As the month of December approaches, Christmas, winter, and New Year's start to take over everyone's minds. Here are some books that must be read for this month.
Elementary - Fiction
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr.Seuss
Here’s a short description from Discovery…
“All the Whos down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot… but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did not.” Our green and grouchy antihero attempts to ruin Christmas for the Whos — only to find that the true spirit of Christmas is not as capitalistic as he thought.
Dr.Seuss is great at teaching life lessons to children through his books and cartoons. This book is about understanding the importance of family, and Christmas spirit. It teaches us that despite the problems we might face, spending time with family and friends can help us get through it. Having a good group of friends is really important as it can help you learn more about yourself, including your values, interests, and hobbies. The book uses illustrations and cartoons to help create a fun, and memorable story, whilst providing a life lesson that can help everyone in the future.
Elementary - Nonfiction
Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights by Bonnie Bader, and Joanie Stone
Here’s a short description from Goodreads…
“It’s Hanukkah time! Preschoolers will learn all about how people celebrate Hanukkah–from eating latkes, spinning dreidels, exchanging gifts, and lighting the menorah. And they’ll also learn why they celebrate–from the destruction of the Temple, the bravery of the Maccabees, and the miracle of that little bit of oil that lasted for eight nights. Filled with colorful illustrations and simple, yet informative text, this Big Golden Book is perfect for reading again and again. Share it with your family this Hanukkah!”
Hanukkah is a celebration that many people don’t know about. This book reveals the story of the beginning of Hanukkah, why it’s important, and famous familial traditions during Hanukkah. Even if you don’t celebrate the festival, sometimes it’s nice to have extra facts about the world stored in your mind, as this can help you connect with people on a deeper level. If you do celebrate the festival, it’s great to know about the origins of something you and your family are celebrating. Either way, it’s a great way to impress your friends and family.
Middle School - Fiction
The Arctic Code by Matthew J. Kirby
Here’s a short description from Goodreads…
“This search will launch Eleanor on a breathless race to unlock the mysteries of what has happened to our planet, solving the riddle of the cold that could be humanity's end—and uncovering a threat to the earth that may not be of this world.”
Around 2 million years ago, Earth started its Ice Age. It can be really difficult for humans to live during an Ice Age as it is dangerous and unheard off. This book is a play on the current climate conditions by predicting a future ice age and people trying to figure out a way to bring the climate back to normal. Fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter tend to enjoy this book based on the aspect of mystery. The main character is on a search for encrypted codes that could end the ice age. It’s a great book for middle schoolers wanting to be interested in reading.
Middle School - Nonfiction
Birth of the Chosen One by Terry M. Wildman
Here’s a short description from Goodreads…
“A book for children of all ages. This is the story of the birth of Jesus retold for Native Americans and other English speaking First Nations peoples. The text is from the First Nations Version Project by Terry M. Wildman.”
The stories of the Natives have been disregarded for a very long time. This picture book tells the history of Christmas from their perspective. It’s a great start to understanding their culture and traditions. They have been discriminated against and forced to understand Canadian culture for a long time. As a way to respect them, we should be willing to learn all the amazing traditions and stories present in their culture. Christmas stories are the best place to start as Christmas is recognized as an international holiday.
High School - Fiction
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Here’s a short description from Goodreads…
“Generations of readers young and old, male and female, have fallen in love with the March sisters of Louisa May Alcott’s most popular and enduring novel, Little Women. Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.”
A classic novel about a family of sisters growing up and understanding the world in their own separate ways. This book captures the family bond perfectly. The plot line is interesting and relatable to many people around the world. The book has won and been nominated for many awards in the past. It has also been turned into a movie many times with different actors, and different directors. It is considered to be a great starting book to get into classics. It is very easy to use the winter break and finish reading this book and getting ideas on celebrating Christmas, spending time with family, and just overall, about growing up.
High School - Nonfiction
Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
Here’s a short description from Goodreads…
“A powerful and timely teen graphic novel memoir—perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and Hey, Kiddo—about a Korean-born, non-English-speaking girl who is abruptly transplanted from Seoul to Huntsville, Alabama, and struggles with extreme culture shock and isolation, until she discovers her passion for comic arts.”
A biographical graphic novel about the author, Robin, who moved to a completely different country at a young age. She had to fit in at a school and city where she was an outsider. She was a different, and unique person who was bullied and isolated from the rest of the world. The book shows Robin Ha’s journey on finding her dream and how it changed her life. Students in high school are very indecisive about their futures as they have lots of pressure on them from friends, family, and society. This book is able to show the importance of doing what you love rather than being forced to do something. It’s a great read to understand and relate to the concepts of isolation, and soul searching.
Written By: Krisha L
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