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Thanks to those of you who sent me some great titles for teaching
Traditions to third grade students.  Many superb titles were suggested
and I was able to locate many of them to use.  

Here are the responses I got:

I read aloud “The Thanksgiving Door” to my third graders as part of our
immigrants/heritage/traditions unit (sounds like she is using a
Houghten-Mifflin Language Arts anthology – so are we) and tie the many
Russian-related parts to other books about immigrants, including
Firetalking, an autobiography of Patricia Polacco. Many of Patricia’s
books (like the one about the Tree of the Dancing Goats, for
Hanukkah/Christmas) would be good. Last year I also read “The Memory
Coat” (Russian/Jewish immigrant story) which would be good in tandem
with “The Keeping Quilt” and “Molly’s Pilgrim.” Some of these are more
immigrant than tradition stories. A cute one to read aloud (easier)
about making a new tradition is “Fat Chance Thanksgiving” with a
multi-ethnic cast and a “Can do” theme. Another book of stories (perhaps
for an older reader) is the chapter book “Strudel Stories,” about Jewish
emigrants to New York. 

“Too Many Tamales” by Gary Soto is really cute for Christmas time. 

How about Patricia Polacco's books, especially The Tree of the Dancing
Goats?  ("On the family farm in Michigan, Trisha and Richard watch as
Babushka and Grampa prepare for Hanukkah in their native Russian way,
hand-dipping the candles, carving the children gifts of little wooden
animals, cooking the latkes. When scarlet fever debilitates their
neighbors, Trisha's whole family pitches in to make and deliver holiday
dinners and Christmas trees (decorated with the children's wooden
animals). Polacco's characteristically buoyant illustrations embody the
joy of holiday traditions even as her robust storytelling locates the
essence of that joy in sharing and friendship. While this work should
have broad appeal, it is in particular an excellent choice for families
seeking to mingle Jewish and Christian traditions."- Publishers Weekly)

I also like Uncle Vova's Tree (For the children in an extended family of
Russian immigrants, Christmas at Uncle Vova's provides a literal and
visual feast. There is the savory porridge, kutya (each aunt's recipe is
different); there are paper ornaments, a sleigh ride and, not least,
Vova's loving decoration of an evergreen for the animals outside. The
year after Vova's death, the family's sorrow is tempered by the
miraculous sight of the animals decorating Vova's tree.)


Mederise Burke
 



Mederise Burke
Teacher Librarian
Chancellor Elementary School
5995 Plank Road
Fredericksburg, VA  22407
540-786-6123

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Hello-

How about Patricia Polacco's books, especially The Tree of the Dancing Goats?  ("On 
the family farm in Michigan, Trisha and Richard watch as Babushka and Grampa 
prepare for Hanukkah in their native Russian way, hand-dipping the candles, carving 
the children gifts of little wooden animals, cooking the latkes. When scarlet fever 
debilitates their neighbors, Trisha's whole family pitches in to make and deliver 
holiday dinners and Christmas trees (decorated with the children's wooden animals). 
Polacco's characteristically buoyant illustrations embody the joy of holiday 
traditions even as her robust storytelling locates the essence of that joy in 
sharing and friendship. While this work should have broad appeal, it is in 
particular an excellent choice for families seeking to mingle Jewish and Christian 
traditions."- Publishers Weekly)

I also like Uncle Vova's Tree (For the children in an extended family of Russian 
immigrants, Christmas at Uncle Vova's provides a literal and visual feast. There is 
the savory porridge, kutya (each aunt's recipe is different); there are paper 
ornaments, a sleigh ride and, not least, Vova's loving decoration of an evergreen 
for the animals outside. The year after Vova's death, the family's sorrow is 
tempered by the miraculous sight of the animals decorating Vova's tree.)


Hope this helps!

Shannon

Shannon Walters
Library Media Specialist
C.P. Smith School
Burlington, Vermont  05401
swalters@bsdvt.org
(802) 864-2228


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