On Hanukkah by Cathy Goldberg Fishman

Title/Series:   On Hanukkah

Author: Cathy Goldberg Fishman

Copyright  Date: 1998

Reading Level:  5^th grade

Interest Level:  K – 6^th grade

Summary:  Join a Jewish family as they celebrate a traditional Hanukkah.  Every day that a candle is lit on the menorah a tradition is shared.  This book teaches the history behind the holiday as well as modern family traditions.  We watch the family hang their Hanukkah quilt, make potato latkes, and play dreidel.

Educational: Good– teaches the history behind the holiday, introduces many vocabulary words, includes a glossary

Content: Good – shows the holiday in an interesting way, colorful illustrations

Message: Good– teaches the reason behind Hanukkah and how to celebrate this holiday

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Title/Series:   The Wild Christmas Reindeer

Author: Jan Brett

Pages: 30 pages

Copyright  Date: 1990

Reading Level: 4^th grade

Interest Level: K – 4^th grade

Summary:  This is the first Christmas that Teeka will get the reindeer ready to fly on Christmas Eve.  When Teeka is strong and firm with the reindeer, everything goes wrong!  Will Teeka be able to get Santa’s reindeer ready to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve?

Educational: Average –Teeka learns that it is better to be patient than push and yell

Content: Excellent – magical pictures, boarder pictures show the elves working in Santa’s workshop, meaningful story that contains the Christmas spirit

Message: Average – teamwork and patience is important

   

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Title/Series:   The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Author: Barbara Robinson

Pages: 81 pages

Copyright  Date: 1972

Reading Level:  5^th grade

Interest Level: 3^rd – 6^th grade

Summary:  The annual Christmas pageant is changing this year.  The worst kids in history, the Herdmans, will be involved and learning the Christmas story this year.  When the Herdmans become the lead roles in the pageant, things really get interesting.  It will be amazing if the town can put together the pageant this year.

Educational: poor –introduces bad ideas that kids may not think of on their own (burning down building, stealing from church, blackmailing peers), teaches the Christmas story

Content: poor– includes the word “hell”, tells how mom forces dad to watch his children in the pageant, Mrs. Herdman avoiding her children, describes the Christmas story including King Herod, the end of the book shows the Herdman children beginning to change for the better

Message: Good – take time to really think about the Christmas story and what it means