I Got the Christmas Spirit - by Connie Schofield-Morrison (Hardcover)

About the Book

As she and her mother enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season, a young girl feels the Christmas spirit in every jingle, yum, and ho ho ho in this feel-good picture book illustrated by award-winning artist Morrison. Full color.

Book Synopsis

In the same feel-good style of I Got the Rhythm, this exuberant picture book explores the joys of the holiday season, once again illustrated by award-winning artist Frank Morrison.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and a mother and daughter are enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. The little girl hears sleigh bells ringing and carolers singing. She smells chestnuts roasting--CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!--and sees the flashing lights of the department store windows--BLING! BLING! BLING! She spreads the spirit of giving wherever she goes. And when she reaches Santa, she tells him her Christmas wish--for peace and love everywhere, all the days of the year.

Review Quotes

"Christmas spirit is expressed in joyous and reflective onomatopoeic exclamations in this new holiday staple . . . Snowflakes flutter across bright illustrations, encouraging readers to inhale, feel, taste, and listen to all things Christmas as embodied in loving detail in the rhythmic language. . . . Soul-stirring and sure to put readers in a festive mood." --Kirkus Reviews

"Morrison's oil paintings capture the crackling energy of a city preparing for Christmas; the married coauthors' message about cultivating kindness, gratitude, and community the whole year through sings on the page." --Publishers Weekly

"Schofield-Morrison's onomatopoeia-inflected text and Morrison's kinetic, zoomed-in oil paintings enliven various iterations of experiencing 'the spirit' . . . An energetic and uplifting celebration of the season." --Horn Book Magazine

"The driving beat of debut author Schofield-Morrison's narrative is likely to have readers bouncing and tapping right along with her . . . An upbeat celebration of the senses, self-expression, and camaraderie." --Publishers Weekly on I GOT THE RHYTHM

"The bright palette and vibrant tones of Morrison's loosely painted illustrations echo the energy of the text nicely . . . the book begs readers to sing and move along with this little dancer." --Booklist on I GOT THE RHYTHM

"For a storytime that will get bodies rocking, fingers popping, and rhythm flowing." --Library Media Connection on I GOT THE RHYTHM

"The little girl at the center of it all is wholly likable in her joyful approach. . . . This will work well in an interactive storytime for preschoolers, as listeners are invited to shake and stomp along with the happy protagonist." --BCCB on I GOT THE RHYTHM

"Ready made for storytime, Schofield-Morrison's text pulses with a beat of its own and practically demands audiences to clap along. . . . The urban setting and varied cast of characters make this title particularly valuable, showcasing diversity as an integral part of everyday life." --School Library Journal on I GOT THE RHYTHM

About the Author

Connie Schofield-Morrison and Frank Morrison teamed up for the first time to capture the rhythm of the neighborhood in I Got the Rhythm. Connie has been writing since she was a young girl and is inspired every day by the big sounds and bright colors of the world around her. Frank works as a fine artist and is the award-winning illustrator of many books for children, including Our Children Can Soar and Jazzy Miz Mozetta, for which he won the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Connie and Frank live in Atlanta, Georgia, with their five children.