Christmas Too Big

Description: Kerry's family goes berserk with Christmas every year, but Kerry needs a little peace and quiet. Her neighbor, Mrs. Flores, is having a quieter Christmas, with decorations and music from the country where she used to live.

Brief description:

Colleen Madden grew up in a crazy Christmas house and, like Kerry, she found a break by spending time with her neighbor who was from another country. She has illustrated many children's books, including the bestselling What If Everybody? series, written by Ellen Javernick, and the picture-book adaptation of All I Want for Christmas Is You, by Mariah Carey. She recently published Monkey Walk, her debut as both author and illustrator, and is currently working on her first graphic novel. She lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and two sons.

Review Quotes:

"The illustrations use speech bubbles in both English and Spanish to advance the story; the art perfectly reflects the overload, relief, and joy that Kerry experiences: Busy spreads give way to simpler ones, and a refreshing new color scheme is introduced with the paper flowers...An intergenerational friendship and a busy holiday made meaningful set this title apart." --Kirkus Reviews

"Madden's bilingual tale strikes both humorous and poignant notes; the visual blend of comic-style panels, playful fonts, speech bubbles in both English and Spanish, and traditional spreads offers readers plenty to celebrate." --Publishers Weekly

"Children ages 4-8 will enjoy joining Kerry as she finds her voice in this delightful and bilingual (English/Spanish) Christmas holiday picture book story." --Midwest Book Review