How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanakah?

When looking for holiday books for preschoolers, it is important to remember that Christmas is not the only December holiday celebrated in the United States. Of course, as adults, we know this but for preschoolers, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are as foreign as their spellings might be to us. How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague is a great way to introduce preschoolers and early elementary school students to the magic of Hanukkah. But wait, confused by the spelling difference? I was too, until I learned that ch is pronounced as a hard h in Hebrew. So its still pronounced the way we are used to hearing it. 

If you are familiar with the How do dinosaurs...? series, this book has the same great pictures and catchy rhymes. But the best thing about this book is that it introduces students to the concepts of Hanukkah using the words latkes,dreidel, gelt. For those of you who need a little Hanukkah refresher course, latkes are potato cakes traditionally eaten during Hanukkah. Dreidels are used to play a game during Hanukkah and gelt refers to money or chocolate coins that are given to children during the holiday. The book also teaches that Hanukkah is an 8-day holiday during which there are special prayers and presents. This is a wonderful book to share this holiday season!

Turning a New Page

I must admit, I have let dust collect on the electronic pages of this blog. After graduate school, I had quite a physical and emotional journey, but that journey has finally brought me back to something that I hold very close to my heart: children's books. I recently accepted a position at Evendale and Glendale Elementary schools as their new Librarian Paraprofessional.

I am so excited, and I have decided that as part of this new chapter in my life, it is time to revive this blog dedicated to children's books. And so I will start with a book that has come to be very close to my heart...The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen.

While working in preschools, I have found that 3 and 4 year olds LOVE this book. Perhaps the best part of the book is the refrain:

I'm a Pout-Pout Fish
with a pout-pout face,
so I spread the dreary wearies all OVER the place.
Blub..
Blubbb..
Blubbbbb.....


Will Mr. Fish ever find his smile? I'm not telling, but I would suggest you to get the version with the CD recording. Alexander Gould does a wonderful job narrating, and it can give you a much needed break because your child is sure to want to read this book again...and again....and again.