It is funny what sticks with you. This book is one that it seems like we always had. I remember reading it over and over again, and scratching and smelling the little stickers for hot chocolate and candy canes and a Christmas tree and oranges and apple pie.
Bibliography: Scarry, Patricia M. (1970). The Sweet Smell of Christmas. Illustrated by J. P. Miller. New York: Golden Books. ISBN: 9780375826436 (2003 edition)
Review: Simple and warm, this book takes children through some of the traditional preparation for Christmas, from Christmas trees to candy canes, holiday baking to Christmas stockings. In just a few words, you are drawn into the Bear Family home, and the illustrations light up the page. Really, the scratch and sniff stickers are just a bonus. (I know I read our copy even after the smelliness was gone.)
Patricia Scarry was the wife of Richard Scarry, and seems to have his knack for writing for children. J. P. Miller illustrated many Golden Books, including others in the “Scented Storybook” series. The genius in using animals in a story like this is that somehow every child sees the story as theirs, with no race or ethnicity attached.
If you didn’t have this book as a child, I hope you’ll take advantage of the fact that it has been reissued and is available at a very reasonable price.
Reviewed from personal copy. Amazon Affiliate: If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.
