And Then Comes Christmas [Hardcover]

A lyrical invitation to watch for signs of the approaching season — and revel in the homespun rituals that warm a family celebration.

From icicles clinging to roofs and houses strung with colorful lights to visiting Santa and hunting for the perfect tree, this classic-in-the-making celebrates all of the holiday’s excitement. Evoking both winter’s changes to the world outside and well-loved traditions taking place within, here is a story to encourage readers to curl up with their loved ones and bask in the magic of the Christmas season.The text is filled with rich vocabulary and sensory details, evocatively describing the sights, sounds and smells of the season. The joyous illustrations ... create a misty, dreamy atmosphere with blurred edges, glowing illumination and an overall impressionistic tone that will appeal to both children and adults. ... WHEN families find an endearing Christmas story (such as this one), THEN they will enjoy reading it over and over.
—Kirkus Reviews

As with his previous work, Brenner frames the story through a repeated pattern of “When…” and “Then…” statements full of poetic, Norman Rockwell-like descriptions of the weather, activities, and delicious moments. He lets the anticipation build and then delivers with a satisfying page turn. The text is matched with Christy’s cheery, hazy illustrations, focusing on the family’s curly haired girl and her towheaded little brother. Fans of the previous book, and those libraries with high demand for Christmas fare, won’t be disappointed.
—School Library Journal

Returning to the sequential narrative style of "And Then Comes Halloween," Brenner alternates between sentences beginning with “When” and those starting with “Then,” lyrically evoking a shift in seasons... The text describes holiday traditions generally, while Christy’s digital art—l³°