Fa La La: (A Joyful Celebration of Christmas Holiday Traditions for Babies and Toddlers)

Leslie Patricelli Board Books

by Leslie Patricelli

Oh, baby! Leslie Patricelli’s one-haired wonder returns to revel in Christmas.

It’s almost Christmas, and baby simply cannot contain the exuberance. There are things to decorate: a tree, a gingerbread house, a doggy! There are very creative presents to make, Santa to see (must be brave), carols to sing, not to mention the big event itself. Come celebrate the season with humor and joy as everyone’s favorite baby puts a special spin on Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Juvenile

26 pages, Board book

First published September 11, 2012

About the author

Leslie Patricelli is the American writer and illustrator of the best selling line of toddler books, starring her inimitable Baby character, including Potty, Toot, Yummy Yucky, Big Little, and Hair. She has more than 30 books for children, including her preschool books, Higher! Higher! (a Boston Globe Book Honor Award winner), Be Quiet, Mike!, Faster! Faster! and The Patterson Puppies and the Midnight Monster Party; as well as a middle-grade novel, The Rizzlerunk Club: Best Buds Under Frogs, published in 2018. Leslie Patricelli grew up in Issaquah, Washington close to Pine Lake. Leslie Patricelli majored in Communications at the University of Washington and took classes at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle. Leslie Patricelli created and animated Rover the Dog for Windows XP help installed on more than 60 million computers worldwide.

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid I just don't get it. Maybe this has appeal for preschoolers, but I'm of the opinion that picture books can have appeal for adults, too (and it's nice when they do, because they're often the ones who have to read them over and over and over).

This book is simple. Way too simple. It's very similar to another board book I just read, Llama Llama Jingle Bells, with a small child doing the activities to get ready for Christmas. But in that case, the illustrations were more pleasant to look at, and the rhyming text was more fun.

I also couldn't figure out why this baby's parents never dressed it (except when they went out). The poor thing was always running around in just a diaper, in the middle of winter; at one point, it was even standing outside in the snow wearing nothing but said diaper and a pair of bunny slippers! It made me cold just looking at it.

The illustrations are very plain and not all that appealing. I see that there's a whole series of books about this underclothed baby, but I don't really have any desire to read another one.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naked baby does Feliz Navidad with Papa Noel. And HE WORE A JUMPSUIT! HE HAD CLOTHES ON!!

Cute little book about all the things one loves for Christmas like tree picking or Christmas carols & gingerbread houses.

Then the plot thickened when Naked Baby went outside naked and slept naked while it was snowing!! Mom & dad had nice, thick, plush pajamas on.... Anyone care to donate hand-me-downs to this kid??!

[delie dell chua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the illustrations, the bold colors!

I only heard of Leslie Patricelli because my nephew’s pedia gave “Blankie” to him when he was yet a baby. Since then, in all his baby and growing-up photos, and wherever he is, “Blankie” is always beside him.

The bold colors, the cute illustrations of the baby and the simple words that held my nephew’s attention, made me research on the author and her other works.

To more books, ms Leslie patricelli!

[Delie Dell Chua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encountered leslie, through my nephew. His pediatrician gave him Blankie during his first ever pedia visit. The bald baby reminded me of David Shannon’s- David. Same as David, Leslie Patricelli was able to capture the reactions, the antics of a baby. It was a cool and awesome book, aside from the cute illustration, my nephew seemed to love Blankie, it was always at his side, so decided to collect all of Ms Patricelli’s book.

Falala, is a nice read especially during Christmas holidays.

[Sarah Alamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're so proud of you for reading "Fa La La"! You learned something beautiful—that celebrations and special times are more joyful when we share them with people we love. The singing, decorating, and happiness in the book shows us that joy grows bigger when we're together. Now you can remember to invite others into your happy moments, whether it's playing, singing, or just being silly together. You're becoming such a wonderful reader, sweetheart. Keep going!

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adorable diaper-clad toddler of Patricelli's other board books returns in a Christmas-themed book. Bilingual English/Spanish text in short sentences relates the up and downs, the drama and excitement of a toddler at the holidays. Humorous and entertaining, with hand lettering and deep Christmasy acrylic cartoons. Ends with a visual spread of pictures and their related words.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Checked this out from the library hoping for a cute book about Christmas. Was glad i read through it on my own before sitting down with my son as the baby in the book is hurting animals and people along with being mean and rude throughout the book. Not how i want to teach my child to treat others.

[Holly Keimig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute addition to one of my Spanish classes. Other than being slightly worried about this baby who never seems to have any clothing on, it is a great book for reviewing vocabulary and nice and short. I highly recommend for little ones or those starting out in Spanish.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children love all Leslie Patricelli books. They are much older than the demographic (8 and 5 as of this review), but the simple story and illustrations lead to lots of giggles together.

When they saw a christmas book by Patricelli, how could I tell them no? Of course I bought it for them.

[Fatima Seraj Alam · Rating 4 out of 5]

While potty training Hafsa, I was given a book from my husband’s colleague that helped his kid. It was this baby from Leslie Patricelli’s On my Potty. So when she saw this book, she was excited to follow Baby’s Christmassy adventures.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was super cute. The illustrations are adorable and it's cute to see how excited Baby gets for Christmas. Nice spread of vocab words in the back, too!

[Oliver James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to Julia.

[kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect non-annoying xmas book

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

lily winter reading 2018, board book, christmas, holiday book, babies,

[Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations - I think it would be better without words.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

we love Leslie patricelli books! this particular one has been Isaac's favorite book to read every night at bedtime this Christmas season.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have read this one to Sofia during her bath time all month long. She loves it!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute bilingual (English and Spanish) board book about a baby and their family celebrating Christmas.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good way to share Christmas traditions with a little one and to get excited about the season. I agree with others that looking at the diaper baby in the cold and snow made me shiver.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

We liked this book so much we read it twice! Maggie approved!

[TFE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tea wanted to extend Christmas in July so this got pulled out-Tan enjoyed and paid attention to pictures

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute, but more for the adults.

[Luciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, simple story about preparing for Christmas & Christmas morning. Great illustrations & easy to read! A great read for babies, toddlers & preschoolers!

[Emily Dougherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

o Grades PreK
o This book is great Christmas book for kids that are learning just hpw t read or are to young to sit threw a whole Christmas story. this book was very fun to read.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: "It’s almost Christmas, and baby simply cannot contain the exuberance. There are things to decorate: a tree, a gingerbread house, a doggy! There are very creative presents to make, Santa to see (must be brave), carols to sing, not to mention the big event itself. Come celebrate the season with humor and joy as everyone’s favorite baby puts a special spin on Christmas."


My Review: This was a fantastic book for my little Munchkin. This is the first book that he has really paid attention to, finally something his little eyes could focus on. The images were simple and the colors were bold. The story was short and simple. All of these things lead to a perfect book for really young little ones. It will even be great for when they get older, finding out their favorite things about the holiday as you read about the Baby's. I particularly liked when he made gifts for the family, too cute!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this board book, Baby just can't wait for Christmas and takes every chance to get involved in the festivities, even draping tinsel and lights around himself while his parents decorate the tree. Parents reading this title to their own little one will smile at the presents Baby makes for his own parents since they may have received similar gifts themselves. It's all lots of fun, accompanied by vividly-hued acrylic illustrations, and Baby's irrepressible joy for life. I had to laugh when Baby was belting out Christmas carols to the annoyance of the family's pets.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book for introducing many of the traditions of Christmas. We'll have to check this one out from the library again next year, when El will be a little older and paying more attention to Christmas. El likes finding the puppy in most (all?) Patricelli books, and studied the Santa page pretty intently, laughing when Santa said "ho ho ho."

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun introduction to the vocabulary of Christmas. R has especially liked finding the Santa hats on each page. And I honestly do think this book helped a bit with her first experience of (almost) taking a picture with Santa.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baby shows readers the holiday activities that are the reason he loves Christmas. The pictures are colorful and filled with laughter opportunities. The final page is arranged with vocabulary and matching pictures that parents can study with their toddler.

[Allie]

I don't usually read children's books, but since we were visiting friends with kids, one of them requested this one, which I read out loud to her. It was a pretty cute book, and she laughed the whole way through. :)