With the added activities during the month of December, it is easy to get disconnected from your kids. Our family has tried to devote time to reading together a book specially selected to fit with the winter holiday theme. NPR recently had a story sharing the tradition of a family reading treasured books together during the holiday season.
NPR Holiday Reading Tradition for the Whole Family
I have posted some of our favorites from through the years. Pick one up at a ...used book store...library...friend's bookshelf. Create a cuddly reading space..soft blannket required...warm cup of tea or cocoa also required...relax and enjoy the moment definitely required. Happy reading!!
Santa Paws by Nathaniel Edwards
Goodreads Summary-
When he performs miraculous rescues and other brave acts, a homeless puppy earns the name Santa Paws--and a new family to love. First published in book clubs, this heartwarming story is released in trade just in time for the holidays.
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston, Pictures by Barbara Cooney
Children's Literature Network Summary-
Ruthie’s father hasn’t come home from the war yet, even though the Armistice has been declared, so Ruthie and her mother will find the perfect Christmas tree to donate to the their town. Ruthie and her mother set out to find the tree Ruthie’s father marked in the spring. Barbara Cooney’s wintry paintings, glowing with moonlight and lantern light, are an intrinsic part of this holiday story.
When Mindy Saved Hanukkah by Eric Kimmel
Goodreads Summary-
Little Mindy Klein lives with her tiny family behind the walls of the Eldridge Street Synagogue. When Mindy's father sprains his ankle right before Hanukkah, he is unable to bring home a candle for the menorah. So Mindy decides to set out and find the candle herself. But first she has to face off with an enormous, frightening cat. With a lot of bravery (and a little help from grandpa) Mindy manages to save Hanukkah just in time...and learns the true meaning behind the Festival of Lights.
Goodreads Summary-
Enjoy a multicultural celebration of the Christmas spirit with the renowned Jan Brett. This stellar volume holds seven of Jan Brett's gorgeous tales, all perfectly suited for the holiday. The Mitten, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with Trolls, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Hat, Christmas Trolls, and The Night Before Christmas all offer a warm retreat for family read-alouds and holiday gatherings. Brett's popularity stems from her talent for wonderfully depicting nature with precision and care. Match that with her attention to detail, powerful storytelling, and heartfelt appreciation of tradition, and it's easy to see why so many kids and adults can't get enough of this talented artist. Decorative borders fill each page of these tales, a charming detail that fans have come to expect. Offering a glorious frame for the exquisite illustrations, these borders draw young readers into a world of serenity. Every story is told with ease, with clear language and colorful characters. From the feisty trolls to the rambunctious forest animals, kids will giggle at the antics of these adorable creatures. From hedgehogs to hens, reindeer to rabbits, Jan Brett uses all the world's creatures to tell her classic stories. These timeless tales will warm the heart of every young reader.
One Candle by Eve Bunting
Goodreads Summary-
For one family the traditional Hanukkah celebration has a deeper meaning. Amidst the food and the festivities, Grandma and Great-Aunt Rose begin their story -- the one they tell each year. They pass on to each generation a tale of perseverance during the darkest hours of the Holocaust, and the strength it took to continue to honor Hanukkah in the only way they could. Their story reaffirms the values of tradition and family, but also shows us that by continuing to honor the tragedies and the triumphs of the past there will always be hope for the future.
And our reading for this year is...
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
Goodreads Summary-
First published in 1956, this much sought-after autobiographical recollection of Truman Capote's rural Alabama boyhood has become a modern-day classic. We are proud to be reprinting this warm and delicately illustrated edition of A Christmas Memory--"a tiny gem of a holiday story" (School Library Journal, starred review). Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: "It's fruitcake weather!" Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls--one young and one old--and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.
No comments:
Post a Comment