Ruby and Leonard and the Great Big Surprise

Ruby and Leonard and the Great Big Surprise By Judith Rossell

Ages 3-6

A sweet pastel-colored story about a brother mouse, Leonard and his sister, Ruby deciding to make a birthday surprise. They work as a team to make frosted cupcakes and along the way they keep reminding each other to be quiet and not ruin the surprise. As you look carefully at the pictures you'll see some whiskers, paws or a head lurking in the background of each page. The surprise is that they have been watched all along by their other brothers and sisters because they all share a huge birthday (and birthday party) together. The cute illustrations are very heartwarming. Best as a lap-read with a young child who might be excited about their own upcoming birthday celebration.

Baghead

Baghead By Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Grades K-3

"On Wednesday morning, Josh had an idea." Josh decided to wear a bag on his head to breakfast, and to ride the bus, and to class and even soccer practice. Everyone keeps telling him he can't do these things with a bag on his head, but somehow he does. Why is Josh wearing a bag on his head? Because he tried to cut his own hair and he's too embarrassed for anyone to see it. But when Josh's sister gets an idea to help, he won't have to wear that bag again.

Comparison seed: Read this story along with Home-Field Advantage by Justin Tuck about another haircut gone wrong and discuss similarities and differences between the two stories.

Testing the Ice

Testing the Ice: A True Story about Jackie Robinson By Sharon Robinson

Grades 1-4

Jackie Robinson's daughter Sharon Robinson has written this beautiful tribute to her father and the bravery he exhibited not only breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, but also testing the ice on their frozen pond in Connecticut. Jackie Robinson couldn't swim and he always avoided going in the lake with his children and their neighborhood friends. Finally, one winter, when they were dying to go ice skating they convinced Jackie to come down to the lake. As terrifying as it must have been for him, he slowly walked all the way to the center of the pond to make sure it was completely safe before letting his kids on the ice. Sharon recounts that day vividly with pride for her caring father. This is an interesting look at the baseball hero and shows us a different side of the famous athlete. This is a wonderful winter read aloud which appeals to both boys and girls and has nothing to do with the holidays.

Christmas Cookies

Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Grades PreK-3

Amy Krouse Rosenthal's sweet cookie-inspired morsels of wisdom define some difficult concepts in the most easy to grasp way with a simple sentence and darling illustration. For example: 

Appreciative means, thank you so so much for taking the time to bake with me.

Moderation means at the party not having twenty cookies, and not having zero cookies, but having just enough cookies.

Anticipation means, I've been thinking all day about making the cookies. I'm so excited. I can't wait.

These are such cozy, soft illustrations to pore over while curled up on the couch. This isn't necessarily a classroom read aloud, but more of something I'd want to do as a lap read with the children in my own family. A definite holiday gift for the cookie-loving kid in your family and it even has a sugar cookie recipe in the back.

The Hueys in the New Sweater

The Hueys in the New Sweater By Oliver Jeffers

Grades K-3

Oliver Jeffers is pure genius at work. I adore his children's books and this one is no exception. The thing about the Hueys was that they were all the same. Until one Huey knitted himself a nice new sweater and was as proud as could be. At first the Hueys think he looks strange, after all he no longer looks exactly like them. But when another Huey also knits himself a sweater being different starts to catch on. Soon all the Hueys are wearing exactly the same sweater and they're all different now. Except really none of them are. Get it?! Such a fun book and the best part is the end when it shows itself to be a circle story with a Huey named Rupert deciding he'd like to wear a hat.

Discussion Seed: Discuss what it means to be different, why it's important to respect others' differences, etc. I think this book could easily tie in with a social skills lesson about bullying.

Dog Loves Books

Dog Loves Books By Louise Yates

Grades K-3

Such a sweet book about Dog who loves books and opens a bookstore. At first business is very slow. The only people who come in are looking for tea or directions. To pass the time Dog immerses himself in reading and realizes that when he is in the middle of a book he is never alone. When a little girl comes into the store Dog is able to give some great recommendations to her because he knows his collection so well. This story reminds me of my first year as a librarian, delving more and more into my collection and finding so many new treasures to share with my teachers and students. All libraries should own this one and I can't imagine a book more perfect for the first month at school.

Chanukkah and Christmas Bears

Old Sadie and the Christmas Bear By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Grades 1-5

Amos the bear wakes up from his hibernation smelling something he doesn't recognize. He goes off into the nearby to discover what it might be. There he finds Sadie, an old woman who doesn't see very well anymore. As he tumbles into Sadie's home she welcomes him over to the hearth to get warm. She shares food with him and he in turn warms up her chair. She isn't aware that a bear has been to visit but they offer each other some company in this quiet Christmas tale. A real gem, worth searching for at your public library or buying a used copy since this 1984 book is hard to come by.

 Teaching in a public school means making sure to purchase, read and recommend books for both Hanukkah and Christmas in the month of December. I can't imagine two stories that go better together than these two. A storytime match made in Heaven. 

Lesson Seed: Hold up the books before reading and get predictions. When finished spend some time comparing how the two books were similar. The real thinkers will be able to dig deep and figure out ways in which they were different as well.

The Chanukkah Guest By Eric A. Kimmel

Grades 2-5

Bubba Brayna is 97 years old and doesn't hear or see as well as she used to. This foreshadowing by the author explains why she allows a bear to enter her small cottage at the edge of the forest, plays dreidel and then feeds him all her potato latkes. Imagine her surprise a short time later when all her family, friends and the Rabbi arrive and the latkes have been polished off! Not until her grandchildren discover bear tracks in the kitchen does she realize her mistake. This is a perfect Hanukkah book to share with your family or class.