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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 11:34am | IP Logged
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Under the Christmas Mosaic thread Amy wrote:
amy7 wrote:
Jan Brett's books (probably not Mosaic material, but still great) - Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve, The Trouble with Trolls, and others
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That got me thinking about inclusion of Jan Brett's books.
In all my Christmas searches, Brett's books keep appearing. My first instinct to the question "Are they Mosaic?" is "No" though we love Jan Brett and enjoy her books. The art work is beautiful, lovely; the books are fun but I don't find them of meditative quality.
One definite thing I look for in Mosaic books is for them to be reflective, meditative, soul-encompassing.
Also, one of the things I'm particular about in the Mosaic booklists is that they should be original and different even. I want to introduce new and varied and, yes, even OOP books to the reader. Excuse my boldness but I want the list to be authentic.
Make sense?
Don't get me wrong. Some of Jan Brett's books have thrilled me upon turning that last page. They are simple little gems and (again) I can't speak highly enough about the artwork.
Perhaps I'm aiming too high in the reflective pool? While the mosaic books are for the parents, the books have to speak to the children.
My question really is: Do you expect to see Jan Brett's Christmas books listed in the mega-booklist? Would you expect them and feel shorted if they aren't listed?
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Cay Gibson
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 11:43am | IP Logged
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I don't think you're aiming too high, and I agree with your assessment. While I love her books, I find them in a different category. I was turning this over in my mind and thought the only book I would include in a Catholic list would be "The Night Before Christmas" and that would only be in illustrating ways St. Nicholas has been portrayed in different countries.
And, to add one more thing, my son really doesn't like some of her books. I know, he's only 3, but so far the winners are The Hat, The Mitten, Gingergbread Baby and Night Before Christmas. The losers: Hedgie's Surprise, Christmas Trolls, Who's that Knocking on Christmas Eve. They are disturbing to him. The Tomtens are scary (only Lissa's Tomten wasn't), the trolls are mean and he dislikes when things get messed up and ruined.
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 11:43am | IP Logged
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Kim, Mary Chris, and I used Jan Brett's books for an entire advent two years ago and we tied in many, many Catholic themes. We made huge lapbooks and blogged about it this year. Since then, I can't imagine advent without the Jan Brett books. That said, I'm not sure what else you could do with them, that isn't already "out there."
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msclavel
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When you posted about ideas for a Christmas Mosaic I was ready to reply and include Jan Brett's books. Then I paused. I love her books. They are a visual feast. We read Gingerbread Baby during Advent one week, just for the fun and delight. All my kids loved it.
But I think I went through the same thought and reflection process about whether or not they were Mosaic books.
In the end, I would not miss them if they were not listed. I know what they are and her website can certainly provide a enormous amount of ideas and materials if we choose to read the books during Christmas. The only one I can think that maybe could work is her Twelve Days of Christmas.
My .02.
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
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msclavel wrote:
| We read Gingerbread Baby during Advent one week, just for the fun and delight. All my kids loved it. |
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We  this book too. Like you said, it's a delightfully fun book. 
Elizabeth wrote:
| I'm not sure what else you could do with them, that isn't already "out there." |
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That's true for sure. She's a big name artist and there's a lot out there on the internet concerning her books. I wasn't thinking of profiling any of her books. Just questioning whether I should include them in the overall Christmas list. 
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Cay Gibson
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 12:45pm | IP Logged
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I was going to say, Gingerbread Baby is probably the only Jan Brett book that I/we REALLY love, and then again, not on the same level that we love other books. She's an awesome artist, and we go through Jan Brett phases now and then, but I do think there are other better books/art there that are more ... meditative. Two years ago we read a bunch of Jan Brett around Christmastime. Last year, we didn't read a single one, and didn't miss it. We were planning to do Gingerbread Baby again and build a BIG gingerbread house, but plans changed. Oh, and just to highlight how we value Jan Brett books here, when our Mitten paperback got crumpled and ripped, we didn't even think of replacing it with a hardcover. OTOH, my heart breaks that the dustcover on our Miracle of St. Nicholas has a tiny rip on it. Long-winded answer, but there you have it.
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Paula in MN
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JennGM wrote:
| And, to add one more thing, my son really doesn't like some of her books. I know, he's only 3, but so far the winners are The Hat, The Mitten, Gingergbread Baby and Night Before Christmas. The losers: Hedgie's Surprise, Christmas Trolls, Who's that Knocking on Christmas Eve. |
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Exactly how my 4yo son feels.
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 4:23pm | IP Logged
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I actually don't like Jan Brett as a writer. I LOVE her illustrations. She is a fabulous artist, and I enjoy the books she has illustrated for other authors. As an author herself, I just don't think she is interesting.
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Michelle
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Is Jan Brett Mosaic Quality?
