This article originally appeared in the November-December 2005 issue of the Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children.

Bookbasket: Holiday celebrations

Stories from many traditions share themes of celebrating our connection with each other

By Ben Peterson

Holidays are a time for families, friends, and communities to come together. At the winter solstice, the coldest, darkest time of year, people from many traditions gather together and celebrate their connections. Although Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan differ in their religious and cultural traditions, the following stories reveal one very powerful thing they have in common: they all provide a chance for people to spend time together, celebrating their history and each other.

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story, story by Angela Shelf Medearis, illustrations by Daniel Minter. In this Ghanaian tale, seven squabbling brothers must learn to cooperate for the betterment of their community and themselves in order to earn their inheritance. By working together, they create a multicolored cloth that is so beautiful it is fit for a king. All seven principles of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba, are celebrated in Medearis’ folktale, which is superbly accompanied by Minter’s vivid illustrations. Ages five to seven. (Albert Whitman & Company, 2000)

The Magic Maguey, story by Tony Johnston, illustrations by Elisa Kleven. Everyone in the pueblo, especially Miguel, loves the enormous maguey plant with huge spiky leaves that grows down the road on Don César’s land. Not only do children play under it and adults gather by it, but parts of the plant are used to make shirts and build roofs. One Christmas, when Don César decides to chop the maguey down to make room for another house, it is Miguel who devises a plan to save it by decorating it like a Christmas tree. Seeing everyone happily singing around the decorated plant, César is touched and decides that it should stay. Ages five to seven. (Harcourt Brace & Company, 1996)

Ramadan, story by Suhaib Hamid Ghazi, illustrations by Omar Rayyan. Hakeem’s family is Muslim and celebrate the ninth lunar month of Ramadan each year by fasting from sunrise to sunset. In this story Ghazi details how Hakeem celebrates this holiday with his family and community while describing its history and purpose. Rayyan’s rich watercolors with ornate Islamic borders make each page of this informative book engaging. Ages six to eight. (Holiday House, 1996)

One Candle, story by Eve Bunting, illustrations by K. Wendy Popp. Every Hanukkah, after a delicious meal of latkes and good conversation, Grandma brings out one potato and tells the family her story about the time she was in the concentration camp during the war. Hollowing out a smuggled potato, she and Great-Aunt Rose risked all to make a candle to celebrate Hanukkah with her campmates. By hearing this story and remembering this simple heroic feat during this terrible time, the family truly understands all they have to celebrate. Ages five to seven. (Joanna Cotler Books, 2002)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, story and illustrations by Dr. Seuss. Hating Christmas, the small-hearted Grinch concocts a plan to ruin the holiday for the poor Whos down in Whoville by taking all of their presents, decorations, and food. However, the Grinch learns a valuable lesson when he hears the Whos singing together despite their loss. A classic for almost 50 years, this comical, rhyming tale reminds children and adults that the most important part of the holidays is the time spent with each other. Ages five to seven. (Random House Books for Young Readers, 1957)

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