Scroll down for activity suggestion to go with each story session. Books are listed in alphbetically order by title
Auntie Claus
by Elise Primavera
When her eccentric Auntie Claus leaves for her annual business trip, Sophie stows away in her luggage, travels with her to the North Pole, and discovers that her aunt is really Santa's sister and helper.
Follow-up Activity
- In this story, the main character learns a lesson. Instruct students to describe the lesson learned.
Bubba, the Cowboy Prince
by Helen Ketteman
Loosely based on "Cinderella," this story is set in Texas, the fairy godmother is a cow, and the hero, named Bubba, is the stepson of a wicked rancher.
Followup Activity
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Grinch who Stole Christmas
by Dr. Seuss
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! / Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason." Dr. Seuss's small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps of all time.
Follow-up Activities
- During or after the story, have student complete the Grinch Concept of Definition Map. Click here for a copy
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
By Eric Kimmel
What are the poor villagers to do? The holiday-hating, hill-dwelling hobgoblins are bound and determined to ruin yet another Hanukkah for them. Every year the beasties snuff out the menorah candles, destroy the dreidels, and pitch the potato latkes on the floor. But these wicked wet blankets never counted on someone as clever as Hershel of Ostropol showing up.
Follow up Activities
The Jolly Christmas Postman
by Allan Ahlberg
The Jolly Postman returns with a pouch overflowing with holiday cheer--letters from the Big Bad Wolf, a miniature book, a terrible board game, even a Humpty Dumpty jigsaw puzzle, and more, all tucked into envelopes bound right into the book.
Followup Activities
- Write a letter from another fairy tale character. Click on a link below for fairy tale video clips from Discovery Education. (You will have to log in)
Sleeping Beauty
Rumplestilskin
Goldilocks
The Lady in the Box
By Ann McGovern
A modern morality tale that never strays too far from the stark reality of homelessness while portraying the generosity and concern of two children for a stranger. Written in direct, disarming prose, Ben's story tells how he and his sister try to help the "lady in the box" who keeps her "home" over the heating grate outside the Circle Deli.
Followup Activities
Moosletoe
by Margie Palatini
This charming verse story, told in a singsong rhythm, stars a moose who is determined that his family's Christmas will be "perfectly perfect." Moose "shopped till he dropped. Check," and "baked tons of tins of cookies. Check,"--but in his haste he completely forgets to buy a Christmas tree.
Followup Activities
Night Before Christmas
"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse..."
Follow-up Activities
Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
A boy takes a magic night-time journey on a train to the North Pole
Follow-up Activities
- Discuss this illustration idea from the website:
In The Polar Express, a boy takes a magic night-time journey on a train to the North Pole. The illustrations are very dark and almost all of the colors in them are dark. The darkness shows that it's night, but it also creates the feeling that something unusual and mysterious is going on.
However, within the darkness, the pictures also show a special kind of light: a strong, glowing light that shines through the darkness. It's warm and comforting, and adds a magical feeling. The brightness catches your eye. First the light shines in through the window onto the boy's pajamas. When you turn the page, the light shines from the train's windows and front headlight onto thousands of tiny snowflakes.
But some of the pictures don't have any strong light. Do they feel different from the ones that do? Are they sleepier? Calmer? Sadder? How would this book be different without the glowing light?
- Read the author’s Response to my email:
Dear Friend,
I received your e-mail and I want to thank you for taking the time to write me. I wish I could write you back and thank each one of you personally. Unfortunately, if I did I wouldn't have any time to do my favorite activity which is, thinking.
Alone, quietly in my studio, I think and imagine all sorts of things. Every book I've written and some of my best ideas for problem solving come from simple day dreaming.
When a playmate of my daughter, Anna asked her,"What does your daddy do?" She replied, factually, "He thinks."
Since thinking is what I do, I am not able to answer all my mail, but I do love receiving it and am so lucky to have heard from you.
Yours truly,
Chris
Queen of Christmas
by Mary Engelbreit
During the seven days before Christmas, Ann Estelle engages in fun activities like baking cookies and going ice-skating. Most importantly, she continues to add items to the wish list that she has been keeping since last year. On Christmas day, she finally realizes that it's the fun she has had with family and friends, and not the presents, that is the most important part of the holiday.
Follow up Activities
- Create Fraction Boxes from old greeting cards. The reader will provide instructions for you.
Shall I Knit You a Hat?
by Kate & Sarah Klise
When Mother Rabbit hears that a blizzard is expected to hit on Christmas Eve, she knits Little Rabbit a hat that shows off his long, beautiful ears. He loves it, and suggests that they give their animal friends hats as Christmas presents.
A Southern Time Christmas
By Robert Bernardini
When a Southern farmer discovers an elf who has fallen from Santa's sleigh, the elf tells him about Santa's annual trip to the South.
Followup Activities
- Click here to watch a video or video clip about "the South" (you will need to login).
- How could the story change to include some of these ideas?
Tacky the Penguin
By Helen Lester
None of the penguins can tolerate Tacky's loud habits--until they scare off a pack of hunters.
Follow-up Activities
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Texas Night Before Christmas
Then from out of the north the breeze gave a stir; An icy cold blast swirled the fog in a blur.
Follow-up Activities
Trees of the Dancing Goat
by Patrician Poloco
the simple story of a Jewish girl, Trisha, and her Christian neighbors, whose bout with scarlet fever at Christmas threatens to ruin Trisha's Hanukkah. Trisha and her family respond with a loving gesture that is rewarded in kind
Follow Up Activities
Too Many Tamales?
By Gary Soto
Maria is feeling so grown-up, wearing her mother's apron and helping to knead the masa for the Christmas corn tamales. Her mother even let Maria wear some perfume and lipstick for the big family celebration that evening. When her mother takes off her diamond ring so it won't become coated with the messy masa, Maria decides that life would be perfect if she could wear the ring, too. Trouble begins when she sneakily slips the sparkly ring on her thumb and resumes her kneading. Uh oh. It is not until later that night, after all the tamales have been cooked and after all her cousins and relatives have arrived, that Maria suddenly realizes what must have happened to the precious ring.
Follow up Activities
(you will need to log in)
- learn a little about this author:
http://www.garysoto.com/faq.html
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/soto.html
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