‘Tis the season! Trees are trimmed, candles are lit, gifts are wrapped, cookies are baked, families make plans to gather, turkeys go on sale, music fills the air….
This is the time of year that children’s librarians debate whether or not to have Santa Storytimes, and wish they could find a really good book that is a perfect fit for storytime and included all the winter holidays. (Hey publishers, and authors, are you listening??) It is the time of year I pull out my copy of The Polar Express, and practice reading it so that when I get that frantic call, “Can you come read a Christmas story for us?” I am prepared. The time of year when I read Cynthia Rylant’s Silver Packages and bring a tear to my own eye, just for the sentimentality of it all.
For the past 2 years, it has been the time of year when I get an invitation from Family Matters, a local Family Resource Centre that serves young families with children up to the age of 5. They’ve been hosting an annual Christmas Dinner these past 2 years, and as we partner with them on many projects (easy to do since their office is in the same building as ours), I am always invited. And I’ve been asked to read a story to the excited group of children.
Picture this scene: a small community hall, filled with families from all walks of life. Some have very little money, and Christmas will be thin for them. But here they are, with 150 other people, celebrating their children and their community. Turkey and all the trimmings are provided for free, and it is good too–no potatoes from a box at this dinner! Little children run around, crawl on the floor, Moms and Dads and Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles chat with staff and board members. Onstage, a group of 4-year olds belt out “Oh Canada” and a Christmas carol or two. The food is served, and the door prizes are given away. Then there’s some time to fill before the Man in the Red Suit appears to give small gifts to the children. This is where I come in! The staff sing some songs, and then I read my story. It is a wild scene–noisy, crowded, and hot from all the little bodies running about. I read my book, and then head to the sidelines to watch as a crowd of children chant “Santa, Santa, Santa!”.
This year, I’ve created a new tradition. I just love the new Christmas book Melrose and Croc, by Emma Chichester Clark. So I’ve purchased a nice hardback copy, covered it, and after I read it this year, I’m donating it to Family Matters. A new tradition I hope to continue for years to come. And I challenge you, readers, to adopt an organization that serves young families, and give them a book this Christmas (or Chanukah or Solstice or Kwanzaa).
Happy Holidays!
Teresa Walls
I feel uncomfortable offering Santa stories in a regularly scheduled public storytime, preferring to stick with a more general winter theme. However, personal favorite holiday books include Hanukkah Lights: Holiday Poetry (HarperCollins, 2004); e.e. cummings’s Little Tree illustrated by Deborah Ray (Crown Publishers, 1987); and Faith Ringgold’s O Holy Night: Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem (HarperCollins/Amistad, 2004). I have fond memories of reading Michael Brown’s Santa Mouse as a child, but it’s been such a long time, I can’t remember much beyond what the cover looked like.
Thanks for the Melrose and Croc recommendation. I have placed a hold on it and look forward to reading it.
Debbie Reese
You could go with snow stories… Jan Waboose’s SKYSISTERS is spectacular. I blogged it last year:
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2007/02/jan-bourdeau-wabooses-skysisters-few.html
Debbie Reese
angelaNS Post author
Debbie, Thanks for the recommendation– Snow (and winter) is a great theme to use for this time of year– I also like to use Gifts and Surprises as a theme when the whole Santa thing won’t do. But around here, people like the Santa theme, though we usually have a “special” Santa storytime instead of doing that at the regularly scheduled storytime.