12 Days of Christmas Read Alouds

Today's Christmas read aloud is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.

This is a great chapter book to read aloud to kids ages 7-10.  The chapters are a decent length so you could probably read aloud one chapter a day.  This book is all about a child finding the true meaning of Christmas through some very unlikely people.

The Herdmans are the bad kids in town.  There are a lot of them and they are constantly getting in trouble.  They bully other kids, start fires, lie, cheat and so much more.  Everyone is scared of them.  One day the Herdmans show up to church (they heard they could get free food) and all of the sudden they are the stars in the annual Christmas program.

The entire town is concerned and worried about the Herdmans being in the play, they are convinced that they will single handedly ruin the tradition.  The Herdmans don't even know the story of Christmas.  After telling them the story of Christmas and several practices it the night of the pageant.  The church is packed (mostly with people who want to see what type of shenanigans the Herdmans pull during the program) and it ends up being the best Christmas pageant ever.

You see, the Herdmans were like Mary and Joseph- poor and maybe a little disheveled.  They understood having to use whatever you can for a bed, Jesus used a manger and the Herdmans used a dresser drawer. They also brought a new perspective to the wise men and demonstrated how protective Mary would have been over Jesus.  The Herdmans showed the entire congregation that Christmas was about love, not about everyone looking pretty and perfect.

Here are a couple of quotes from the book that I thought were very fitting:

"After all, that was the whole point of Jesus- that he didn't come down on a cloud like something out of "Amazing Comics," but that he was born and lived... a real person." pg 82

"But Imogene, I guess, didn't see it that way.  Christmas just came over all at once, like a case of chills and fever.  And so she was crying and walking into the furniture." pg 88

Stage One in Louisville has just a few performances of the play.  I believe they are December 15 and 21 at 2 and 5 PM.  Stage One always puts on great performances so if you are looking for a show for your children I would recommend this one.  The theater is smaller so there is not a bad seat in the house and Stage One is geared directly to children and families.

Happy Reading!
Laura

Sisters

Today is my little sister's birthday so I have decided to dedicate this week's Throwback Thursday to her. Beverly Cleary is getting the honor today with her wonderful book about two sisters Beezus and Ramona.  

Here is some thoughts from Beezus about sisters, especially little sisters. 

"Beatrice Quimby's biggest problem was her little sister Ramona."

"You always get your own way, because you're the youngest!"

"She ought to like Ramona.  Sisters always liked each other.  They were supposed to.  Like Mother and Aunt Beatrice."

"But even sisters are usually different."

"If Ramona were only bigger, things might be different; but since she was so much younger, she would always be... well, a pest."

"Everyone knew sisters were supposed to love each other." 

"And now Mother and Aunt Beatirce, who had quarreled when they were girls, loved each other and thought the things they had done were funny!  Maybe that was just they way things were with sisters."

My sister and I were a lot like Ramona and Beezus.  There were definitely times when we were girls that we did not love each other.  Like the time we argued so much we were given the name "The Bickersisters." Or the time that my sister got lost and we spent the entire day looking for her only to find her asleep in the linen closet covered in blankets.  But now that I am older I know exactly what Beezus had discovered in the book, sisters are supposed to love each other and there is no one I love more than my sisters!

Happy Birthday Katie!  Love you!

   

                                                                                    

                          

Happy Reading!

Laura

Global Read Aloud

The book recommended for 1st grade and up for the Global Read Aloud project is Marty McGuire by Kate Messner.

Marty McGuire is the story of a girl named Marty who is a bit of a tomboy.  She prefers catching frogs, digging in dirt and pretending to be Jane Goodall.  When she starts 3rd grade her teacher announces that the class will be putting on the play The Frog Prince.  Marty is not too keen on the idea, especially when her teacher asks her to be the princess.  Marty does not do tiaras and frilly dresses.  Marty does not do princesses.  However, despite her unwillingness Marty's mom makes her participate in the play and Marty does her best job acting, "princessy," until her and the boy acting as the prince get an idea.  They decide to switch out the stuffed animal frog for a real, live, frog and encourage improvisation in the play.

I really like this choice for the Global Read Aloud project not just because of the story line but also because the book really leans itself to being cross curricular.  While reading this for Global Read Aloud you could also be hitting on biographies, especially ones about Jane Goodall.  In science you could work on your animal unit (whether it be classification, food chains, anatomy, whatever the life science standards are in your grade).  Lastly, there is a lot of drama specific vocabulary (improve, scenery) so take this opportunity to meet some of the drama standards.

Another reason I like this choice is because it is part of a series.  Kate Messner has written two other books about Marty McGuire so if your class falls in love with Marty you already have your next two read alouds!

Don't forget that the Global Read Aloud starts at the end of THIS month.  Sign up here and be thinking about how you will connect with other classrooms across the globe.  Will you use twitter, skype, a blog?  Let me know your plans!

Happy Reading!
Laura