Holidays

May Baskets: An Old Tradition Makes New Friends

Officially, May Day is the 1st of May, but really anytime during this splendid spring month is a perfect opportunity to share small gifts of the season with everyone: teachers, friends, neighbors, and family. You can do that with May baskets—a wonderful, old-fashioned tradition.

A Sweet, Sweet Valentine

What's better than a store-bought valentine with your name on it? Add a little something sweet to make it a valentine to remember. Sure, you can buy pretty candy at just about any store this time of the year, but you can also get creative and make it yourself.

Make a Valentine's Day Breakfast

Your family does a lot for you: helping with homework, cooking your meals, and taking you to fun places. Why not give them a treat on Valentine's Day? A relaxing breakfast with a few special touches is a great way to show how much you love them.

Nutcracker Sweets

On Christmas Eve, a young girl dreams her beloved toy comes to life. He becomes her Nutcracker Prince and dances his Clara through the land of sweets and defeats the wicked Mouse King. Perhaps you've seen the ballet-- it's so popular that many ballet schools make it their featured holiday production year after year. The music is amazing-- from the wild Russian dance to the slow and mysterious Arabian dance. It all flows together to create a magical night of exhilarating performances.

The Sound of Kwanzaa

By Dimitrea Tokunbo

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"Hear the words, sing the songs, dance to the beat, and shout 'Harambee!' as you jump into this joyful celebration of the sounds of Kwanzaa! Through lively verse and colorful illustrations, this festive book celebrates the history and meaning of Kwanzaa. Families will enjoy the hands-on fun of lighting their own candles as they journey through this festive holiday and learn about its traditions and principles. As an added gift, this instructional book includes a no-bake Kwanzaa recipe."
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Kwanzaa

By Sheila Anderson

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Teaches young readers about the background, traditions, foods, and celebrations of the African-American holiday.
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Make a Gingerbread House

Gumdrops, lollipops, chocolate squares, jelly bears, and peppermint candies. The sky is the limit as far as decorating your own gingerbread house. They are a ton of fun to decorate, but first you need to make the house itself.

Day of the Dead

By Carrie Gleason

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Day of the Dead -- Smiling skeletons -- Aztec Mexico -- Honoring the dead -- Getting ready -- Altars and offerings -- Food for the feast -- Little angels -- Dia de los Muertos -- Let's dance -- Americans celebrate.
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El Día de los Muertos = The Day of the Dead

By Mary Dodson Wade

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Explains how Mexican families celebrate the lives of their deceased loved ones, including sharing pictures and stories, preparing feasts, and lighting candles in the graveyard on November 1, The Day of the Dead.
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Labor Day

By Carmen Bredson

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This non-fiction Rookie Reader teaches young students about Labor Day.
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