The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The classic novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson will be a big hit in your classroom. Quick Synopsis: The Herdmans show up at the church Christmas Pageant tryouts and everyone is horrified. Why? Because they are horrible children! They steal, burn down buildings, and terrorize the neighborhood. Your students will love the story of how the Herdmans and their community learn to work together, while learning the true meaning of Christmas. Grades: 3-6
Next Step: Enjoy the Classroom Activities; or, Buy the Book.
Gingerbread Friends
In Gingerbread Friends, Jan Brett's companion book to Gingerbread Baby, you'll find more irresistible images and fun adventures of the Gingerbread Baby. Quick Synopsis: Confident and cocky, Gingerbread Baby happens upon a bakery, where he tries to make friends with a sugar cookie girl. She just stares and doesn't say a word, like all the other sweet treats he tries to meet. Discouraged, the Gingerbread Baby runs home—chased by a long line of hungry creatures—where he is surprised by enough gingerbread friends to fill a giant fold-out page! Grades: Pre-K–1
Next Steps: Buy the Book.
The Polar Express
Extend and enhance students' enjoyment of Chris Van Allsburg's magical holiday classic The Polar Express with reading activities and guided discussion questions. Quick Synopsis: One Christmas Eve many years ago, a boy lies in bed, listening hard for the bells of Santa's sleigh, which he has been told by a friend do not exist. Later that night he hears and is astounded to see a steam engine parked outside! The conductor invites him to board the Polar Express, a train filled with children on their way to the North Pole. After visiting the North Pole, the boy continues to believe in the spirit of Christmas through adulthood. Grades: K-3
Next Steps: Review and print the Teacher's Guide; or, Buy the Book.
Judy Moody and Stink: The Holly Joliday
A fun new book in the children's Christmas collection, Judy Moody and Stink: The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter Reynolds. Quick Synopsis (from the publisher): Judy Moody is making a list and checking it twice, but all her brother, Stink, wants this year is snow. But it hasn't snowed on Christmas in Virginia in more than a hundred years, so what are the chances that that will change? Fans who curl up with this new Moody comedy can be sure that their bellies will shake like a bowlful of jelly. Grades: K-3
Next Steps: Read and print the Q&A with Megan McDonald and Peter Reynolds; or, Buy the Book.
The Christmas Genie
The fun novel The Christmas Genie, by Dan Gutman, will be a new staple on your Christmas bookshelf. Quick Synopsis: It's the last day of school before Christmas vacation and Mrs. Walter's fifth-grade class couldn't wish more for that final bell to ring. But the day takes a crazy turn when a mysterious meteorite crashes through their classroom window and a genie pops out. He will grant just one wish for the whole class to share. Be careful what you wish for! Grades: 3-6
Next Steps: Print the Guide to Books by Dan Gutman; or, Buy the Book.
Jan Brett's The Night Before Christmas
Renowned author and illustrator Jan Brett takes on Clement Moore's classic poem in her book The Night Before Christmas. Quick Synopsis (from the publisher): A new generation of readers will find Jan's visual interpretation of this favorite poem, set in a snowy New England village, both familiar, as St. Nick visits a Victorian family, and surprising, with Jan's addition of two stowaway elves from the North Pole. Grades: Pre-K–5
Next Steps: Enjoy the Classroom Activities; or, Buy the Book.
"The Little Match Seller"
Introduce your students to Hans Christian Andersen's dark fairy tale "The Little Match Seller [Girl]." Quick Synopsis: On a cold New Year's Day many years ago, a poor young girl sits outside and sadly remembers her deceased Grandmother. Grades: 2-6
Next Steps: Print the full text of the story and an activity for having Fun with Fairy Tales; or, Buy an Illustrated Book.
A Christmas Carol
Everyone knows this classic Charles Dickens story, but print and distribute the full text of "A Christmas Carol" so your students can read it for themselves. Quick Synopsis: The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts (Christmas Past, Present, and Future) to show him why it's important to have the Christmas spirit. While young children may not be able to read this themselves, kids of all ages will appreciate the storyline! Grades: 3-12
Next Steps: Print the full text of the story; or, Buy an Illustrated Version of the book.
"The Gift of the Magi"
O. Henry's story "The Gift of the Magi" exemplifies the true spirit of Christmas. Quick Synopsis: In this story of sacrificing in the name of love, cash-poor Della realizes she'll have to do something drastic in order to afford the perfect gift for her husband. A classic O. Henry twist at the end keeps things interesting! Grades: 3-12
Next Steps: Print the full text of the story; encourage students to write their own short story with an unexpected twist; or, Buy an Illustrated Version of the book.
