I will be reading a book to the kids at my son's Kindergarten Christmas party. Can anyone suggest a good book for this age? Something Christmas-y, of course.
Is there anything your kids have particularly enjoyed and loved?
Thanks!
p.s. My son attends a public school so I'd try to keep it non-religious, out of respect for everyone's beliefs.
.
Hi Denise,
Here are a couple the children and I especially like:
1. The Hat by Jan Brett---beautiful illustrations!
2. The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellog---very cute story.
I was going to suggest How Santa got his job as well. There is also a sequel called How Santa Lost his Job. Very funny.
I love A Wish to be a Christmas Tree also.
O. of my best friend's faves for this time of year is How the Reindeer got their Antlers.
I taught a pre-k class O. year and the kids loved "Olive the Other Reindeer" (about a dog who thought she was a reindeer) and "How Santa got His Job" (a humorous book about Santa dabbling in O. job after another). They also liked a beautiful version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" that was a die-cut-pop-up book. My kids like "Dora's Starry Christmas" (Dora helps deliver presetns around the world) and Backyardigans Christmas (the gang meet together for a party; story is set to the tune of Jingle Bells, I think). I like the "Polar Express" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
I want to mention a website I just came across about getting kids involved in reading. It has forums, recommendations, free book progrmas, etc.
http://www.readkiddoread.com/home
"Mouse's First Christmas" is a favortie in our since my 8 yo was a toddler. It's a tradition every year.
My son is 4 and I just got "Curious George Christmas" for him and he loves it! It is about how George and the man with the yellow hat go to a christmas tree farm to pick out a tree. George winds up climbing into O. of the trees that someone else cuts down and takes with them. He winds up in a children's hospital and the children fall in love with him. Cute story!
I believe it is called Olivia Helps with Christmas...it is from the Oliva series (she is a pig...very cute!) and all my kids love it. They are 2, 4, 6, 18 years!
Hi Denise,
I have a book called the Sweet Smells of Christmas. It is about a little bear and it has a scratch and sniff on a few pages. It explains all about how the bear family gets ready for Christmas. My kids loved it my daughter is now 6 1/2 and my son is 3 we still read it. Have a good time reading and hope this helps you out.
R. C
I've heard the Little Drummer Boy, sung acapello (?)as the reader turned the pages and showed the illustrations. I don't know who illustrated the book, but assume the title was LDB. She wasn't a great singer, but with the lights dim and a bunch of little faces shining up at her,chiming in on the pa-rumpa-pum-pums, it was totally magical. Definately a Christmas memory that i cherish.
Another book that deals with Christmas and the nativity, is titled, Who is coming to Our House? and it tells how the animals prepared the manger for Mary and Baby Jesus.
you are so lucky you get to read to your son's class. I sure hope someone gets a picture of that! I can just imagine how excited and please he will be to have you share that special time with him. Merry Christmas!
My son likes the story - A Snowman Christmas. It's about how snowmen celebrate Christmas at night while everyone is sleeping - very cute!
The Berenstein Bear's have a nice Christmas book.It is actually quite long but has a nice story and message with it.
I can't believe that no O. has suggested my kids' favorite - the classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". They love to hear Dr. Seuss' sing-song rhymes, it has a wonderful plot and they can even hum along with the Whos if they've seen the TV version . . .
i have the cutest story that i found about 2 years ago. i don't have it with me so i can't give the name(s) of the author(s), but the name of the book is GRUMPY SANTA. it's about santa having a bad day and how it changes at the end of his deliveries. it's so freaking cute, and my son, who is 5, loves it.
if you search on amazon or B&N, i'm sure you'll find it.
Are you Grumpy Santa.
This is such a cute book that tells kids that even Santa can have a bad day and be grumpy. It has great illustrations and an ending message that if people are nice to you "the grumpies disappear".
Polar Express
The Mitten by Jan Brett (more of a winter story, but a cute O.)
Jan Brett has a few winter stories, if you go to the library you can see them for yourself, I think there is a Xmas O. but I can't recall the name.
Dear Denise,
You did not mention whether your son attends Kindergarten at public school or in a private, Christian or other type of school. Naturally, if possible, I'd suggest O. of Max Lucado's kids Christmas books for a Christian or private school. However, you might even be able to read it in public school, depending upon your child's teacher, the principal, the district, etc. If at all possible, if you celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, I'd recommend trying to find something along those lines that's not pushy. With kids books, though, that's not usually too much of a problem. Good luck in your search. I'll pray that the Lord leads you to just the right book! :)
thats easy!! get each child a "bell" on a string (walmart has bell necklaces for $1 each) and then read polar express - the movie is good too - its a great book - and age appropriate for ANY age!!! my mom's friend is a 2nd grade teacher and she reads it every year to her kids!
S. w.
