The Stars Will Still Shine by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke is a picture book set to a poem.  It reassures readers that nothing will change in the new year: “The sky will still be there, the stars will still shine.”  While the verse by Rylant is lovely, the illustrations really make this book special.  They capture the warmth, joy and vibrant color of life, showing us that there is a beauty in what will never change.

Share this one with a child in the new year.  It is a quiet story, perfect for bedtime snuggles and lap reading. 

A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia by Julia Alvarez and illustrated by Beatriz Vidal is a picture book based on the Dominican legend of Altagracia.  Our Lady of Altagracia, Our Lady of Thanks, is known for the wonders she worked.  In this book, she gives dreams to a young girl named Maria instructing her to plant oranges on their failing farm.  She burns her image into a blanket that gives light when the family needs it most. 

The illustrations fully capture the magic and traditional feel of the tale.  The entire book has a wonder and faith about it that pays homage to the original legend.  This is all done with a minimal amount of text, allowing even small preschool children to enjoy the story.  Simply wonderful.

Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora, illustrated by Raul Colon is a magical Southwestern tall tale.  Flor is an enormous woman as tall as the mountains.  She uses her size and strength to help the people who live near her. She grows  huge flowers that she lets the children play with.  She makes enormous tortillas that can be used as roofs and rafts.  She searches out a fearsome animal whose growls have been terrorizing the villagers.  And throughout it all, she demonstrates kindness and a very big heart.

The marriage of text and illustration is wonderfully done, with neither leaning on the other but both contributing to the story and making it better than it could have been.  This exquisitely done story is one that is perfect to share when studying tall tales at school.  We finally have a woman large enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Paul Bunyan.