It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It really is the most wonderful time of the year, not only because of the fun parties and spirit of Christmas but because I get to read some fantastic Christmas books!  Here are a few of the great books we've been reading this month.

THROUGH THE ANIMALS EYES BY CHRISTOPHER WORMELL

Each page in this story about the first Christmas features beautiful wood cut illustrations shown from the perspective of a different animal. The pictures are stunning, and the students had even more appreciation for them after we watched a demonstration video of a man creating a wood cut print. He shows how he creates the the design onto wood, then he carves it, applies ink, and shows how he transfer the image to paper. The attention to detail and the time it took to create one image was incredible. 

RED AND LULU BY MATT TAVARES

This book is so beautiful. It tells the story of two cardinals whose tree is chopped down with Lulu still in the nest! Red can't believe it when he comes home after gathering breakfast to see their tree loaded on the back of a huge truck, which is driving away. He follows the truck to New York City, but he eventually loses sight of it. He can't believe his eyes when he is drawn to people singing Christmas carols around the huge, beautifully lit tree at Rockefeller Center and realizes that is HIS tree! He has a happy reunion with Lulu, and they stick around the area and make their home in Central Park. In the author's note, Tavares shares that the star on top of the Rockefeller tree weighs 550 pounds, and that it is decorated with over 45,000 lights! He also states that after Christmas, the tree is always donated to Habitats for Humanity to help build houses for those in need. Recycling at its finest!

Here are some other favorites of mine and the students: