‘Twas a time when making sure you were stocked with toy-appropriate batteries before the frenzied gift unwrapping began was one of the biggest challenges parents faced on Christmas morning. Sure, putting the tricycle together at 2 a.m. the night before while decoding poorly translated instructions ranks highly. So does remembering the right cables and battery chargers, which these days matter as much as the AAA and D cells.

But in recent years, all of that has paled in comparison to the annual Season’s Scrooging that manufacturers and retailers have introduced into our holiday gift-giving traditions.

Consider this Hallmark moment: Good girls and boys excitedly ripping away wrapping paper when . . . Kerplunk!  The sudden silenced holiday spirit when toys won’t budge from daunting hard-plastic packaging! Things turn worse when dad comes to the rescue with a knife or pointed scissors, and the only thing opened is his finger.

Grappling with today’s packaging reminds me of my childhood ambition to free the tiny snowman from inside his snow globe. Adding to this twisted plot are other Grinchy devices, such as those diabolical plastic-coated metal wires strapping toys to the stiff cardboard backing, and those “zip ties” that are tinier versions of the ratchet-tightening plastic strips police use as handcuffs. Nice image.

One frustrated consumer whose log-on is “Stan-the-Man” posted recently on Amazon’s Customer Discussions pages that he purchased a remote control device that came in now standard, hard-plastic, clamshell packaging. “It took me 15 minutes to open [it],” he wrote. “What frustration and cut hands does one have to endure to open a simple item?”  One “Help Forum Pro” online says she deducts stars when writing product reviews if clamshell packaging is used, adding that “Clamshell packaging is cruelty to humans.” The ensuing frustration has even earned a name: “wrap rage.”

A recent stroll through toy stores aisles revealed that one of this year’s hits, “123 Sesame Street Let’s Rock Elmo,” practically incarcerates the little Sesame Street character, tied firmly inside a “Try Me” clamshell. Edu Science’s “Armatron Robotic Arm” is tied down with zip ties, while Summit’s “Backyard Safari Bug Vacuum” is totally twist-wired. From Disney Pixar, there’s a “hermetically sealed” Ridemaster Z in a clamshell and a Toy Story U-Command Buzz Lightyear restricted with clear plastic cuffs, wired down feet and clamshell.

Parents of girls will attest that Barbies are among the worst offenders (“Barbie Fashionistas Ultimate Gift Set” gets plastic cuffs and wire tie downs beneath a clamshell). Parents of boys know too well what awaits inside packaging of RV vehicles that are known to have more than a dozen wires securing its axles and steering wheel.

Manufacturers and retailers will tell you this overkill is all necessary, primarily to thwart thieves from toynapping the product from inside its package, but also to protect toys from rough-and-tumble overseas shipping.

Still, consumers are fit to be tied! Some toy makers and retailers seem to be getting the message. Take a look at Hasbro’s “Bop It!,” secured only with seemingly frail string tied in what appears to be an easy-release knot, just as is Fisher-Price’s “Hero World Green Lantern” action figure. Maybe their relatively low price (under $15) makes them string eligible while Disney Pixar’s “Playskool Toy Story 3 Animated Talking Mr. Potato Head,” at $39.98, requires clamp down and clamshell.

Since November 2008, Amazon has offered Frustration-Free Packaging that features streamlined, recyclable, easy-to-open boxes free of excess materials, hard plastic clamshell cases, wire ties and plastic bindings. Trying to assist wrap-rage consumers while being eco-friendly, the program has faced its own critics and frustrations. But, to Amazon’s credit, it’s trying.

Wrap rage has actually given birth to a new cottage industry that’s creating products dedicated to relieving the packaging problem. So-called “Holiday Survival Kits,” from artsy-crafty do-it-yourself projects to gather-up gift suggestions can be found online, typically suggesting Rambo-grade scissors at the top of the list. Someone invented the “The Zibra Open It,” ($14.99) that claims to cut, snip, slice and unscrew practically any kind of package. There’s even a battery-operated tool called the CSB Commodities ZIPIT103 Battery-Operated Blister Pack/Clamshell Opener (on sale for $14). So if you’re thinking of stocking stuffers for mom or dad, these might be perfect (assuming none of these come in clamshell packaging).

Meanwhile, despite the challenge of overly secured packaging, it’s important to keep in mind the holiday spirit. And, remember the adage “It’s better to give than receive.” Now more than ever.

Those seeking a special holiday gift should consider a museum membership, which offers a wide variety of year-round benefits in one-of-a-kind cultural venues.  According to the American Association of Museums, there are at least 17,500 museums in the country, so chances are you’ll find a museum membership suitable for everyone on your list.

The benefits of a museum membership include not only unlimited admission for twelve months, but discounts on gift shop and cafe purchases, parking, guest admissions and ticketed events, and advance access to programs and ticket sales. The cost, usually ranging from $20 to $150, usually pays for itself in 2-3 visits, and many museums also offer free members-only events such as exhibit previews, behind-the-scenes tours and exclusive shopping nights.

Infinity Dots Mirrored Room (1996) by Yayoi Kusama, at The Mattress Factory

Museums are also exploring new types of membership to appeal to different lifestyles and preferences. At Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, we offer a combination membership with the nearby National Aviary. Brooklyn Museum offers 1stfans, a socially-networked membership that provides members perks such as exclusive monthly meetups, exhibit tours with curators and an annual rooftop ice cream social.  The Exploratorium in San Francisco lets you lock in a discounted rate  for three years as a founding member. The Mattress Factory, a museum of installation art in Pittsburgh, offered the country’s first paperless membership program, using only electronic communication to reduce paper and postage costs and direct more funds towards supporting the art.

While the value of a museum membership is an attractive feature, ideally a museum also builds long-term relationships with members, “supporting a community of highly invested visitors,” according to Museum 2.0 blogger Nina Simon.  At the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, staff look forward to seeing regular families and can personalize their visit by knowing their interests, skills and goals. “Skyler and her grandmother visit the Museum at least once a week, and know everyone on the floor by name,” says MakeShop Manager Adam Nye. “Skyler’s grandmother was thrilled when she had an opportunity to teach her granddaughter how to sew in MakeShop.  I saw them make something new every visit—pillows, dolls, blankets, dresses. It’s also a pleasure to watch them explore areas that neither of them is familiar with, such as woodworking and electricity.”

Having members feel like a part of a museum family is a benefit for both families and staff,” says Jane Werner, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Executive Director.  “We have the pleasure of marking milestones with them, such as welcoming new siblings and seeing kids discover new talents and skills.” Taking part in regular rituals and traditions at a museum also adds to the fun of being a member.  Families schedule their visits to take part in Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ daily end-of-day parade that ushers out visitors on an “up” note.  Others love the daily, 3:15 pm page turning of Audubon’s four-foot tall book, The Birds of America, at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.  For five years, members at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh have made the Father-Daughter Dance on Valentine’s Day an annual tradition.
If you and your family travel, you’ll find value in the reciprocal privileges afforded by many museum memberships. The North American Reciprocal Museum Program, Museum Alliance Reciprocal Program and programs from the Association of Children’s Museums and Association of Science-Technology Centers run reciprocal admission programs that offer access to scores of museums across the country. Check with your local museums to see what reciprocal benefits their memberships offer.

So for a holiday gift that offers a year filled with culture, learning, value and play, try giving a museum membership or two. They provide endless possibilities for savings, enrichment and unique personal connections. “Being a member really takes the museum experience to an entirely new level,” says Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh MakeShop Manager Adam Nye. “It creates a bond, with both the place and the people, that is unique and lasting.”

Suzanne McCaffrey is the Director of New Media at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and she has worked in child-focused organizations for more than 15 years. As the mother of two young boys, she spends most of her spare time building forts, learning superhero names, and applying bandaids

To demonstrate this, we’ve brought in Chippy, our Ambassador to the Land of Learning New Things. Last time Chippy dreamed of being an Animal Ambassador who would travel to new places and meet all sorts of animals. This week, she’s a block builder who likes aliens. Naturally, she tells us, she wants to be a Space Architect when she grows up.

We hope that you and your children will be inspired to dream big by our chipmunk friend’s new spacebound journey!

Special thanks to Dre Towey for allowing us to use her song “Space Cowboy” from her album Sugar On Top! And if you’re raising your own Space Architect, be sure to check out our favorite toys for building and learning about space.

Produced & Directed by Ashley Mannetta & Patrick Kieley

Featuring products from:

• Folkmanis
• FatBrain Toys
• HexBugs
• Candlewick Press
• Hape
• Pretty Ugly, LLC

We asked our friend, the esteemed Warren Buckleitner, Ph.D., Editor of Children’s Technology Review, what apps he would preload on an iOS (iPad, iPod, iPhone) device as gifts to kids. See his answers for different age groups below:

For Preschool Ages

• ABC Food
• Noodle Words
• DoodleCast
• Jack and the Beanstalk by Mindshapes
• Pat the Bunny
• PuzzlePop Duck Duck Moose Design

For Elementary School Ages

• Cinderella ­ Nosy Crow Animated Picture Book
• Bartleby’s Book of Buttons Vol. 2
• Sid the Science
• Chuck and Friends: Friends for the Long Haul
• Toca Hair Salon

For Middle School Ages

• Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
• Cut! It¹s a Wrap! The Secret of the Mummy from the Cellar
• The Monster at the End of This Book
• Rush Hour

For High School Ages

• Harry Potter Film Wizardry
• Nelson Tethers Puzzle Agent
• Solar System

Warren Buckleitner is the Editor of Children’s Technology Review, a contributor to the New York Times Gadgetwise blog, and other publications. A former preschool and elementary school teacher, he holds a BS in Elementary Education (cum laude), an MS in human development and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Michigan State University. Warren is the founder of the Dust or Magic Institute and the Mediatech Foundation. He has two teenage daughters and plays in a Dixieland jazz band.

The stories included are:

• A Christmas Carol (unabridged) – Charles Dickens/Frank Muller/Recorded Books
• A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens/Jim Weiss/Greathall Audio
• The Autobiography of Santa Claus – Jeff Guinn/John Mayer/Listen & Live Audio
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Barbara Robinson/CJ Critt/Recorded Books
• The Brave Tin Soldier – Hans Christian Andersen/Kathy Kinney/Mrs. P
• The Christmas Snowman (Jigsaw Jones Mystery) – James Preller/Oliver Wyman/Scholastic
• Clifford’s Christmas – Norman Bridwell/Stephanie D’Abruzzo/Scholastic
• The Gift of the Magi – O. Henry/Jim Weiss/Greathall Productions
• The Great Sled Race – Bill Harley/Bill Harley/Round River Productions
• How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas – Jeff Guinn/Susan Denaker/Listen & Live Audio
• Max’s Christmas – Rosemary Wells/Jenny Agutter/Weston Woods
• Merry Christmas, Geronimo! – Geronimo Stilton/Bill Lobley/Scholastic
• The Night Before Christmas – Clement Clarke Moore/Peter Linz/Scholastic
• The Red Coat – Donald Davis/Donald Davis/August House
• The Red Scooter - Donald Davis/Donald Davis/August House
• The Snowman - Hans Christian Andersen/Kathy Kinney/Mrs. P
• The Story of Hanukkah – Adapted/Joel Ben Izzy
• Three Wise Cats - Harold Konstantelos, Terry Jenkins-Brady/Lyssa Browne/Listen & Live Audio
• The Tomten – Astrid Lindgren/Charles Cioffi/Weston Woods
• The Winter Cherries – Odds Bodkin/Odds Bodkin/Rivertree Productions

With the frenzied holiday shopping season upon us, I’ve devised a list of 10 almost-no-money gift ideas for the whole family. These tips will help keep spending to a minimum, while still offering loved ones gifts to be treasured. Best of all, you’ll set a good example for your kids on how to give holiday gifts without overspending or taking on any credit card debt.

Make it…
Use only what you have at home. Make a game of finding fabric scraps, picture frames, buttons, paper, ribbon, yarn, all the “stuff” you’ve purchased to use but haven’t. Bring it all into the kitchen and have the kids meet you there. Use magazines or craft  blogs for specific projects, or just let the creative juices fly. Handmade gifts are cherished far beyond the holiday.

Upcycle it…
One year my youngest wrapped up one of her beloved stuffed animals as a holiday present for her older sister. OK, so that did not go over so well. But, with just a bit more thought and planning, giving something you really love to someone you really love can be a great gift.

I give books that I have read and adored. Sometimes my note includes a list of other books I have read by that author and suggestions they might want to follow up with at the library.

Kids can re-gift a favorite book, a gently used and much-loved toy, or even clothing that they have seen a sibling or friend admire. As long as they understand and are willing to share the gift permanently, it’s a great way to let the person know you were listening.

Write it…
These days, emailing and texting are the norm for communication, both business and personal. But a  hand-written or typed letter will truly will get, and keep your child’s interest. Use it this holiday as a gift of your time and attention. Describe how you spent your holidays as a child; what was most important, what was the most fun, or even the most dreaded. Pick a moment this year when you were proud of your child, recap that moment and explain how and why she made you so proud. Wrap the letter as a gift. As she reads the letter, your child will know how you see her, and that you think enough of her to record this event on paper just for her.

Forgive it…
This is my family’s all-time favorite New Year’s Eve tradition– but it can work at any holiday. I give each person a free pass on one thing they did wrong but have yet to “confess.” It’s a brilliant way for parents to hear what might be lurking out there to be aware of, and it gets everybody talking about what took place that needs forgiving.

Craft a “Forgiven” coupon, wrap it as a gift with a special invitation for all to gather and share what they need to unburden themselves.

Acknowledge it…
Look around you. There are likely a multitude of things to be grateful for. A word or a card of acknowledgement is one of the best gifts you can give anyone. Thank your pastor, or priest or rabbi for his or her spiritual leadership. Thank your friends for being there for you. Thank your doctor for his or her compassion. I’m sure that if you sit down for five minutes and think about the blessings in your life you will generate a very long list of people that deserve a gift of your acknowledgement.

Promise it…
My favorite gifts from my kids when they were young? Coupons! “Anytime kitchen clean-up”, “shoulder massage”, “one hour of quiet time”, oh there were many such wonderful gifts. My girls made the coupons and wrapped each up for me to “cash-in” throughout the year.

Grandparents love to get coupons for guaranteed time with grandkids. From a scheduled visit to time on the phone or Skyping on the computer on a regular basis – this cherished commitment will end up being a gift to both grandparents and grandkids.

Holiday gift-giving is notoriously tough on budgets because so much money gets spent all at once. This year, try stretching that budget with a coupon. Do the kids love baseball? Coupon them tickets to a home game this summer and add a baseball or t-shirt to the gift to make it fun. What about a trip to a museum? A play? A movie?

Tackle it…
Have everyone in the family make a list of his or her needs and wants for things that do not cost money, but need someone’s time and talent to do. Then print the lists and cut apart each item from the list separately. To make sure you do not pick your own, use a unique color (ink, paper, colored dot) for each family member. Fold each item “card” up and place them all in a hat, then on Christmas Day, or the first night of Chanukah, each person gets to pick 12, one for each month of the year. And that becomes the family’s gift to one another.

What will be on my list this year? Changing light bulbs around the house inside and out. Picking up shoes at the back door and putting them where they belong! Emptying the dishwasher. What kids list will depend on their age, but requests can range from a ride to the library to using the car on Friday night.

Start it…
Set a great example by starting something this year that your kids (or spouse) have been after you to do. Lose weight? Exercise? Cook more meals at home? Eat out more? Read more?

If you have a habit that is stressing out your kids – not to mention your own health – make a gift of quitting, tapering, changing or getting some kind of help that gives them peace. Show them how you plan to tackle the issue, and enlist their help.

Bake it…
Okay, it does cost time and some money, but baking has long been a holiday gift tradition in our family. I can’t tell you how long my list is for that wait all year long for my chocolate chip banana bread. (Email me if you’d like the recipe; happy to share.)

Lend it…
Make a list of what you have that you would be willing to “lend out” when asked. Maybe you have a snow blower, or a log splitter, vegetables or flowers from your garden, which you could offer to a friend and neighbor. Take the list and place it in your holiday card and include an email or phone number they can use when they’d like to take you up on your offer.

About Susan Beacham:

Susan Beacham is CEO of Money Savvy Generation.  Susan is an award-winning education entrepreneur and nationally recognized kids and money expert.  Her passion is to empower children and young adults to take control over their financial lives and futures in a world of increasing financial complexity.  Her company develops innovative products to help parents, educators and others teach basic personal finance skills to school-aged children.  Follow Susan’s advice on her blog (www.susanbeacham.com) or on Twitter @SusanBeacham

“Season’s Greetings” image above by Flickr user Powerhouse Museum used via Creative Commons Attribution License

• Flying! by Recess Monkey
• Mind Of My Own by Frances England   
• Sing Along! by Caspar Babypants
• Little Nut Tree by Dan Zanes & Friends
• Love Me For Who I Am by Brady Rymer
• Original Friend by Lunch Money
• Outside My Door by Lori Henriques
• Practically Ridiculous by The Jimmies
• The Bestest of The Best by Dog On Fleas
• Infinity Sock by Gustafer Yellowgold
• Oh Lucky Day by Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band
•  Best song for a stocking stuffer – “I Think I’m A Bunny” by Todd McHatton, from his album, Galactic Champions of Joy.

To hear all of this music and to enter for a chance to win a great prize pack of Parents’ Choice Award winning toys, CDs, games, and books, listen to Mindy this week on SiriusXM’s channel 78 on weekdays at 3pm. Winning parents will receive products from Klutz (Safety Pin Bracelets and Make a Mummy), ThinkFun (Swish), Gamewright (Knock Your Blocks Off and Gubs), MindWare (Destination USA), Owlkids (My Beastly Book of Twisted Tales and My Beastly Book of Hilarious Heroes), Blue Orange Games (Fastrack), and Ugly Dolls. They’ll also receive Lori Henriques’ Outside My Door and The Jimmies’ Practically Ridiculous, both of which are mentioned in Mindy’s 2011 favorites.

Mindy Thomas is the Program Director of Kids Place Live on SIRIUS/XM Radio, where she also hosts The Absolutely Mindy Show on weekday afternoons.  She’s doing exactly what she wanted to do when she grew up.  At home, she spends most of her time scraping dried cheerios off the kitchen floor, and enjoying dance parties with her two sticky precious children.  www.siriusxm.com/kidsplacelive

Packing up the family to go see a performance of “The Nutcracker” or Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” can be a delightful holiday tradition. Many a restless preschooler, however, has squirmed through Tchaikovsky’s beautiful ballet, while Scrooge’s moving journey toward redemption, even when staged with all the Victorian trimmings, can sorely test a young child’s patience.

But if full-length performances of those staples of the season aren’t quite the ticket, there are other options for arts-related family holiday fun to explore. An hour-long adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” “The Night Before Christmas” or another familiar holiday-themed play or musical, can be a golden ticket, too. So can a children’s Hanukkah concert, a fairy tale performed in comic English “panto” style—or even storytelling at the library.

Many orchestras, opera and choral companies schedule special family-friendly performances at this time of year.  The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s holiday concert, “A World of Joy,” tailored to appeal to all ages with a children’s chorus and a visit from Santa Claus, is one example.

For theatrical offerings, check out smaller professional venues in your town, local ballet companies, college, community and children’s theaters. Two of the largest in the latter category, the Seattle Children’s Theatre and the Children’s Theatre of Minneapolis, are celebrating the holidays with the musicals “A Year With Frog and Toad” and “The Wizard of Oz,” respectively.

Zoos across the country often enhance their year-round attractions with hands-on holiday activities and performances. In Washington DC, for example, the National Zoo’s annual “Zoolights” holiday fest showcases illuminated animal sculptures and features crafts, choral music and storytelling.

And don’t forget museums. Art, aviation, automotive and natural history museums. Space, dinosaur, multicultural, railroad and children’s museums—and more—are fun to visit at any time, and many feature special theater or music performances, as well as arts and crafts, throughout the school winter break.

At the Carnegie Museums of Art and History, in Pittsburgh, for instance, children are offered winter arts workshops and explorations in biology and paleontology. In Los Angeles, the Getty Center’s “Family Art Stops” in December promise a “hands-on gallery experience” for children and adults, while the Autry National Center invites all ages to celebrate with “A Singing Cowboy Christmas” and a song-filled reenactment of Mexico’s traditional Las Posadas procession.

Finally, if your community is lucky enough to have a public planetarium, by all means check out its calendar of events.  You might find something like the family shows at the Newark Museum planetarium in New Jersey: “The Little Star That Could” and “Season of Light,” an illumination of the holiday lighting traditions of many cultures, from Yule logs to the Hanukkah Menorah. A “Holiday Stars Concert Series” in the fulldome theater at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is an evening of children’s music with the Sandbox Band that will be, quite literally, star-studded.

So unplug everyone, take a break from the mall and see what live entertainment and hands-on activities your community has to offer. Sharing some creative holiday fun and exploring the arts together is a great way to make the season that much brighter.

Here are 10 terrific titles to jumpstart your list.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale
8 & up
$16.95 

“The “Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese” is a famous old London inn whose tavern has long been a favorite haunt of writers and mice who are both attracted by its delicious cheese. Charles Dickens frequented the tavern with his cronies-among them, Wilkie Collins and William Thackery. Skilley, our feline protagonist, is a skinny feral cat who longs to live in the inn, not because of a desire to catch some of the abundant mice, but because he also loves cheese. It is Mr. Dickens himself who finds Skilley staring at the front door, greets him with, “Good evening, Sir Puss,” and fatefully opens the door.”

The Phantom Tollbooth
8 & up
$24

“The Phantom Tollbooth is a once in a lifetime book. At least it has been for me. Reading it as a child, I had the sense that I had just discovered a new world. Reading it as an adult, I know that I was right.” 

Ice
4 & up
$14.95

“Master of the wordless text and lover of many things porcine, Arthur Geisert brings us ICE. With his trademark wit, style, and ingenuity, Geisert’s latest story is teeming with intricate and gorgeous etchings of an island nation of little pigs wilting from the heat. ”

Heart and Soul
9 & up
$19.99 

“The clear text is understated and riveting. The dark-hued palette is appropriate to the experiences of his subjects, who are depicted as vigorous and beautiful. Nelson’s extraordinary work conveys the strength and character of his subjects. This is nothing short of a masterpiece.”

Chanukah Lights
5 & up
$34.99

“This magnificent gift book celebrates the Festival of Lights by pairing the poetic talents of Michael J. Rosen with the artistry of Robert Sabuda’s ingenious paper sculptures. On each of eight nights, candles burn against the backdrop of the night sky to illuminate a setting in the rich history of this holiday”

Amazing Pop-Up Trucks
3 & up
$17.99

“Featuring some of the largest, most awesome vehicles to travel our streets and highways, Amazing Pop-Up Trucks appeals to page-turners of many ages. Young children will be “wowed” by the sheer size and detail of the pop-ups. Fluent readers will be equally fascinated by fun facts about the trucks’ size, weight, speed, and capacity that are hidden under flaps or appear in sidebars on each page.”

Encyclopedia Mythologica: Dragons & Monsters
4 to 8 years
$29.99

“Encyclopedia Mythologica: Dragons & Monsters is a masterpiece of paper engineering. The team of Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart continue to entrance pop-up fans with the scope and innovation of their work, and this is one of the finest examples to date.

The book opens with a scowling vision of Medusa, her serpentine hair flying dramatically beyond the edges of the page. Several scenes later, a majestic red dragon appears, whose body of bright red honeycomb tissue crackles as it uncoils. A giant sea monster rises from the depths of the ocean, poised to overwhelm a sailing ship that has ventured into nearby waters. Each of these powerful images is impeccably executed with great attention to detail.”

Icefall
8 to 12 years
$17.99

“A richly imagined tale and well-written book, Icefall is a meaty blend of coming-of-age story, fantasy and mystery. It’s the kind of book that makes lifelong readers.

“Solveig is a strong protagonist and her transformation in the book, from uncertain young girl to wise and confident warrior is the story’s backbone. Solveig stumbles, and learns. She finds her calling as a storyteller, one who soothes and comforts the warriors with great tales of Norse legend, and Kirby uses this conceit to great effect. The stories told within this story are magnificent.”

My Side of the Car
4 to 8 years
$16.99

“Having had three former attempts to go to the zoo thwarted, (mom hurt her foot and had to go to the hospital, the dog ran away and we had to search, grandparents made a surprise visit), this was the day Sadie and her father would finally get to the zoo. Because “if we don’t go to the zoo today, I don’t think we’ll ever get there.” No temper tantrums, no pouting; just tacit acceptance of the ill-fated trip. This irresistible story, a brilliant blending of Sadie’s determination, enthusiasm, and understanding, is delivered without so much as a hint of the saccharine, or a whisper of entitlement. ”

Phantoms in the Snow
12 & up
$17.99 

“Phantoms in the Snow is based on the true-life events of the Tenth Mountain Division – an elite skiing company of American soldiers in World War II.

“Kathleen Benner Duble tells their story through the eyes of 15-year-old Noah Garrett. Having recently lost his parents to smallpox, Noah is sent from the family farm in Texas to the frigid temperatures of Camp Hale, Colorado — a military base – to live with his only known relative, an uncle he’s never met….Duble paints the stark extremes of the camp so well, the reader feels every shiver and ache Noah endures as the tough but good-hearted Shelley transforms him into a soldier. She captures the camaraderie of the young soldiers, the daily rigors of their training, and the astounding skills they develop.”

CMA: Country Christmas (ABC, Dec. 1, 9 p.m.). Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles is the host for this two-hour special featuring performances from American Idolstars Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Vince Gill in a special duet with Miss Piggy.

Live From Lincoln Center: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (PBS, Dec. 14, 8 p.m.). This classic ballet, set to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score, features New York City Ballet’s dancers and the New York City Ballet Orchestra, as well as 50 children from the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet.  Check PBS listings for many more musical holiday specials.

Christmas in Washington (TNT, Dec. 16, 8 p.m.). President and Mrs. Obama usually attend this concert show. This year’s lineup, taped at the National Building Museum, includes Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, Victoria Justice and The Band Perry.

A Home for the Holidays with Martina McBride (CBS, Dec. 21, 8 p.m.). The 13th annual special, which celebrates adoption, will include performances by McBride, Mary J. Blige, Gavin DeGraw, One Republic and Christina Perri. Katherine Heigl and Denise Richards, celeb moms who have adopted children, are among the stars slated to appear.