The illustration is by Lennart Helje
A Time for Childhood and Wonder
"The deep, almost visceral connection between childhood and wonder had what was once perceived to be a dark side. The child's innate curiosity about the world and its wonders was repeatedly demonized and linked with the evils of idle hands...The rise of the fairy tale created a tectonic shift in children's literature and revealed that something had been long off kilter. Fairy tales, sometimes referred to as "wonder tales" because they traffic in magic, opened the door to new theaters of action, with casts of characters very different from the scolding schoolmarm, the aggravated bailiff, or the disapproving cleric found in manuals for moral and spiritual improvement. Books were suddenly invaded by fabulous monsters -- bloodthirsty giants, red-eyed witches, savage bluebeards, and sinister child snatchers -- and they produced a giddy sense of disorientation that roused the curiosity of the child reader."
Maria Tatar, Enchanted Hunters, the Power of Stories in Childhood.
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The Celebration of Christmas and the Holiday Season of Today Originated with Dickens
Charles Dickens started it all with his wonder tale about a crippled boy, a greedy old man, and three ghosts. This story, A Christmas Carol, had a great impact on the people of Victorian England where the Industrial Revolution had resulted in a brutal world of poverty, inequity. and suffering.
Dickens had known serious poverty as a boy, his father in debtors prison and Dickens working in a factory to help buy food for his family. What we now think of Christmas and the holiday season originated with A Christmas Carol. The book was an instant success and became popular throughout the British Empire from ordinary people to royalty.
The illustration is by Carol Granger
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The Weight of Truth
"The language around Christmas is usually pretty treacly, as befits the season. But future writers should remember that one of the amazing things about the holiday’s ur-text, Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol,” is that it’s pretty grim, that is to say realistic, when it comes to depicting Scrooge’s past and Tiny Tim’s present. Without Dickens’s eye and ear for extreme emotional and fiscal predicaments, the story’s more fantastic moments wouldn’t have the weight of truth." Link to read more of this Hilton Als New Yorker Christmas article about Dickens, Dylan Thomas, and Horton Foote. Dickens worked in a factory liked the boys in the photo.
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Ebenezer Scrooge and The Ghost of the Future
"I see a vacant seat," replied the Ghost, "in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die."
"No, no," said Scrooge. "Oh, no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared."
"If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race," returned the Ghost, "will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief." --excerpt from The Christmas Carol.
The illustration is by Harry Furniss
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Following Dickens, the Christmas Spirit Grew in the USA
The nineteenth century in the USA was alive with change and continuous growth from the country side to urban factories. And the Christmas holidays grew everywhere.
In the USA, the legend of Santa Claus was greatly enhanced in the early nineteenth century by the poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas. The popularity of this story-poem, first published in 1823, continued to grow with the passing years. It was originally written for his children by Clement Clarke Moore.
Later in the century, popular illustrations by Thomas Nast, including Moore's story poem, A Visit From St Nicholas, firmly established Santa Claus as a jolly, rotund figure in a red suit with a white beard. Nast's images of Santa, and his red suit with a sled and reindeer, became accepted and remain the norm today.
"As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack."
The illustration is by Thomas Nast.
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Sending a Christmas Card -- The Beginning
Sending a Christmas card began in the USA in 1843 when Henry Cole commissioned a card for Christmas; the Christmas card industry took off. By the 1880s the sending of cards had become hugely popular, creating a lucrative industry that produced 11.5 million cards in 1880 alone. The Christmas business, like the USA, continues to grow. Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday in the United States with approximately 1.3 billion cards sent annually. The giant, Hallmark, alone provides more than 2,000 Hallmark Christmas card designs. Digital cards, as evidenced by Blue Mountain (USA) and Jackie Lawson (England)), have been growing constantly, soaring to huge membership numbers.
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Mr Dog Celebrates Christmas with His Animal Friends
Late in the nineteenth century Albert Bigelow Paine, a scholar with great imagination. wrote Mr. Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn. Alas, like many wonderful children's books it went out of print. However, it was read aloud during the Christmas holidays for generations in some families, including that of Ms. Betsey Cordes. Under her guidance, and with wonderful new period illustrations by Adam McCauley, Mr Dog's Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn has been given a new life. Driven by happy personal Christmas memories, the book was produced and republished with great care. It has the makings of a holiday classic.
The illustration is by Adam McCauley
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An Old Favorite
Christmas Lights Moving Through the dark Hills . . . A Holiday treat, and a wonder to behold, the moving lights are on hundreds of sheep, running in the darkness, guided by sheepdogs . . . this is a classic video...Here is the link: Moving Lights Time 2.45
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One More Old Favorite
Music is created in a gradual flow as more musicians and singers arrive in this celebration of life. Ode To Joy
Produced by a flash mob.
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Two New Christmas Movies
Two new Christmas films have arrived with excellent reviews, Encanto and a Boy Called Christmas.
I have seen the delightful Christmas story film, A Boy Called Christmas on Netflix. The beauties of a world of snow, the courage of a boy, lots of surprises and magic, a wonderful talking mouse, a loyal flying reindeer, and the power and importance of hope will carry viewers, young and old, to a joyful ending. The great value of story and imagination lies at the heart of this wonderful film. Adapted from the book by Matt Haig.
I haven't seen Disney's Encanto, but the reviews are excellent. Here is an example: The critic Maya Phillips of the NY Times writes that the movie has “stunning animation, a beautifully composed story and spellbinding songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda."
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Little Mole and Honey Bear
Here is the Mission Statement of the Publisher Little Mole & Honey Bear
"We republish children’s books with timeless values. History is doomed to repeat itself. We must preserve the things that make us human, and stand up to forces that would tear our society apart."
The book, Teddy, The Little Refugee Mouse, was written and illustrated by Dorothy Burroughes during WW2.
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Hanukkah
December is a month for celebrations. The date for the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah changes yearly. Hanukkah is a joyful 8 day celebration of an ancient victory over oppression and a rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The dates this year are November 28 to December 6. Many families today will give out presents and cook traditional foods during Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa, the African American holiday is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. It is estimated that some 18 million African Americans take part in Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the United States that honors African heritage in African-American culture. Kwanzaa is observed from December 26th to January 1st.
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, nor is it meant to replace Christmas. It was created by Dr. Maulana "Ron" Karenga, a professor of Black Studies, in 1966. At that time of great social change for African Americans, Karenga sought to design a celebration that would honor the values of ancient African cultures and inspire African Americans who were working for progress. Kwanzaa is based on the year-end harvest festivals that have taken place throughout Africa for thousands of years."... Kwanzaa ends with gift giving and a celebratory feast.
This post is based on articles by InterExchange and Holly Hartman.
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The joyous new Yelodoggie book, Why Am I ?, will help open the imagination and perspective of children to the world around them.
It will help them to recognize and appreciate differences: to understand issues of belonging and acceptance: and to embrace that which is unique in each of us.
For Example: Here is what Sadie, age 6, said when responding to her teacher's question -- "Did you like the story?"
“I don’t like it, I love it!!
I liked that the dog accepted himself for how God made him. He realized being yellow was the way he was supposed to be and it made him special. I am different from my friends in ways that make me special, like my hair is a different color and I am good at the monkey bars" Sadie, age 6
Read the reviews on Amazon
For ages 4 and up with an adult's help, or 6 and up for beginning readers.
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Identity and Joy
"If children want to find out and delight about their identity, I strongly suggest you surprise them with a gift at Christmas and give them Why Am I ?.
Ari Wulff and Robert McCarty have produced a colorful book about a curious tiny dog who searches for answers about his identity. This existential story will make your heart beat with joy." Jack Zipes
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Cookie
Cookie is a joyous book by Isabelle Duff, a love story about a Girl and her dog, Cookie, with many wonderful, playful, illustrations by Susannah Crisp. The author was 19 when she wrote the book, inspired by her own life experiences. Children and dog lovers will find much enjoyment in this touching story, especially as it is told by Cookie, the dog.
"Cookie is also a timely reminder that young children struggle with down times with things like anxiety more and more a part of their young lives. Cookie is a rich opportunity to talk about the times when things don’t seem to be going right for young people, and giving them some strategies to respond to these feelings as and when they come up." (The quote is from an excellent review by NZ Booklovers)
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Making a Great Exhibition
This book flows with colors , shapes, and illustrations to create the multitude of people whose work produces an art exhibition. It describes the process of creating paintings and sculptures, including the world around us, and creating abstractions of what we see. The flow of activity moves on to museums including curators, art handlers, and the big opening of an exhibition. The narrative lends itself to a variety of interactions for children of different ages.
London-based illustrator Rose Blake is best known for her work in A History of Pictures for Children, by David Hockney and Martin Gayford, which has been a worldwide success. Author Doro Globus brings her love for the arts and kids together with this fun journey.
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Let's Talk
Let's Talk is the third and latest book published by the Yeager Foundation to help create a tangible path into the world of words, literacy and reading, particularly for the underserved. The Yeager books, while helping the child, also aid in the mother/child relationship.
They are given free to nonprofits, schools, public agencies, libraries, pediatricians, pediatric clinics, and hospitals. More than 101,000 print copies, in English and Spanish, have been distributed thus far.
The three books are entitled Mommy Talk, Talk to Me, and Let's Talk. The latter book, written by Doug Yeager and with warm, caring illustrations by Alma Miller-Glick that move through a multitude of loving family interactions with mom, child, and dad talking together. The back of the book has a large variety of excellent suggestions, guidelines and other information. Here is a link to obtain a free copy and learn more about how the foundation works preparing young children to be successful in school and in life.
“Even under normal circumstances, the bitter Afghan winter is a desperate fight to survive for many families, but this year, the need will be greater than ever.
Save the Children will support more than 26,000 families in nine of the hardest-hit provinces this winter. Families will receive winter kits containing blankets and winter clothes for children including coats, socks, shoes and hats. The organization will also provide families with US$200 to buy a heater and a three-month supply of firewood or one gas stove and fuel to last the winter.
Here is a link Save The Children
Photo credit Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
Interview With Santa
This interview was conducted as part of a program to determine the truth behind the incredible story of Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale. . .
Interviewer: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions and clarifying things.
Santa: I’m happy that the story is finally coming out.
Interviewer: Is it a true story?
Santa: Absolutely. I think it was lost in the mists of time…It took place hundreds and hundreds of years ago.
Interviewer: Is it true that there was to be no more Christmas?
Santa: I’m sorry to say that it’s true. Until the dogs arrived.
Interviewer: The dogs?
Santa: It was a surprise to all of us in Santa Claus village. None of us, and that includes all the elves, had even heard of dogs.
To read all of the Interview with Santa, click this link: Interview with Santa
The illustration of Santa is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.
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Snow Valley Heroes
Santa's reindeer have been kidnapped by the King of the North. There can be no more Christmas. This is the true story of how dogs came to Snow Valley from the Planet Of The Dogs to save Christmas for children everywhere.
Review. . . Loved it . . .This delightful conclusion to the Planet of the Dogs series just caps off a wonderful tradition. The story is well suited to be read aloud to younger children and as chapter book for the older ones. All of your favorite dogs help rescue two of Santa's reindeer from the Evil King of the North. The story also imparts important lessons of cooperation and responsibility." Mary Jacobs, Editor/reviewer Bookhounds
We have free reader copies of the Planet Of The Dogs series for therapy dog organizations, individual therapy dog owners, librarians and teachers...simply send us an email at planeto[email protected] and we will send you the books.
Here's a link to read sample chapters of Snow Valley Heroes
The illustration from Snow Valley Heroes is by Stella Mustanoja McCarty.
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Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it white. Bing Crosby
The photo of Darcy and Caboose is by Richard Bradley.
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