Great Reading: Bookmark It!

Volume 31, Number 2, December 2003

Sara Catherine Howard

Happy Holidays!
PK-Gr 5

Chanukah (True books). Dana Meachen Rau. Children’s Press, 2000. $23.50. 0-516-21514-0. History and traditions of Hanukkah, the Jewish eight-day festival of lights, are depicted here through simple text, photographs and historic paintings.

Christmas around the world (On my own holidays). Emily Kelley. Carolrhoda, 2004. (Rev. ed.) $21.27. 0-87614-915-8. Kelley’s revised edition highlights the universal Christmas ideals of friendship and peace while describing Christmas traditions and customs in Mexico, Ethiopia, China, Germany, Lebanon, Sweden, Australia and Russia.

Happy New Year, everywhere! Arlene Erlbach. Millbrook, 2000. $8.95. 0-7163-1707-4. With bright and colorful pages, the New Year’s celebrations of 20 countries are described along with an activity, craft or recipe for each.

How to draw cartoon holiday symbols (Kid’s guide to drawing). Curt Visca. PowerKids, 2004. $21.25. 0-8239-6727-3. In addition to simple step-by-step directions for drawing holiday symbols, information about each holiday is provided, making this a welcomed combination of a reading and a drawing book.

Ramadan (Rookie read-about holidays). David F. Marx. Scholastic, 2002. $19.00 0-516-22269-4. With short sentences, bright photographs and easy-to-read text, the Muslim holiday’s traditions and activities are clearly explained to young children. Includes a glossary, index and photo credits.

Seven candles for Kwanzaa. Andrea Davis Pinkney. Dial, 1993. $16.00. 0-8037-1293-6. Honoring an ancient African harvest tradition, Kwanzaa celebrates the seven principles based on the family gathering together, remembering ancestors, unity of community and thanksgiving for the good in life.

Sara Catherine Howard: Adjunct instructor, Department of Library Science, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX.
E-mail Sara.