Good Holiday Reads for Kids

On Dec. 11 Borders Books spread some retail holiday cheer with their annual holiday party for children. Borders employee Alexandra Bianculli hosted the event, giving a series of favorite holiday books and leading the children and their parents through fun activities.  

Approximately one dozen parents and children turned up for the event and crowded the festively decorated Children's Room with happy faces. Bianculli's animated storytelling abilities kept the children attentive and enthused as she read some new and old favorites.

Jan Reimer said she was surprised her son Dylan, age 4, was sitting so well for the event.

"I was just saying, when he was two he would have never sat this long," Reimer said. "He just turned for but when he was two he would have sit for just a second."

Keen on keeping the little one's happy, Bianculli even took requests. Some of the books she read were "Mortimer's Christmas Manger," by Karma Wilson,  "The Polar Express," by Chris Van Allsburg, and the always popular "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," by the famous Dr. Seuss.

Susannah Ahn, age 7, enjoyed "The Polar Express" so much that after the party she very politely asked Bianculli to take a look at the book herself.

Complimentary cookies and hot chocolate was handed out in the middle of the party, hot and fresh from the Seattle's Best Café on the store's first floor. The cookies were a big hit among children and parents alike. The bookstore also provided tiny silver bells as party favors, so the children attending could recreate sounds from "The Polar Express."

One of the party activities included writing letters to Santa. Nicole Hammer, age 4, had some help from her mother Michelle with her letter to Kris Kringle.

"Dear Santa, the weather is nice here and sunny, but it's cold, so wear warm clothes," she wrote. "All the children can't wait for you to come. Love, Nicole and Michelle."

Nicole and Dylan, both age 4, have been inseparable best friends for over a year. Both children had a great time at the party with their mothers and were happy to share in the experience even if they celebrate Hanukkah and not Christmas. An excited Dylan was eager to talk about what he received as one of his first Hanukkah gifts: "Lego Batman game!"

Both children are looking forward to Santa's town-wide ride on Fort Lee fire trucks the week of Christmas.