Looking for some new books to read out loud to your students (or perhaps your own children?) You've come to the right corner of the blog-o-sphere. These books were all suggested by teachers from my facebook page. Click on the title or the image to for more information on Amazon.
A family goes out to the
woods for what the readers believe will be to find their Christmas tree, but
instead they decorate a tree in the woods with yummy goodies for the forest
animals to enjoy for Christmas. The room is always silent when I read this
one!!
-Lori Lagro Butler
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
-Lori Lagro Butler
It's about how one family who celebrates Hanukkah helps a family get ready for
Christmas because they are all sick, so everyone can have a happy holiday
season. Takes place about 50 years ago and focuses on putting aside differences
and accepting others. Great writing!
-Kathy Roehrig Caraynoff
Tear jerker..hate to ruin the ending or I would say more.....
-Stephanie Helgerson Corley The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
I always read The Polar Express and then have another teacher
"hide" a silver bell in their desk while we are out at recess or
lunch; somewhere when I am with the kids, so they don't know I planted
them.....LOL
-Rebecca Parker
Polar Express....hard to beat and great acting it out whilst reading with the kids :)
-Ciara O Driscoll
I love reading
this book after reading the original (Twas The Night before Christmas) because
we have so many military families and the kids can really relate to the story,
especially those with a parent that has been deployed.
-Lorraine Palmer Vasquez
I am reading The House Without a Christmas Tree by Gail Rock to
my students. This is a book for grades 3-6. I love it because it is a good book
to discuss character traits like perseverance and generosity, and what really
is the meaning of the holiday. It's an oldie, but the DVD is also still
available.
-Robin Klein
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess
I love the approach he takes with what it means to be giving and that when someone believes in you anything is possible!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess
I love the approach he takes with what it means to be giving and that when someone believes in you anything is possible!
-Nadine Cruz-Saubert.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We talk about forgiveness and how important it is to our happiness. And of course we love to listen to and sing the song!!
-Candance Brannen Plymel
There is also a picture book version of this wonderful classic.
Prancer by Stephen Cosgrove Taylor
I love all of the above but also use Prancer. The kids predict if it is really Santa's reindeer or not, vocabulary, persuasive writing- she writes a letter to Santa that is published in the newspaper that helps get the whole town believing-& of course we compare & contrast the movie to the book. I like it because most of the kids have never heard it unlike Polar Express or The Grinch.
-Robin Runnels Muse
Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We talk about forgiveness and how important it is to our happiness. And of course we love to listen to and sing the song!!
-Candance Brannen Plymel
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - my son wanted this book to be
read all year long! It teaches all of us a great lesson; having a big heart,
and surrounding ourselves with loved ones, are the most important parts I the
season.
-Gina Moretto Wright
A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe
I LOVE the story "A Wish to be a Christmas Tree" Its about a Christmas Tree that is too old to be picked/cut down and he just wishes he was someone's special tree for Christmas. The animals that live in his tree hear this and decide to decorate him and show him that he IS special to them.
-Christina Collinsworth
The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson
To me it is so poetic and simply profound. I have yet to use it with students,
though. I have read it to my daughter (now 4 3/4) the last two Christmas Eve's
and I get choked up each time.
A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe
I LOVE the story "A Wish to be a Christmas Tree" Its about a Christmas Tree that is too old to be picked/cut down and he just wishes he was someone's special tree for Christmas. The animals that live in his tree hear this and decide to decorate him and show him that he IS special to them.-Christina Collinsworth
The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson
To me it is so poetic and simply profound. I have yet to use it with students,
though. I have read it to my daughter (now 4 3/4) the last two Christmas Eve's
and I get choked up each time.
-Sandra Leiser
I love to read Christmas Magic, I love the story and the illustrations are amazing.
-Tonya Ballew Dye
I love to read Christmas Magic, I love the story and the illustrations are amazing.
-Tonya Ballew Dye
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
It's a story about an "unruly" family, the Hurdman's, that collide with the yearly pageant head on. It's funny and touching. I just learned there is a picture book version as well. My other VERY favorite is The Polar Express.
It's a story about an "unruly" family, the Hurdman's, that collide with the yearly pageant head on. It's funny and touching. I just learned there is a picture book version as well. My other VERY favorite is The Polar Express.
-Nancy Loberg Reinhiller
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson because
it gets to the real meaning of Christmas. The Herdman children learn what
Christmas is really all about. I read this out loud to my 3rd and 4th graders
and we discuss the vocabulary and the story with comprehension questions.
-Leah Anne Neidert Fisher There is also a picture book version of this wonderful classic.
This is one of my favorites since I was a child because I always thought Little Critter was so cute! In this story, he tries and tries to make it a great Christmas for his parents, and he keeps making mistakes, getting tangled up in the Christmas lights, etc. The message is that no matter what, the people you love will appreciate what you try to do for them on Christmas!! :)
It is about the Christmas Train that runs through the
Appalacian Mountains. The main character hopes for a special gift each year but
always receives what he needs instead. It focuses on hope and perservance and
giving and receiving.
-Deborah Hughes Freeman
The Red Ranger of Mars Comes Calling by Berkeley Breathed
Awesome to make those believe, believe even more and those non believers cross back to the believers side. So Awesome! I usually ask for a secret poll on a card of who believes before I read and then again after I read. I always get about 50-50 to start and way more believers after.
-Marla RosenthalAwesome to make those believe, believe even more and those non believers cross back to the believers side. So Awesome! I usually ask for a secret poll on a card of who believes before I read and then again after I read. I always get about 50-50 to start and way more believers after.Prancer by Stephen Cosgrove TaylorI love all of the above but also use Prancer. The kids predict if it is really Santa's reindeer or not, vocabulary, persuasive writing- she writes a letter to Santa that is published in the newspaper that helps get the whole town believing-& of course we compare & contrast the movie to the book. I like it because most of the kids have never heard it unlike Polar Express or The Grinch.-Robin Runnels Muse
Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini
I love the book Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini - I teach it with Problem/Solution or story elements since the moose has to ALWAYS solve a problem in all her books. :)
-MsJordanReads
Note: This looks like a great book, but seems to be out of print. Copies on Amazon on expensive, but you could try your local library.
Note: This looks like a great book, but seems to be out of print. Copies on Amazon on expensive, but you could try your local library.
The ending really shocks the kids, makes them think, and makes them FEEL. There is also a good animated video on youtube that looks like it takes place in Eastern Europe (Russia maybe?) but uses no words only music. I showed it first and had students write their own stories/commentaries about what was happening. Then I read the book to see how close they were. It worked much better than I anticipated!
-Laurie Griffin
Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
-Laurie Griffin
Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas are two of my favorites. Picture books for older children for the holidays and still keeps them wondering.
-Tricia Jacobson Gout
Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick
It's not necessarily a Christmas book but the
LD teacher and I (an SLP) gave taken on Stranger in the Woods. I have created
almost 3 weeks worth of activities to do with the book. We will use it with 4th
grade this year and they will research information about one of the animals
from the story and write about it. We work on pre and post test vocabulary. I
will probably also make a word search and crossword puzzle up. I think it's
hard to keep the kids engaged during this time before break! You have to make
the work fun!
-Shelly Gehring Gervase
Snowmen at Night by Carolyn Buehner
You can also get Snowmen at Christmas
by Caralyn Buehner
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
So cute and so true! Too much before the holidays causes lots of drama!
-Maria Reierstad
Other suggestions include:
Welcome Comfort
by Patricia Palacco
The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick
It's not necessarily a Christmas book but the
LD teacher and I (an SLP) gave taken on Stranger in the Woods. I have created
almost 3 weeks worth of activities to do with the book. We will use it with 4th
grade this year and they will research information about one of the animals
from the story and write about it. We work on pre and post test vocabulary. I
will probably also make a word search and crossword puzzle up. I think it's
hard to keep the kids engaged during this time before break! You have to make
the work fun!Snowmen at Night by Carolyn Buehner
Snowmen at Night for visualization ( I don't show the pics and
have my students close their eyes as I read... then they get to draw a picture
on dark blue or black paper using white chalk and crayons)
-Lisa TravisYou can also get Snowmen at Christmas
by Caralyn BuehnerLlama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
So cute and so true! Too much before the holidays causes lots of drama!
-Maria Reierstad
Other suggestions include:
Welcome Comfort
by Patricia Palacco
by Janice CohnThe Story of Holly and Ivy
by Rumer GoddenThe Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
A Wish for Wings That Work: An Opus Christmas Story
by Berkeley Breathed
And finally, I was surprised that no one mentioned The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, though that is possibly because the movie version is even better.Is your favorite missing from this list? Please tell us what it is with a comment.
2 comments:
Great list! The Trees of the Dancing Goats is my favorite!
Sarah
Using My Teacher Voice
Thank you for the shout out Rachel!! LOVE ALL YOU DO!!! :)
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