Holidays

Using a controlled vocabulary in an appealing format, these books begin by defining the holidays and explaining their history and significance. They give examples of how they are celebrated and commemorated, such as private and public religious observations, public ceremonies, family celebrations, community and public service projects, and special meals and parties. Each spread contains a few brief sentences and photos of children and families engaging in holiday rituals or drawings of historic events and people. A picture glossary provides definitions.VERDICTSuitable for read-alouds and independent reading, this set will help early primary students learn about the deep historic and cultural roots of our commemorative holidays. A first purchase.

Simple examinations of popular holidays aimed at beginning readers. The format is effective and features highlighted key words, a large font, and bright photos of beaming kids making valentines, carving pumpkins, and setting the table for Thanksgiving. Well organized and nicely designed, the books are festive and appropriate for youngsters making their first forays into nonfiction but the titles tend to focus on North American holidays. Halloween, for instance, makes no mention of Mexico’s Day of the Dead. There is some simplification here; for instance, the author answers the question “What is Halloween?” with “Halloween is on October 31st.” VERDICT Despite a few flaws, these are delightful and engaging options.–Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME