Memories of Christmas books past

The need for a children's Bible sent me to the children's department at Barnes & Noble over the weekend. And, once there, I was transported, not to my own childhood, but to that of my children.

Smack-dab in the center of the section was a selection of children's holiday books. Front and center was "The Sweet Smell of Christmas," a book originally given to my middle daughter many moons ago.

Really, Barnes & Noble should have just hired me on the spot, to stand at that table and hawk the thing. As it was, I badgered some poor woman standing looking at all the books with her young daughter into purchasing it. "You have to buy this one," I told her. "Your daughter will love it. Really. Buy it."

I saw her later at the checkout counter, her daughter clutching the Little Bear book, anxious to get home and give it a read. "It's too bad you're at the front of the line - I'd make you go back and get "The Jolly Christmas Postman," I told the mom. She may have been humoring me, she probably WAS humoring me, but she told me she'd get that one next time around.

I sure hope she likes the book I pushed. I am sure she likes the time spent reading to her daughter.

Over the past several years, something will prompt me to remember, wistfully, the many hours spent reading Christmas books to my girls. A random phrase will enter my head - frequently it's "the first fresh flakes of snow" as snow comes down from the sky - and transport me back in time to the days when one girl, or maybe two, or even all three, were sitting on the sofa and listening to my husband or me say those same words.

For a few years after no one was young enough to enjoy the reading aloud, we still got out all the Christmas books, stacking them by the coffee table, just in case someone wanted to read one. I don't think we even got them out last year.

So many wonderful books: the aforementioned "The Jolly Christmas Postman," which we value so highly that I've given it as a gift several times. "Christmas in the Big Woods," telling of Christmases long ago, for Laura and Mary. "Nutcracker Noel," about a young ballerina performing in that holiday classic, which, now that I think about it, certainly fits into a household of young performers. The old standby's of "The Night Before Christmas" and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," though frankly, I prefer the televised "Grinch" to the book version. Blasphemy, I know. "Arthur's Christmas," featuring Arthur the aardvark.

These books didn't necessarily have the finest of prose, but the ones the girls loved spoke to them on some level. "The Sweet Smell of Christmas" was not only about waiting with breathless anticipation, it also had the distinct attraction of scratch and sniff pages scented with all kinds of Christmas smells: pine, gingerbread, hot cocoa, peppermint, oranges. "Nutcracker Noel" tells the story of a young ballerina who didn't get the part she wanted, but loved the "Nutcracker" experience just the same. I doubt seriously if "Bialosky's Christmas" sold tons of books, but we enjoyed it, even if we never could pronounce the bear's name. "The Jolly Christmas Postman features not only memorable rhyming, but also intricate illustrations and activities on every page. It's an absolute delight, as are its siblings, "The Jolly Postman," and "The Jolly Pocket Postman."

It's probably telling that as I mentally went over our holiday book collection, I couldn't necessarily remember very many titles. But the plots came back nearly whole. Who could forget that Bialosky forgets to invite the guests? Or that Noel's Nutcracker experience turns out to be "not exactly Noel's dream come true. It was much, much better."

Others shared our love for "Sweet Smell." It was ranked No. 6 on Amazon.com's list of best-selling children's holiday books earlier in the week. I didn't know many of the rest, but that's OK. Those titles represent current enchantment for current youngsters.

Who knew, though, that so many others wished for the reissue of Sweet Smell of Christmas" that has come to pass? From a reader in 1999: "This was my all-time favorite Christmas book as a youngster. I can vividly recount the smell of Little Bear's hot chocolate and candy cane and the Christmas tree. The wonderful sense of anticipation that any child will share as Little Bear waits for Christmas morning ... "

Our own "Sweet" book has long had its scratch and sniff pages worn out from use and love. I tried over the years to purchase it again, but every seller would note the same problem our own book had. And without the smells, what's the point?

I came home triumphantly with "The Sweet Smell of Christmas," showing it to everyone in the house, a gift for the newest family member to enjoy oh, maybe when he can sit on his own. The girls all told me I should have purchased one for all three of them. Let me just say that Mom is not stupid. If all went according to plan, Daughter No. 2's roommate slipped chocolates into my daughter's shoes and propped the book nearby Saturday, helping St. Nicholas out on his special day. I hope she enjoyed both the memory and the chocolates (not to mention the iTunes downloads).

I can't turn back the clock; no one can. But sometimes you can go back, for just a brief time, and relive the magic.