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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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------
- To: <mburke@ES.SPOTSYLVANIA.K12.VA.US>
- Subject: tradition books
- From: "Shannon Walters" <swalters@bsdvt.org>
- Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:43:13 -0400
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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------