It's Christmas!

Much of the detail in Santa Claus lore was added to his long history of stories in the 19th century. His storied home became the North Pole around this time. Today, the North Pole is symbolic of Santa, and sending letters there may be an essential part of the Christmas season. Beginning readers will be in awe of how this story came to be and can read more about real-life 'North Poles,' such as Santa's Village in Finland. Colorful historical illustrations aid readers' understanding as they learn about this Christmas symbol.

From those at the Rockefeller Center to ones that might perch at the top of a home Christmas tree, angels are a common symbol of the Christmas season. This symbol's link to the holiday likely began with the Bible story of the Nativity, but today, angel figures' beauty and elegance make them a lovely addition to many households' Christmas decorations. Readers will learn why and how angels became part of the Christmas season. Written especially for beginning readers, it includes full-color photographs and historical images of angel decorations used throughout Christmas history.

Even before Christmas celebrations began, evergreen trees were used as part of winter festivals and celebrations. Today, many people still bring a real fir tree into their home at Christmastime, or an artificial tree that may come in any color including green, silver, or pink. Written with age-appropriate language and content, this book explains the symbolism behind our use of Christmas trees today and the many famous trees readers may know, including the huge tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

In the original poem in which Santa's reindeer were named, 'Donner' and 'Blitzen' were actually spelled 'Dunder' and 'Blixem.' Today known as 'The Night Before Christmas,' the poem from 1823 may be the very beginning of children hearing that Santa's sleigh was pulled by reindeer. Full of photographs and historical illustrations of Santa and his reindeer, this volume delights beginning readers eager to find out just how these beasts came to be a symbol of the Christmas season. There's also a special section dedicated to everyone's favorite reindeer, Rudolph.

Whether you call your January 6th celebration El Dia de los Reyes or the Feast of the Epiphany, you're celebrating a day dedicated to the three kings. Sometimes called the three wise men or the magi, these figures are part of the Christmas story and often appear in nativity scenes during this time of year. In some places, they're more important than Santa Claus. In this volume, readers discover the history of the three kings' story as well as how they are celebrated in cultures around the world today.

How does Santa make it around the world delivering presents in one night? Where did that notion even come from? The stories about Santa Claus are many and spark the imaginations of old and young alike. Starting with the tale of St. Nicholas and tracing some of the most interesting stories about the modern Santa Claus, this book for beginning readers is a must-have for anyone celebrating the Christmas season. Full-color photographs and historical images of Santa Claus portrayals through time add to the age-appropriate and cultural content of this jolly read.

Many Christmas symbols are very old and date to before there even was a Christmas! Elves, however, were likely introduced to the mythology of Santa Claus in the 1820s with the famous poem, 'The Night Before Christmas.' In this book, beginning readers trace these first mentions of elves to the modern-day 'Elf on a Shelf' craze. Full-color photographs and historical illustrations complement the accessible content and bring the history of Christmas elves to children who may be waiting to see if their elf has moved in the night.

Historically, a 'carol' is a song or dance of praise or joy. They used to be performed during all four seasons. Today, most young readers know the carols many people sing at Christmastime, including 'Oh, Christmas Tree' and 'Jolly Old St. Nicholas.' Entire radio stations will marathon-play these tunes during December. Where did the tradition for these songs begin? How are they used around the world? Beginning readers find out these facts and more within the pages of this festive volume.