Jolly Holiday Books

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner; illustrated by Mark Buehner

K-2nd Grade

nookkids

Children have all sorts of things they love to do at Christmas time like give gifts, open presents, feast on delicious food, be with family and friends they love, make snow angels and build snowmen. But what do snowmen like to do? "Snowmen at Christmas" is filled with frigid fun that children will enjoy reading. There are also hidden pictures to look for on each page. It is a good thing the Buehners, a married couple from Salt Lake City, shared their insightful imaginations in this book or all of us would think snowmen just stand still in our yards until the sun comes out or they get knocked over by playful children.

The Holly Joliday, Judy Moody and Stink by Megan McDonald

3rd-4th Grade

Judy wants so many things for Christmas she writes her list on a roll of toilet paper! Stink, her little brother, wants only one thing...SNOW! It hasn't snowed for over 100 years in their town in

Virginia but Stink still wants snow and seems obsessed with the "stuff." (Many of us may feel the same way as Stink during this very dry December). Judy and Stink enjoy the last day of school before Winter Recess. They perform in a school program in the evening and all sorts of out of the ordinary things occur such as the 12 Days of Christmas presented Hawaiian style and a talking parrot who steals the show and an unexpected surprise during the 2nd graders performance of "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

5th-6th Grade

Though many children are familiar with A Christmas Carol either by a book, movie or play it is always wonderful to share this story with older children at Christmas time. I chose sections from

the book to help the students get to know Ebenezer Scrooge's bristly, uncaring personality and then the experience with Jacob Marley's ghost (many students in 5th and 6th grade love reading ghost stories and this is one most parents would be fine with) and to conclude I showed the students the three ghosts that will hopefully change Scrooge's ways from last year's version of Disney's "A Christmas Carol" starring Jim Carrey. The video was just over one minute and added a modern twist to a classic tale.

Meet the Author, Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg

Chris was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 18th, 1949, the second child of Doris and Richard Van Allsburg. His sister Karen was born in 1947. They had two Siamese cats. One named Fafner and the other name Eloise

Chris went to junior and senior high school in East Grand Rapids. He didn’t take art classes during this time. His interests and talents seemed to be more in the area of math and science.

Chris went to the University of Michigan in the fall of 1967. He majored in sculpture at the University of Michigan, where he learned bronze casting, wood carving, resin molding and other techniques. He graduated in 1972 and went to graduate school at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to continue his study of sculpture.

In 1975, after earning his M.F.A. degree at RISD, Chris set up a sculpture studio in Providence, RI. He also married Lisa Morrison, whom he met at the University of Michigan four years earlier. Lisa was also an art student who had studied education and had become an elementary school art teacher in the Providence school system.

Chris first exhibited his sculpture in New York City in 1977 at the Alan Stone Gallery. He exhibited elsewhere in New England, and though sculpture was his primary interest, he had begun drawing pictures at night in a little room in his and Lisa’s apartment. He did not think of these drawings as very important, but others did. Alan Stone showed two of them to a curator from The Whitney Museum of Art, where they were exhibited in 1978.

Though still involved in making sculptures, Chris set aside some time and created the story and pictures that became The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, published in 1979. Since then, Chris has written and illustrated 15 books and has illustrated three others that were written by Mark Helprin.

In 1980, he was awarded the Caldecott Honor Medal for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. Chris is also the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, and was the recipient of the Boston Globe Horn Book Award for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. Additionally, he received the Boston Globe Honor for The Polar Express as well as The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Chris has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature. In 1982, Jumanji won the National Book Award and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film.

In 1991, Chris and Lisa became parents when their daughter Sophia was born. In 1995, their second daughter, Anna was born. Chris lives in Providence RI and works in his 3rd floor studio. For recreation and amusement, he rides his bike and plays tennis. He is not really the master of any instruments, but can entertain his children by producing simple tunes playing a recorder through his nose. (Listed below are five of his books.)

We read The Polar Express to all grades this week. We hope your student felt a little Christmas Magic as this book was being read, after all, READING IS BELIEVING!

HaPpY ReAdInG!!