Tales That Last

If you’re not familiar with Clement C. Moore’s “A Visit From St. Nicholas” or Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” then you’ve been living on another planet and don’t even know that some Grinch stole Christmas--a classic tale by Dr. Seuss. Most traditionalists consider these tales required seasonal reading. Of course, the oldest story of all is being told and retold this week in countless homes and churches. For sheer endurance, you can’t beat the 2000-year-old biblical account of that well-known birth in a manger.

Makes you wonder if any newcomers can become classics in today’s fast-rack society. According to Ojai librarian Julie Albright, classics have universal appeal, endurance and a theme that doesn’t date itself. “A Christmas in Wales” (Holiday House) by Dylan Thomas has been popular since 1954. Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” (Random House) first came out in 1956, and “Santa Mouse” (Grosset-Dunlap) by Michael Brown has been a favorite since 1966. She cites other books that hold promise.

“People will be reading ‘Polar Express’ by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton-Mifflin) 50 years from now,” Albright said. She said the same of Eric Kimmel’s “Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins” and “When Mindy Saved Hanukkah” (Holiday House). For a fun picture book on the road to classics glory, she chose “Too Many Tamales” by Gary Soto (Putnam). Another winner is “Santa Calls” by William Joyce (Harper-Collins.)

Since Kwanzaa, a relatively new celebration, is becoming more mainstream, stories that were passed down orally through the generations of African American families have evolved into the written word. Look for classics to follow, such as artist and illustrator Synthia Saint James’ children’s books, “Gifts of Kwanzaa” (Whitman) and “No Mirrors in My Nana’s House” (Harcourt-Brace).

So it is that writers create interesting characters to engage readers year after year and some become classics. That new book you picked up this season may just become your great-grand children’s favorite Christmas story. On the other hand, that naughty Grinch might steal their Christmas, too.

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Author Event: Audrey and Don Wood and son, Bruce Robert Wood, will be at Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura today at 12:30 to discuss “The Christmas Adventure of Space Elf Sam” (Scholastic Books), a book featuring 3-D art created on the computer.

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Special Event Up North: Tickets may still be available for a special holiday show at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Victoria Hall, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Actor Jeff Bridges and others will read a variety of seasonal stories from O. Henry to David Sedaris. Presented by Speaking of Stories, a group of professional actors reading short stories before a live audience. FYI: Karin dela Pena, artistic director of Speaking of Stories, 966-3875; or Chaucer Book Store 3321 State St., Santa Barbara. (682-6787). $15.

Catch you next week.

* Information about book-signings, writers groups or publishing events can be faxed to Ann Shields at (805) 647-5649, or e-mailed to anns40@aol.com.