Mrs. Muddle's Holidays    by Laura F. Nielsen & Thomas F. Yezerski Order:  USA  Can Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2008 (2008) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch This is a lovely picture book that speaks to the joy of celebrating holidays with special people. It also showcases the power of one person to create meaningful traditions. Mrs. Muddle has just moved to Maple Street, a friendly place where neighbors celebrate such holidays as Valentine's Day and the Fourth of July together, as well as religious holidays like Ramadan, Rosh Hashanah and Christmas. Mrs. Muddle, though, celebrates more obscure holidays, such as the First Shower of April, Earthworm Appreciation Day, a Garlic Jubilee, and a party to commemorate the Inventor of the Roller Skate. Soon, she has a following; virtually every child and family on the block looks forward to one of Mrs. Muddle's holidays and they even surprise her with a new one honoring her. The illustrations are appealing and vibrant; the children portrayed are multi-ethnic, which is partly the message of Mrs. Muddle's Holidays: that holidays are for everyone to enjoy together. There is even a nice little explanation at the end of the book on the history and meaning of certain holidays. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews