carsey as the perfect stocking stuffer.

A beloved childhood favorite for a century and a half (and a book that readers continue to enjoy and appreciate long into adulthood), Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates went through more than 100 editions during the author's lifetime alone.

First published in 1865, this replica of the 1917 edition features the exquisite illustrations by Alice Carsey, whose sensitive eye and delicate pen-and-ink lines enliven the tale of the poor but virtuous Dutch boy in a way that few other artists have achieved. This replica edition brings the enchanting work of Dodge and Carsey to a new generation of children.

Dodge's book takes place in the Netherlands and is a fictional portrait of early 19th-century Dutch life. The perfect gift for the children's lit lover, young adult reader, and avid bookworms in your life.

About the Author
Author and editor Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905) was born in New York City. She served as editor of the children's magazine St. Nicholas, to which she attracted such writers as Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Rudyard Kipling. She also authored the short-fiction collection Irvington Stories (1864).

December Quote of the Month: "Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents!"

"Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents!"
—Louisa May Alcott in Little Women

It is one of the most beloved novels in the English language, and its protagonists among the best friends a reader can have. Louisa May Alcott's Little Women—inspired by her own childhood with three sisters in Concord, Massachusetts—is the simple, elegant tale of tomboy Jo March, who strains against the limitations of women of her time, and dependable Meg, compassionate Beth, and spoiled Amy. Their childhood adventures and squabbles as well as their adult romances and travels continue to enthrall and delight readers a century and a half after the novel was first published, and have inspired stage plays, comic books, and countless film adaptations. Timelessly classic, this is an essential work for any library of 19th-century literature.

 

About the Author

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), one of the most well-known American novelists of the 19th century, was born on November 29, 1832 to transcendentalist educator Amos Bronson Alcott and his wife, Abigail May Alcott. She was the second of four sisters (like Jo, her literary corollary), and grew up in a family that encouraged and sympathized with her abolitionist and feminist leanings. As a child she received instruction from noted literary figures such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, all family friends. In addition to the Little Women series, which included four novels, she wrote 28 other works, three under the pen name A.M Barnard. Though Alcott had chronic health problems in her later years, most likely attributed to an autoimmune disease, she continued to write until her death at 55 in 1888.

December Classic of the Month: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

Cosimo is celebrating all things Christmas this month by curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and our Classic of the Month, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum!

How did Santa Claus invent the first toy? Why does he travel by night and enter homes via chimney? How did he come to travel with eight reindeer? Beloved writer L. Frank Baum introduces us to a fantastical Father Christmas raised by a fairy queen among the magical denizens of an enchanted forest, a mortal among immortals who outwits evil Awgwas in his quest to share gifts and spread love around the world. First published in 1902, this is a beautiful, mythic tale, one that will charm children of all ages.

About the Author
Beloved writer Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) was the creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and author of 13 other Oz novels; plus 41 other novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts.

December Book of the Month: The Christmas Mice

"Isn't that strange? It took some babies to teach grown-ups to be nice to each other. Do you suppose that has anything to do with Christmas?" - The Christmas Mice

Our festive Book of the Month for the last month of 2015 is The Christmas Mice by John White and illustrated by Dorothy L. Hall.

The Christmas Mice, a tale for children, is a heartwarming story of love and acceptance. It tells of two mice, Roger and Emily, who are outcasts from their community because they are different. One is green, the other is red-the colors of Christmas.

Encouraged by the birth of his children and the beauty of a Christmas tree, Roger teaches the rest of the meadowmice an important lesson about love and brotherhood. As the two main characters gain acceptance and understanding from the other mice, the importance of peace and oneness of all life is sensitively communicated.

The Christmas Mice is a touching tale with a powerful message that will delight young readers of all ages. The book is available in paperback at Amazon, and in paperback at Barnes & Noble. It is also available for your Kindle.


About the Author
John White is an internationally-known author in the fields of consciousness research and higher human development. His writing has appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, Omni, Esquire and Woman's Day, and his books have been translated into ten languages. He holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a master of arts degree in teaching from Yale University. He has served on the governing and consulting boards of various academic and research organizations. He has also lectured at various colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada, and has made numerous radio and television appearances.

About the Illustrator
Dorothy L. Hall is an illustrator, art teacher, and cartoonist. She worked as a visual journalist for 20 years and taught Newspaper Design and Magazine Editing and Production at Southern Conn. State University. During the 70’s she was a muralist for the Peabody Museum in New Haven, Connecticut, and has had seven one-woman shows of her paintings.

December Classic of the Month: Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates

"Gretel looked at her [mother] in troubled silence, wondering whether it were very wicked to care more for one parent than for the other-and sure, yes, quite sure, that she dreaded her father, while she clung to her mother with a love that was almost idolatry." -- from Hans Brinker

A beloved childhood favorite for a century and a half--and a book that readers continue to enjoy and appreciate long into adulthood--Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates went through more than 100 editions during the author's lifetime alone. First published in 1865, this replica of the 1917 edition features the exquisite illustrations by Alice Carsey, whose sensitive eye and delicate pen-and-ink lines enliven the tale of the poor but virtuous Dutch boy in a way that few other artists have achieved. This replica edition brings the enchanting work of Dodge and Carsey to a new generation of children.

Dodge's book takes place in the Netherlands and is a fictional portrait of early 19th-century Dutch life. The perfect gift for the children's lit lover, young adult reader, and avid bookworms in your life.

About the Author
Author and editor Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905) was born in New York City. She served as editor of the children's magazine St. Nicholas, to which she attracted such writers as Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Rudyard Kipling. She also authored the short-fiction collection Irvington Stories (1864).

Cosimo is happy to offer Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates in both hardcover and paperback formats at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback, hardcover) and Amazon (paperback, hardcover).

Classic of the Month: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

"The sweet generousness of his work caused a few selfish folk to sneer, but even these were forced to admit their respect for a man so gentle-natured that he loved to devote his life to pleasing the helpless little ones of his race."

Our Classic of the Month is The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, a wonderful 'history' of Santa Claus from L. Frank Baum, the author who brought us the beloved tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus provides an unusual and fanciful origin story for Santa, suggesting that Neclaus was abandoned as a baby and adopted by the fairy queen Necile (Neclaus meaning "Necile's Little One"). Baum's Santa is a mortal living among fairies and other fantastical creatures.

 As an adult he returns to the human world to discover it is full of dark things like poverty and war; as a result of what he has witnessed, Neclaus makes it his mission to gladden the hearts of the world's children. He settles in the Laughing Valley of Hohaho and brings toys to all children (both good and bad) because

"He knew that the best of children were sometimes naughty, and that the naughty ones were often good. It is the way with children, the world over, and he would not have changed their natures had he possessed the power to do so."

This wonderfully unique version of the Claus story weaves traditional tales of Santa Claus with epic battles against evil creatures. Readers learn the origins of Santa's first toy, how he found his reindeer, and why the first stockings were hung by the fireplace. Interwoven with these charming stories are lessons to learn about kindness, humanity, and charity.

Originally published in 1902, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus continues to charm and inspire children every year. It has been reproduced for television and film, and was even turned into a graphic novel by well-known artist Mike Ploog.

This wonderful book is available in affordable paperback at Amazon and Barnes & Noble online.

Book of the Month: The Christmas Mice

"Isn't that strange? It took some babies to teach grown-ups to be nice to each other. Do you suppose that has anything to do with Christmas?" - The Christmas Mice


Our Book of the Month for December is The Christmas Mice, a charming children's tale about two young mice who are outcasts because they differ from the average mouse--Roger and Emily are born green and red, the colors of Christmas.

The other mice tease them for being different ("...they weren't nicemice--they were meanmice"), so Roger and Emily live in the forest away from the others. As time goes by, however, Roger is inspired by both the birth of his children and the presence of a majestic Christmas tree to reach out to the other mice and teach them about love, difference, acceptance, and brotherhood.

The moral of The Christmas Mice is told with great humor by author John White, whose sweet and clear prose are enhanced by the whimsical full-color illustrations provided by Dorothy L. Hall.

The story's moral, coupled with its emphasis on the meanings and joys of Christmas, makes The Christmas Mice a perfect book to read to the young child in your life.

The Christmas Mice is available in digital formats at a special price of only $6.99 via reKiosk, in paperback at Amazon, and in paperback and for your Nook at Barnes & Noble online. It is also available for your Kindle.

About the Author:
John White is an internationally-known author in the fields of consciousness research and higher human development. You can find his most recent work on America, Freedom and Enlightenment at his blog here, and look for his forthcoming book of the same name.

About the Illustrator:
Dorothy L. Hall is an illustrator, art teacher, and cartoonist. You can see more of her work here.