Welcome to Read, Imagine & Explore where I share great books for young readers! December is my favorite month for lots of reasons, and since it also includes Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, I’ve got you covered with a book for each holiday. Whatever you celebrate, I wish you a beautiful time filled with many memories with your family and friends. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
(Photos in order by: Photo by Frede Langlois, Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay, Photo by Diliara Garifullina, Photo by Askar Abayev. Photo by Ksenia Chernaya, PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay.)
Featured Books:
- Little Red Sleigh (picture book)
- Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa (picture book)
- Runaway Dreidel! (picture book)
Little Red Sleigh by Erin Guendelsberger/2020/Sourcebooks Wonderland
Little Red Sleigh dreams of one day being Santa’s big red sleigh. Despite the other toys in the toyshop telling her it’s impossible, Little Red believes she can do it and sets off on an adventure to the North Pole. Kids can admire Little Red’s determination as she meets helping friends along the way and unexpectedly gives joy to some children who are sledding. A heartwarming and joyful story about belief, discovery and love.
Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington/2010/Katherine Tegen Books
Granna Rabbit is feeling poorly, and Mama Rabbit is taking care of her. That means no one is able to cook the feast of Karamu for Kwanzaa, Li’l Rabbit’s favorite. He’s sad but then remembers Granna Rabbit’s message about Kwanzaa: it’s about helping each other. Li’l Rabbit ventures out in search of a tasty treat for Granna Rabbit, sharing his wish with the forest animals who also know and love her. As the community comes together to help, Li’l Rabbit gains a powerful insight about how one small act can change everything.
Runaway Dreidel! by Leslea Newman/2002/Henry Holt and Company
A boy spins his dreidel in the comfort of his kitchen and suddenly the dreidel spins away on its own, through the house and out the front door! Try as he might, the boy can’t catch it. As he chases it down the street, others try to help, but the dreidel has its own holiday mission. Told in rhyming couplets, matching the rhythm of the dreidel’s pace, this story holds an unexpected, heartfelt twist at the end…perfect for the season.
Imagine & Explore: Holiday Fun in December!
~ Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, NY runs from Nov. 24 through Christmas. Come meet Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens (along with other 19th century characters), as they walk the streets, while Mr. Dickens gathers inspiration for writing A Christmas Carol. Plus, you’ll find a host of events in town throughout November and December to keep you in the holiday spirit. How do Christmas caroling, Fezziwig’s Christmas party or horse drawn wagon rides sound? It’s all there at the Dickens Christmas!
*(P.S. If you’re interested in knowing more about the life and writings of Charles Dickens, visit this site.)
~Two beloved plays on stage now:
- A Christmas Carol with old Ebenezer Scrooge is back at Geva Theater in Rochester. It runs from Nov. 28th-Dec. 30th.
- Annie is also being performed at the Rochester Broadway Theater League, from Dec.12-17th. (Mentioned last month in 585kids Magazine)
~ Uncovering New York: Do your children love to drive around and see the holiday lights in different neighborhoods? Mine did and still do, even as adults! Click on the link above to discover eight fantastic light displays around NY, including the largest one, Lights on the Lake, in Syracuse, NY. Having been there, I can say it’s mighty impressive. All in all, a fun and dreamy way to spend an evening
~OUISI Game Time! (pronounced ‘wee-see’.) Ever heard of this game? It’s a visual card game with each individual card showing pictures of nature, animals, everyday objects and more, along with a guidebook. The idea behind it is to help kids (and adults) make connections, comparisons and contrasts between the cards using colors, shapes and patterns. They can also be used as springboards for drawing or story telling. This game offers excellent brain building for critical thinking, imagination, inspiration and more! OIUSI comes in two sets: OIUSI Original and OUISI Nature. Check it out!
Enjoy everyone! Peace…
This newsletter is for you…parents, grandparents, caregivers, homeschoolers and teachers! I always appreciate feedback. If you like something, leave a comment! If you think of other books young readers might like or have suggestions for places to explore, please leave a comment about that, too! Thanks for reading.
See you in January!
(Edition 10)