“Groundhog Day–Shadowplay!” Story/Craft Program (Ages 3-9)

 

(Long program but full of action songs and activities, may wish to pick and choose depending on ages attending & whether doing crafts or not.)

Display: Books about Groundhog Day, Shadows, 535.4

Optional video playing as kids enter: Robert Louis Stevenson’s “My Shadow” story section and/or hand shadow section (played this in 2016) from Reading Rainbow DVD “My Shadow” or "My Shadow" from the album A Child's Garden of Songs: The Poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson in Song (very nice rendition).

Opening: Talk about Groundhog Day, showing pix of groundhog in Groundhog Day by Lynn Peppas (394.261 Peppas) or from other sources.

Read: Go to Sleep Groundhog by Judy Cox – created a season/holiday “clock” to accompany story  -- in 2016 replaced by Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright

optional Flannel: Ground Hog Day – Gregory Groundhog Looks for His Shadow based on the book Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman

Sing: one or two of these groundhog songs:
1. Groundhog Day  (to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin? / Frere Jacques", source unknown)

Where is groundhog? Where is groundhog?   (Thumb behind back)
Here I am! Here I am!   (Bring thumb forward)
Shadows on this sunny day,   (wiggle thumb)
Frighten groundhogs all away.   (Thumb behind back)
Winter will stay! Winter will stay!

Where is groundhog? Where is groundhog?   (Thumb behind back)
Here I am! Here I am!   (Bring thumb forward)
My, oh my, a cloudy day.   (Wiggle thumb)
I will stay outside to play.   (Move thumb around)
Spring is near! Spring is near!

2. Shadow Time  (to the tune of "The Itsy-bitsy Spider", source unknown)
The furry little groundhog
Goes in his hole to sleep,
Through the cold winter's
Snow and ice so deep,
In February
He stretches to and fro,
Will the furry little groundhog
Get scared by his shadow?

3. I'm a Little Groundhog (to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot", source unknown)
I'm a little groundhog, it's my day.
Wake and stretch, go out and play.
Down in my burrow, down so deep,
Time to wake, from my long winter's sleep. I'm a little groundhog short and stout,
February second I will come out.
If I see my shadow they will shout,
"Six weeks more winter without doubt!"

4.  Little Groundhog --Jean Warren  (Tune: "Kookaburra" from
www.preschoolexpress.com/pattern_station03/groundhog_activities_feb03.shtml)
Little Groundhog sits in his home all day.
Wishing that winter would go away.
Go - ice and snow. Go - winds that blow
Let Little Groundhog play.
Little Groundhog sits in the sun all day.
Wishing his shadow would go away.
Go - ice and snow Go - shadows that show
Let Little Groundhog stay.

2017, started here:

Read: I have a Friend by Keiko Narahashi (great figurative language)  or My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson (clever classic poem)
(Science snippet: talk about when shadows are short and long -- midday & ends of day because of the position of the sun.)

Action Song: Shadow Song by Carol Simon Levin (Tune: " Mary Had a Little Lamb”  suit actions to words)

It was a very sunny day, sunny day, sunny day.
It was a very sunny day, when my shadow came to play.
And everywhere that I did go, I did go, I did go,
Everywhere that I did go, my shadow followed too.
It followed me when I ran fast, I ran fast.
It followed me when I ran fast, for that's what shadows do.
   It followed me when I climbed high…
   It followed me when I dug in the sand…
   It followed me when I skipped rope…
It started out pretty short, pretty short, pretty short.
It started out pretty short, in the early afternoon.
Later it grew very long, very long, very long,
Later it grew very long, at the end of day.
When nighttime came, my shadow was gone, (sharply clap hands together)shadow was gone, shadow was gone.
When nighttime came, my shadow was gone -- it had gone away.



Read: Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch Action Songs: 

I Am Your Shadow by Carol Simon Levin (Tune: “I'm A Little Teapot”)

I am your shadow, short and fat,
Lift up your hand, I can do that,
Lift up your foot, I'll do that too,
I do anything that you do.
I am your shadow, long and thin,
Put your finger to your chin,
Then watch me, I do that too,
I do anything that you do!
or
Did You Ever See A Shadow?  by Carol Simon Levin (Tune: "Did You Ever See A Lassie", suit actions to words)

Did you ever see a shadow, a shadow, a shadow?
Did you ever see a shadow, swing this way and that?
Swing this way and that way and this way and that way.
Did you ever see a shadow, swing this way and that?
Continue with other actions e.g. Jump… Dance…Clap …
or

You are My Shadow by Anne Harris, Wichita Public Library (tune: “You are my Sunshine”)

You are my shadow, my only shadow.

Whenever I jump, then you jump too.

Whenever there’s sun, you are right by me.

Oh, clouds (or night) don’t take my shadow away.

Continue with other actions e.g. run, dance, wiggle

Read: selections from Guess Whose Shadow? – Stephen Swinburne (younger) or What’s That Shadow – 535.4HAR  (interactive – read some of the rhymes aloud w/o showing pix to emphasize listening skills)

 

Read: Shadows are About – Ann Whitford Paul (splendid action words)

Action Song: Dancing with my Shadow on  Musical Games by Don Cooper

Read (if kids have interest): Shadowville by Michael Bartolos or Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta 

Action Song:  Be My Shadow by Carol Simon Levin (Tune: "Be My Echo" from Sesame Street --action song, words in italics are echoed by children)

Be my shadow, sing after me
Do what I do, care-ful-ly
Reach high, high, high (high, high, high)
Bend low, low, low (low, low,low)
Run fast, fast, fast (fast, fast, fast)
Walk slow, slow, slow (slow, slow, slow)
Walk along a tight rope (walk along a tight rope)
Skipping to and fro (skipping to and fro)

Be my shadow (be my shadow)
Do what I do (do what I do)
Follow the leader and sing after me (sing after me)

Climb up stairs (climb up stairs)
Turn around (turn around)
Reach arms to the sky (arms to the sky)
Now touch the ground (touch the ground)
Walk on your tippy toes (walk on your tippy toes)
Then upon your knees (then upon your knees)

You've been my shadow (been my shadow)
You did what I did (did what I did)
You followed the leader and sang after (sang after) me!

Show: DVD Reading Rainbow: finger shadow demo. segment (through curtain fall)  left projector on so kids could try themselves (repeatedly ran this segment with no audio the rest of the program - kids could make hand shadows and watch their puppets dance on the lighted screen as well.)  In 2016 showed DVD Go to Sleep Groundhog.

Optional: Add more science by including the sun rotational segment from the DVD.

Craft Stations (some years):

• Shadow Puppets – (materials: cardstock, scissors, hole punches, paper fasteners, pipe cleaners, scotch tape, chopsticks or popsicle sticks) resource book: Making Shadow Puppets 791.53 BRYANT  (2017)
• Silhouette heads (materials: overhead projector, 11x17 black paper, 11x17 construction paper for backing, pencil, scissors, glue sticks, chair to sit in, tape to hold black paper on wall)
• Making silhouettes pictures  – cut their own action shadows (materials: scissors, black paper, construction paper, gluesticks, pencils) -- related book: Nighttime Ninja by Barbara Dacosta
• Hand Shadows handout (use projector left up after DVD) http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/4753864/how+to+hand+shadow+like+a+boss/ or http://www.neatorama.com/2008/01/23/manual-of-hand-shadow-puppetry/#!tB24N or http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/storydetails.cfm?TopicID=279 or http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12962/12962-h/12962-h.htm
• Groundhog visor (printouts from http://www.daniellesplace.com/imagesApat/groundhog-hat-pat2.gif, scissors, markers, tape)

Optional: Played this while stations and for dancing:

 
2/14 2/16
Handout available here: http://tinyurl.com/csl-singalong-shadowplay

2017 storytime/craft – week after Groundhog Day – showing DVD Reading Rainbow “My Shadow” as kids arriving, then opened program  by showing picture of Groundhog and asking about the holiday but didn’t read any Groundhog books or sing any Groundhog songs, skipped directly to the book I Have a Friend.

Other possible titles:
The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers
Hortense and the Shadow by Natalia & Lauren O’Hara (2017) – for school age audiences

Flannel (not the most interesting): The Shadows Run Free

Pre-School Storytime: Button Up for Winter Weather!

 

Bundle up with this program for warming up on a cold winter’s day
(and we’ve had a lot of them this year!)

Fun interactive program of stories and songs for ages 3-6

incorporating early literacy and numeracy skills, sequencing, vocabulary (unusual animals),

following directions, learning left & right,

plus an indoor snowball fight to use up some cooped-up energy!

 

Entrance Music: “Belly Button” by Joe Scruggs on his album: Late Last Night

Book: Froggy Gets Dressed – Jonathon London (kids act out motions and shout out “FROGGY...Have you forgotten something?”) (Alt. for young kids: Bear Gets Dressed: A Guessing Game Story – Harriet Ziefert, Other great underwear-themed titles: Bear in Long Underwear -- Todd H. Doodler, Naked by Michael Ian Black (kids LOVED, ended with this book in 2015- use again in 2018))

Action/Sign Language Song: When It’s Cold Outside from “Pick Me Up: Fun Songs for Learning Signs”) or  Action Song: This is the Way… (sequencing: getting dressed) (Tune: “Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we put on our coat,
Put on our coat, put on our coat,
This is the way we put on our coat,
To play outside in the snow.
Continue with other articles of clothing…

Froggy clearly had trouble wearing clothes – so do these animals…Flannel: Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing – Judi Barrett (Cut out from a book whose spine had broken -- made it easy for us to as a Q&A: animal identification, reasoning—why wearing clothing would be a problem for the animal, vocabulary development – animal names, “suspenders”)

Action Song: We Dress Like That (mention concept of "piggy-back songs" Source Unknown, Tune: “Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes”—repeated several times)
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.
In wintertime we dress like that,
Boots, jacket, scarf and hat, scarf and hat.

Here’s another animal looking for something warm to wear…but she makes some mistakes...
Book: A Hat for Minerva Louse – Janet Morgan Stoeke  (Other mitten possibilities: The Mitten by Jan Brett (http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html, One Mitten by Kristine O'Connell George)

Glove Puppet/Numeral Cards: Five Little Snowmen all in a Row (numeracy)
Five little snowmen all in a row,
Each with a hat and a big red bow.
Out came the sun and it stayed all day.
And one of those snowmen melted away. 4,3,2,1…

Action Song: I’m a Little Snowman (Sung to: “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip, drip, drip, I’m a puddle today!

Singable Book: Frosty the Snowman – Steve Nelson
Snowmen don’t need coats to go outside, but people do!

Flannel/Song: In the Freezer (Song on Joe Scrugg’s “Traffic Jams”) lyrics to this and additional winter songs here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/01/singalong-winters-day.html

Book: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat – Simms Tabeck (folk tale with great cut-out reveals; briefly mention Caldecott Award) (Optional, show another version of same tale: Something from Nothing – Phoebe Gilman)

Another Joe who has a problem with buttons...
Action: Hi, My Name is Joe & I work in a button Factory (traditional, left-right identification)
Hi my name is Joe & I work in a button factory.
One day, my boss said “Joe, are you busy?”
“I said “no”” – so he said “Turn this button with your right hand” (do this)
Repeat: left hand, right foot, left foot, head…finally
I said YES!!!!!!”

1/2015: Or flannel/prop song (to tune: “Mary Had Little Lamb”) (memory-sequencing)
Joseph had an overcoat, overcoat, over coat…it got old and worn.
So he made a little jacket etc. ..continue thru button…lost button…then he made this little song….

1/2015: A few more buttons...
Book: Press Here – Herve Tullet (kids press the dots and are thrilled with the changes, cause & effect, numeracy, left-right identification, patterns)

along with a cat... YouTube Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons – Eric Litwin  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7va0beuK58

1/2016 – no other “snow” storytime, so instead showed Snow by Uri Shulevitz on Live Oak PPR DVD Favorite Fables Collection.

Close with Activity: indoor snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride”, track #5 on album 20th Century Masters: Season's Greetings- The Millennium Collection
Making snowballs for the program:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Trim both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Make 2 or 3 vertical cuts in both ends.
6) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of:  Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year" 

Hand Stamping Music: “Belly Button” by Joe Scruggs on his album: Late Last Night

Another great title (longer): The Trouble With Trolls - Eve Bunting

See also carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html &
carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/let-it-snow-winter-storytimecraft-ages.html

1/13
1/15  long, so didn't do everything above.
1/16  combined snow and bundle up so didn’t do Press Here or Youtube of Pete the Cat and his Groovy Buttons

1/17  Story/Craft:  (abridged version also done for PJ time)
Book:  Froggy Gets Dressed by Jack London
Action/Sign Language Song: When It’s Cold Outside from “Pick Me Up
Acting Out with Puppets – Jan Brett’s The Mitten carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html
Book: A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Flannel: Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing
Action Song: Boots, Jacket, Scarft & Hat
Book: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Tabeck (Caldecott—> Mock Caldecott tomorrow), mentioned folk tale, other versions including Something for Nothing by Phoebe Gilman (good for close read together, mice making things from scrap cloth)
Action: “Hi My Name is Joe & I Work in a Button Factory”
Book: Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Flannel/Song: Joe Scrugg’s “In the Freezer”
carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2015/01/singalong-winters-day.html
Craft: Make creative snow creatures in the spirit of Ehlert’s book (flat cardboards, white paper & scissors to cut out, gluesticks, markers, stickers, shapes, and other stuff to decorate) Also had take home cut out puzzle of the pieces to make “Something from Nothing.” This is similar: storytiming.com/2011/07/15/flannel-friday-something-for-nothing-or-joseph-had-an-overcoat/

DVD: Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman playing while crafting.

The Good for Nothing Button
by Mo Willems
Yellow Bird shares an ordinary button that does nothing with Red Bird and Blue Bird, and they are delighted to find that pressing it makes them happy, which is something.

“Let it Snow” Winter Storytime/Craft (Ages 3-9)

 

“Whether or not there is snow outside, we can have some winter fun inside with fun stories and songs, plus an indoor snowball fight and a snowman craft.”
I also do this as a straight preschool storytime without accompanying craft.

Though we have already had way too much winter weather,
this storytime was planned a long time ago!

Book: The Snowy Day - Ezra Jack Keats  (This classic Caldecott-winning title offers opportunities to mimic Peter (e.g. toes in, toes out), ask questions (what could be making that third line in the snow?)
STEM opportunity – discuss what happened to the snowball in Peter’s pocket? (warm house -- melted – pocket would be wet, later it would be dry – “evaporation” – faster if you put coat in the drier)
Alts: Snow – Uri Shulevitz  (often use this video at end of program) or Blizzard -- John Rocco (especially with school age groups)

Snowflake Rhyme  (5 snowflakes, 1 sun, numeral cards) (source unknown) (numeration practice -- have kid volunteers select the correct numeral cards as we add the snowflakes)

 

One little snowflake with nothing to do.

Along came another and then there were two.
Two little snowflakes laughing with me…three.
Three little snowflakes looking for some more…four.
Four little snowflakes dancing a jive…five.
Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and Then there were none!

and/or  Snowflakes Falling Action Song: (Tune: "London Bridge," source unknown)

Snowflakes falling from the sky,
from the sky, from the sky,
Snowflakes falling from the sky
To the ground below.
Watch them as they dance and whirl,
dance and whirl, dance and whirl,
Watch them as they dance and whirl
-- Soft white winter snow.

Book: Snowballs – Lois Ehlert  (a perfect inspiration for creative crafts, also makes a good book for early literacy -- can use spelling to guess identity of each snow creature: m-o-m, b-o-y, c-a-t, etc.) <– skipped in 2017 used for “Bundle Up” 
2017 substituted Toys Meet Snow – Emily Jenkins

Glove Puppet: 5 little Snowmen All in a Row (source unknown, used numeral cards)

Five little snowmen all in a row
Each with a hat and a big red bow
Out came the sun and it stayed all day
And one of the snowmen melted away.  4. 3. 2. 1…

Action Song: I’m a Little Snowman (to “I’m a Little Teapot”, suit actions to words)
I’m a little snowman, short and fat
Here is my broomstick, here is my hat.
When the sun comes out, I’ll melt away
Drip drip drip I’m a puddle today!

Book: Snowmen at Night – Caralyn Buehner
(Alts. Sneezy the Snowman – Wright, All You Need for a Snowman – Alice Schertle)

Booktalked DVD: Raymond Brigg's The Snowman (wonderful wordless video with beautiful soundtrack) -- also on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTaq20TN4ao  or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzZKfse7_c

Flannel Snowman/Bunny Puppet: Chubby Little Snowman (source unknown)

A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny
And what do you suppose?
That chubby little bunny
Looking for his lunch
Ate that little snowman’s nose
Nibble, Nibble, Crunch!

Book/Song: Frosty the Snowman – Steve Nelson & Jack Rollins


Song/Flannel: In the Freezer –  by Joe Scruggs  Song on Joe Scrugg’s “Traffic Jams”
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woEPJhmQous (used with Snowballs-Ehlert for “Bundle Up” storytime 2017)

There was snow on the ground
But it was a sunny day.
We knew that our snowman
Was going to melt away.
So we asked our Mom
And though it did not please her,
She said we could keep
Our snowman in the freezer.

Chorus:He’s in the freezer,
He’s our snowman.
He’s in the freezer,
Getting a frost tan.
He’s in the freezer,
Keeps as cold as he can.
He doesn’t go to school,
He just keeps cool,
In the freezer –

We feed him bits of frost
And lots of ice cubes.
We show him to our friends
When we come home from school.
We watch him as he sits
Next to the frozen squash,
‘Til Dad shuts the door and says,
“It’s starting to defrost. Chorus

One night at suppertime
My Mom said it was sad
As she told us of the ice cream
That we could have had.
Our snowman was taking up
All the room it seems,
And she didn’t have a place
To put our ice cream. 

Final Chorus:He’s on the sidewalk
And he’s melting fast.
You know a snowman
Was not meant to last.
It won’t be long now
Before he melts away
And we’re having ice cream
For dessert today!
It’s in the freezer!


VHS/DVD: Snow - Uri Shulevitz or The Snowy Day -- Ezra Jack Keats

Activity: Snowball fight using plastic bag snowballs, to the music “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson (on album Season’s Greetings)
Making snowballs for the program:
1) Gather a white plastic grocery bag into a long, skinny tube-like length with the handles on one end.
2) Fold the length in half, then in half again.
3) Wind a rubber band around the middle until it is tight.
4) Cut open both ends to remove any folded areas.
5) Then fluff out pieces
Idea courtesy of:  Susan Dailey, librarian, speaker and author of "A Storytime Year"

Additional book possibilities:
Snow -- Manya Stojic
Stranger in the Woods -- Sams
Rabbit's Snow Dance – Bruchac

Crafts:

Snow creatures (inspired by Ehlert’s book) – Materials: White & colored construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, pompoms, buttons, feathers, etc.

Cut out paper snowflakes http://thechocolatemuffintree.blogspot.com/2012/12/making-giant-snowflakes.html (could use large tissue paper) (booktalked Snowflake Bentley – another Caldecott)
 
Another possibility: If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy & Greg Newbold

1/13, 1/15 (storytime w/o craft), 1/17 – storytime/snowball fight/snowball&snowflake making craft

See also carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/12/winter-storytimetheatercraft-jan-bretts.html & http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/01/pre-school-storytime-button-up-for.html

http://www.hbook.com/2015/01/choosing-books/snowy-days/

Pre-School Storytime: What’s In the Oven?

 

Includes the retelling of two traditional folktales and a variant,
the ECRR concepts of narrative skill/retelling and singing,
non-fiction elements of farming and bread-baking,
plus a dash of mathematics and multiculturalism!

(This is a long program – pick and choose depending on ages in group.)

Book (folktale): The Little Red Hen -- Byron Barton(Alt. version: Paul Galdone)

Song: “Mulberry Bush” variant : This is the way we plant the seeds... Cut the stalks… Thresh the wheat.. Grind the wheat… Mix the batter…Knead the bread… Bake the bread… Eat our toast (Every Child Ready to Read skill (ECRR1)- narrative -- remembering sequence in book, vocabulary “thresh” “knead”; ECRR2 “singing”)

Book: Bread, Bread, Bread – Ann Morris (a multicultural look at breads around the world)

Book/Action Song: Peanut Butter and Jelly – Nadine Bernard Westcott Silly action song depicting the sequence of sandwich making (with elephants!)

Book: Bunny Cakes – Rosemary Wells Funny story and great example of ECCR2 skill “writing”)
Max is a great lead in to…


Song/Flannel: Helping  by Shel Silverstein from Free to Be, You and Me. Lyrics & tune: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/helping-an-illustrated-song-by-shel-silverstein/

Storytelling with Flannelboard/Masks/Puppets (depending on size of group): The Gingerbread Man –Karen Chace has quite a few suggestions on her blog, including a link to Jan Brett’s beautiful printable masks:http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-gingerbread-man-stories-songs-and.html

Book & Flannel or Props: The Doorbell Rang – Pat Hutchins (K-1^st): Used12 flannel (or real) children and 12 flanne/prop cookies to demonstrate the cookie “division” as I read this story – great numeracy exercise.

Action Song: Great Big Cookie (To the Tune of Linda Arnold’s “I am a Pizza”— these lyrics by Carol Simon Levin)
I am a cookie (circle hands over head)
Chocolately and round (extend hands out to sides)
Filled with lots of chocolate chips (point to chips)
The best that can be found (rub tummy)
I am a cookie (circle hands over head)
Take a bite of me (make chewing motions)
Tasty, sweet, delicious (extend hands out to sides)
I’m oh-so-yummy!  (rub tummy)
(gobble gobble gobble!)
(sing slowly, sadly)
I WAS a great big cookie (circle hands over head)
The very best around  (extend hands out to sides)
Now there’s nothing left of me (shake head)
Just crumbs upon the ground!  (sit down)

Optional Books (if time and if comfortable): In the Night Kitchen – Maurice Sendak or Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake – Thomas Taylor (cute book about sharing) Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? – Bonnie Lass & Philemon Sturges The Cookie Fiasco (Elephant & PIggie Like Reading Series) Dan Santat

Mother Goose Action Rhyme: Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake Baker’s Man
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake Baker’s Man
Bake me a cake As fast as you can.
Roll it and pat it (Roll and clap hands)
And mark it with a B (Trace B on palm)
And put it in the oven (extend both hands)
For baby and me (point to Baby and Self)

or  Action: Make a Cake (source unknown)
Mix the batter, stir the batter (make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Shake some flour in (make a shaking motion with one arm/hand)
Mix the batter, stir the batter (make a stirring motion with one arm/hand)
Place it in a tin (pretend to pour)
Sprinkle in some raisins (pretend to sprinkle)
Pop it in to bake (open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)
Open wide the oven door (pretend to open door)
And out comes the cake! (open both hands, palms up, and slide them forward)


Optional Book or Flannel (if time): The Cake that Mack Ate – from the book by Rose Robart – the cumulative tale of what happened to the cake baked by the farmer’s wife – with a surprise ending, this silly folktale variation is a version of The House that Jack Built.

The Cake That Mack Ate (suggested flannel pieces above -- egg is missing from scan)

• This is the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the EGG that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the CORN that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the FARMER who planted the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This the WOMAN who married the FARMER who planted the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• These are the CANDLES that lit up the CAKE, that was made by the WOMAN who married the FARMER who planted the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is MACK...
• He ate the CAKE!

DVD/Video: Reading Rainbow: Florence & Eric Take the Cake—Jocelyn Wild  (the book is narrated by Julia Child but a little long, sometimes I just show the amazing cake decorating segment (also available on Youtube) -- the kids adore guessing what the cake will be!) or Reading Rainbow: How to Bake an Apple Pie and See the World – Marjorie Priceman. 
 
Encourage bread baking at home with this handout : http://www.breadworld.com/fesp_archive/ChildrenGetStirringWhenBakingBread.pdf

11.12, 3.14, 12.14

12.15: Bread

The Little Red Hen - Barton

This is the Way...

Bread, Bread, Bread – Morris

Peanut Butter & Jelly – Westcott

?

 

12.15: Cookies & Cupcakes

The Doorbell Rang - Hutchins (w flannel)

song: Great Big Cookie -- I am a cookie...crumbs upon the ground

natural lead in to:

Gingerbread Man - storytelling with puppets

Bunny Cakes - Wells

Song/Flannel: Helping

In the Night Kitchen -- Sendak

Action song -- pair up: Paddy Cake

Flannel: The Cake the Mack Ate -

RR: Florence & Eric thru end of bakery segment

 

12.16 BWL: Holiday Baking – Cookie Fun

 

The Doorbell Rang - Hutchins (w flannel)
mention “natural divison” (Bedtimemath.com)

Action Song: Great Big Cookie (kids echo each line)
(To the Tune of Linda Arnold’s “I am a Pizza”— these lyrics by Carol Simon Levin)

I am a cookie (circle hands over head)

Chocolately and round (extend hands out to sides)

Filled with lots of chocolate chips (point to chips)

The best that can be found (rub tummy)

I am a cookie (circle hands over head)

Take a bite of me (make chewing motions)

Tasty, sweet, delicious (extend hands out to sides)

I’m oh-so-yummy!  (rub tummy)

(gobble gobble gobble!)

(sing slowly, sadly)

I WAS a great big cookie (circle hands over head)

The very best around  (extend hands out to sides)

Now there’s nothing left of me (shake head)

Just crumbs upon the ground!  (sit down)

Cookie Count by Robert Sabuda (wkrm) Great pop-up.

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson and/or The Duckling Gets a Cookie by Mo Willems

Action Rhyme: “Who Stole the Cookies?”
Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?
Kitty stole the cookies from the cookie jar.
Who me? Yes, you!
Couldn’t be? Then who?

Participatory storytelling with puppets: Gingerbread Man

DVD: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff (RR DVD- WGL)

 

Baking https://storytimekatie.com/2012/11/26/cookies/

Craft: Make Gingerbread Man story puppets: http://resources.mysparklebox.co.uk/6000-7000/sb6672.pdf (or Ellison die cuts -- we didn’t have fox die), stiff B&T cardboard to mount, gluesticks, markers, popsicle sticks & tape, also had hole punch and ribbon for those who wanted to hang their puppets (or nametag) as a tree ornament.

 

Branchburg: 4/17 – young crowd, focused on cookies.

 

Brief story handout for Gingerbread Man:

 

The Gingerbread Man (Puppets or Flannel)

Once upon a time, there was a little old woman and a little old man who lived in a small house in the country.

Every year,  the little old woman baked a Gingerbread Man to share with the little old man. She turned on the oven and got out a very big bowl. She measured and mixed in some sugar and some flour and some molasses.

Then she cut out the Gingerbread Man shape. She added some raisins for eyes and red hot candies for buttons.

Then into the hot oven went the Gingerbread Man!

After a while, the little old woman opened the oven door and peeked in to see if the Gingerbread Man was finished baking. But as she opened the door of the oven, the Gingerbread Man hopped off of the baking sheet and onto her shoulder and onto the counter and onto the floor – and ran right out the door.

Stop! Yelled the old woman. But the Gingerbread Man called back, “Run Run Run as fast as you can -- you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man!” And off he ran.

The old man saw the Gingerbread Man and ran to catch him. But the Gingerbread Man called back, “I’ve run away from the old woman, and I can run away from you I can I can. Run Run Run as fast as you can -- you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man!” And off he ran.

Around the corner, the Gingerbread Man met a pig who said to him, “Wait Mr. Gingerbread Man, you look so good, I’d like to eat you!” But the Gingerbread Man just ran faster as he said, “I’ve run away from the old woman and the old man and I can run away from you I can I can. Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

Next the Gingerbread Man met a horse who also said, “Wait Mr. Gingerbread Man, you look so good, I’d like to eat you!” But the Gingerbread Man just ran faster as he said, “I’ve run away from the old woman and the old man and the pig and I can run away from you I can I can. Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

Soon the Gingerbread Man met a cow who said, “Wait Mr. Gingerbread Man, you look so good, I’d like to eat you!” The Gingerbread Man was getting tired, but he could still outrun a cow, so once again he said, “I’ve run away from the old woman and the old man and the pig and I can run away from you I can I can. Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

Then the Gingerbread Man saw a river just ahead. Behind him were  the cow and the horse and the pig and the little old man and the little old woman still running after him! Just then a fox came out and said, “Hello Mr. Gingerbread Man, you look tired. Lucky for you that I don’t like gingerbread!”

The Gingerbread Man replied, “Yes, I’m running away from a cow and a dog and a horse and a pig and a little old man and a little old woman – because they all want to eat me! And I can’t cross this river because I will get wet!”

The fox said, “I’m a good swimmer, climb on my back and I will swim across the river and you won’t get wet.” “Thank you Mr. Fox,” said the Gingerbread Man. And he climbed on the back of the fox who slid into the cold water.

As they reached the very middle of the river, where the water is deepest, the fox said, “The water is getting deep, perhaps you had better climb onto my head so that you don’t get wet!” The Gingerbread Man was afraid to get so close to those big fox teeth, but he had no choice. So he hopped up onto the fox’s head.

Then the fox said, “You will be even safer from getting your feet wet if you sit on my nose.” The Gingerbread Man was really scared, but he believed what the fox said – especially since the fox didn’t like to eat gingerbread. So, he slowly climbed onto the fox’s nose.

And – just when he got settled there, the fox flipped his nose up which tossed the Gingerbread Man up in the air. And the fox caught him in his wide open mouth. “Yum!” said the fox. “That was worth a cold swim in the river!”

Adapted by Carol Simon Levin from:www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/t-z/youthservices/early-child-lit/ecl-docs/gingerbread-script

Optional (not used) The Gingerbread Man – Eric Kimmel, Live Oak Video (VHS)

https://storytimekatie.com/2012/11/26/cookies/

https://madelynslibraryprogramming.wordpress.com/2016/10/05/toddler-storytime-desserts/

https://librarianleah.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/cookies/

https://sunflowerstorytime.com/2014/09/12/milk-cookies/

Another fun title: Nanette’s Bagette by Mo Willems

School Age Storytime: Baking Up a Storm!

Book: Thunder Cake – Patricia Polacco – Based on a true story from the author’s childhood (we discussed autobiography & personal narratives) in which the author’s grandma (Babushka) helped her overcome her fear of thunderstorms by having her gather the ingredients for a “thunder cake.”

Action: Make a Rainstorm – directions here: http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/pre-school-storytime-its-raining-its.html

Special inclusion today because of Nelson Mandela: “Sometimes it isn’t only nature that can make a thunderstorm of change, sometimes people do it too..” Book: Nelson Mandela – Kadir Nelson)—omitted some of the other titles below to make time for this.

Book: Bunny Cakes – Rosemary Wells (K-1^st): Funny story and great example of Every Child Ready to Read skill “writing”) or Cook-a-Doodle-Doo! – (1^st-4^th) Amusing variant of The Little Red Hen --  when Rooster sets out to cook strawberry shortcake, his friends are eager to help but they fill the kitchen with cooking confusion. A great introduction to cooking terminology and measurement with non-fiction notes on the side. (If children aren’t already familiar with the folktale upon which this story is based, Jerry Pinckney, Byron Barton and Paul Galdone all offer nice versions.)

(K-1st) If adding folktale  The Little Red Hen (any traditional version) could add “Mulberry Bush” variant song: This is the way we plant the seeds... Cut the stalks… Thresh the wheat.. Grind the wheat… Mix the batter…Knead the bread… Bake the bread… Eat our toast (ECRR1- narrative -- remembering sequence in book, vocabulary “thresh” “knead”; ECRR2 “singing”)


Song/Flannel: Helping (K-1) by Shel Silverstein from Free to Be, You and Me. Lyrics & tune: http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/helping-an-illustrated-song-by-shel-silverstein/

Storytelling with Flannelboard/Masks/Puppets (depending on size of group): The Gingerbread Man –Karen Chace has quite a few suggestions on her blog, including a link to Jan Brett’s beautiful printable masks:http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-gingerbread-man-stories-songs-and.html or The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred – Samantha Vamos (Spanish/English cooperation story –fun to act out with masks or puppets.)

Book & Flannel or Props: The Doorbell Rang – Pat Hutchins (K-1^st): Used12 flannel (or real) children and 12 flanne/prop cookies to demonstrate the cookie “division” as I read this story – great numeracy exercise.


Optional Book or Flannel (if time): The Cake that Mack Ate – from the book by Rose Robart – the cumulative tale of what happened to the cake baked by the farmer’s wife – with a surprise ending, this silly folktale variation is a version of The House that Jack Built.

The Cake That Mack Ate (suggested flannel pieces above -- egg is missing from scan)

• This is the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the EGG that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the CORN that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is the FARMER who planted the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This the WOMAN who married the FARMER who planted the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• These are the CANDLES that lit up the CAKE, that was made by the WOMAN who married the FARMER who planted the SEED that grew into CORN, that fed the HEN that laid the EGG, that went into the CAKE that Mack Ate.
• This is MACK...
• He ate the CAKE!

Book (seasonal selection): December – Eve Bunting -- A mother and son living in a cardboard box share what they have with an old woman one Christmas Eve and find that their luck changes afterward or anytime title Wild Boars Cook – Meg Rosoff  Bossy, selfish, stinky, and hungry boars whip up a messy massive pudding in this hilarious book.

Additional possibilities:  Bread, Bread, Bread – Ann Morris or Everybody Bakes Bread – Norah Dooley (both provide a multicultural look at breads around the world), How to Bake an Apple Pie and See the World – Marjorie Priceman (also available as a DVD), Clever Jack Takes the Cake-- Candice Fleming, Don’t Forget – Patricia Lakin (4^{th grade up} )while buying ingredients for her mother’s birthday cake, Sarah learns the meaning of the blue numbers tattooed on the shopkeeper’s arm.

Encourage bread baking at home with this handout :
http://www.breadworld.com/fesp_archive/ChildrenGetStirringWhenBakingBread.pdf


12.13

 

Other possibilities:
Peanut Butter & Cupcake by Terry Border
Lady Pancake & SIr French Toast by Josh Fink
Tough Cookie by David Wisniewski
Nanette’s Bagette by Mo Willems

School Age Storytime: Gifts and Giving

 

Storytimes emphasizing the non-material aspects of giving and receiving.
Great lead-ins for holiday coat & food drives.
Also includes a true story about how a town fought hate.

Looking for additional special holiday titles?  Check out this bibliography: http://www.somerset.lib.nj.us/kids/PDFs/holidays2011.pdf

 

Extraordinary Gifts 12.16 BWL
(done in addition to a “very special trees” & “holiday lights” programs earlier in the month) K&1st + Ms. Valentine’s 2nd

 

 

Giving by Shirley Hughes (explores the different kinds of giving & sharing)

The Teddy Bear by David McPhail (A young boy’s lost teddy bear becomes a comfort to a homeless man)

 

Action Song: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around”

Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story by Cynthia Rylant (Loosely-based on a true story. A rich man rides a train through Appalachia every year at Christmas tossing gifts to the poor children who are waiting in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there  the young boy waiting for gifts each year who grows up and also gives back to the community.)

The Marvelous Toy by Tom Paxton (sung) (Several book versions available. hand-me-down toy has special meaning; performed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjslf_a11c)

 

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard and Tanya Simon (a young German Jewish refugee in 1938 traversing 100 blocks of Manhattan to meet his aunt rejoices in the kindnesses he encounters from people along the way)

What a Wonderful World based on the song by Bob Thiele & George David Weiss, illustrated by Tim Hopgood (Louis Armstrong version performed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21LGv8Cf0us)

Encouraged kids to look for ways they could contribute to less fortunate – coat, food, toy drives…

---

"Gifts of Kindness"  12.12

Boxes for Katje – Candace Fleming  (Based on a true story -- boxes from children in America helped townspeople in Holland after WW2) (Also available as a DVD from Spoken Arts)

Sing: The Marvelous Toy – Tom Paxton  (Several book versions available. hand-me-down toy has special meaning; performed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjslf_a11c)

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate -- Janice Cohen (True story of how the town of Billings Montana stood up to hate speech and hateful actions -- the text is rather long for a read-aloud, so I have abridged it -- my adaption is below.) or Each Kindness – Jacqueline Woodson/Lewis (a new girl at school is rejected by other students -- kind & unkind acts cause ripples that sometimes cannot be undone)

The Extraordinary Gift – Florence Langlois (Imaginative fold out book which says that the best gift is a book!)

If time, can add some of the materials from the programs below.

---

Gifts & Giving 12.11

The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale About the Rockefeller Center Tree – David Rubel. (Wonderful story loosely based on the actual history of the Rockefeller Center Tree in the Depression. The tree's wood is now used for Habitat for Humanity Houses.   Here's a link:
http://earth911.com/news/2011/11/30/what-happens-to-the-rockefeller-tree-after-christmas-2/
http://www.habitat.org/newsroom/2010archive/12_23_2010_rockefeller_christmas_tree.aspx)

New Old Shoes – Charlotte Blessing (One child's outgrown shoes go on to other children -- told from the point of view of the shoes!) Here's the link for http://www.soles4souls.org/ 

Immi's Gift – Karin Littlewood (Modern magical fable, somewhat reminiscent of David Wiesner’s Flotsam -- an Inuit girl finds colorful objects in her fishing hole, later the bear she drops is found by a boy in the tropics who had dropped those objects in the water!)  Interesting quote from the author: “I had written her story and drawn her again and again, but this little girl I knew so well did not have a name. Then I came across the Inuit name Immi and knew it was right for her. It was only much later that I found out Immi is short for Immiayuk, meaning echo, a word that seems very fitting for this story." - Karin Littlewood, author and illustrator of Immi's Gift  and/or Rabbit's Gift: A Fable from China – Shannon (Each animal decides to give the turnip found on their doorsteps to another.)

Book/Song:  The Marvelous Toy – Tom Paxton (Father gives son the same marvelous toy he received from his dad years before.)

The Gift of Nothing – Patrick McDonnell (Clever fable of the importance of friendship in this materialistic world!) and/or The Gift – Gabriella Keselman (Extremely funny book in which parents are desperately trying to  figure out what their child wants as a present -- until they realize it is a hug.)

The Extraordinary Gift – Florence Langlois (Imaginative fold out book which says that the best gift is a book!)

If you are interested in helping your kids and families explore the value of "nothing" (or experiences rather than stuff), you might want to add this link to your parent pages: Reclaiming the Holidays (from PBS.Parents)  http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/2011/11/reclaiming-the-holidays.html

---

Gifts & Giving 12.10

Silver Packages -- Cynthia Rylant (Loosely-based on a true story. A rich man rides a train through Appalachia every year at Christmas tossing gifts to the poor children who are waiting in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there  the young boy waiting for gifts each year who grows up and also gives back to the community.)

The Marvelous Toy - Tom Paxton (sung)

The Trees of the Dancing Goats -- Patricia Polacco (also based on a true story from the author's childhood about how her family helped neighbors in need.)

Glove with 10 international children: Uno, Dos, Tres amigos... (here:
http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search?q=amigos)

Storytelling with props: The Surprise – George Shannon (Need 5 boxes that nest inside each other, 2 small squirrels stuffed animals (one for the beginning of the skit and one that sits inside the smallest box) and  optionally, a big squirrel Folkmanis puppet.)
The Surprise by George Shannon

Squirrel was worried.
His mother’s birthday was one day away and he still hadn’t found her a present.
She had perfume & books & the most beautiful garden.
He’d already given her drawings, and songs that he’d made up.
And every time he made a cake,
he burned it.
He sighed and said “I’ll just have to send her a plain old birthday card,” but as he was putting the stamp on, he had an idea.
He called his mother on the telephone and said, “I’m sending you a package with a surprise inside. Be sure to open it right away!”
The next day when the package arrived, his mother took off the ribbons and opened the box.
But there was another box inside.
So she opened that box – and found another box!
And opened that box – and found another box!
And opened that box – and found another box!
And when she opened that box…
Squirrel jumped out and gave her a big kiss!

Night Tree - Eve Bunting (family decorates a tree in the forest with food for the animals)  or  December – Eve Bunting (a mother and son living in a cardboard box share what they have with an old woman one Christmas Eve and find that their luck changes afterward.) or The Teddy Bear – David McPhail (A boy who loses his teddy decides that the homeless man who has found it needs it more)

Additional books to consider: Giving – Shirley Hughes, Elizabeti's Doll – Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Gifts – Jo Ellen Bogart,Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear – Audrey Wood, The Gift – Gabriela Keselman,  Knuffle Bunny 2 – Mo Willems, That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown – Cowell, Paper Cranes – Rosemary Wells, Extra Yarn – Mac Barnett, Shall I Knit You a Hat? – Kate Klise, Morris’ Disappearing Bag – Rosemary Wells, A Hat for Mrs. Goldman by Michele Edwards

Additional Song/Flannel: “Helping” from the book: Free to Be You and Me by Marlo Thomas & Friends.
 

---

 

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate 

Adaption/abridgement by Carol Simon Levin from the book by Janice Cohn.
I show the pictures from the book while telling the story something like this:

 

Not too many years ago, a boy named Isaac Schnitzer lived with his mother and father in the town of Billings Montana (might show location on a map so kids understand this is in the USA).

 

On the third night of Chanukah -- just as they did on every night of Chanukah --Isaac's family lit their menorahs and placed them in the windows of their house.    A little while later, Isaac heard a crash.  Heading upstairs toward the sound, he discovered that the window to his bedroom was shattered and a rock lay on the floor.

 

His parents rushed upstairs -- then called the police.

 

When Chief Inman arrived, he suggested that it might be safer if they took down their menorahs.

 

But Isaac's mom replied, “We’re not taking down the Chanukah decorations.  Being Jewish is who we are—we are not going to hide it.”

 

“You shouldn’t have to,” responded the chief, “but there is a small group of people in Billings who have been causing a lot of trouble.   They’ve  sent out leaflets saying hateful things about Jews.  They’ve spray-painted threats and insults on a Native American home and tried to frighten African-Americans in their church.  Just last week they damaged a synagogue – now they are throwing rocks at menorahs.”

 

“Let’s put our menorahs away,” said Isaac.  “Then maybe they won’t bother us again.”

 

His dad put his arm around him. “I know how you feel.  It’s frightening.  But celebrating Chanukah is part of being Jewish.  It is what we believe in.  We’re not about to let some bullies keep us from celebrating our holiday.”

 

“But what can we do?” asked Isaac.

 

“Isaac,” said his mom, “A lot of people in this town—all kinds of people—are really angry at what these haters have been doing.  I’m going to be interviewed on TV and tell  everyone in Billings what happened to us and ask people to help.”

 

“Yes,” agreed the Chief, “If the whole town takes a stand, we can stand up to these bullies.”

 

Many people in Billings saw Mrs. Schnitzer on TV.  Afterwards, a special meeting was called by Chief Inman and a friend of their family named Ms. McDonald.

 

“The police are doing everything they can to catch these people,” Chief Inman told the crowd.  “But it’s important to show that an act of hate against even one person in Billings is an act against all of us.”

 

“I have an idea,” said Ms. McDonald.  “I remember a story my parents told me. When the Nazis invaded Denmark during World War 2, they ordered all Jews to wear a yellow star on their clothes so that they could be easily identified.  The courageous King of Denmark believed that the lives of all the Danish people were precious.  According to legend, King Christian said that if the Jews had to wear stars, then he would too. The next morning, riding his horse out of the palace, he did.   Soon many other Danes also wore stars -- even though the enemy threatened to punish them.  Because of their courage, the lives of many Jews were saved.”

 

“The Schnitzers have been told it would be safer for them to take down their menorahs,” she continued, “but that is not the answer.  What if the rest of us were told to take down our Christmas trees and lights because people might throw rocks at us for being Christians?  I say, let’s take a stand like the Danish people – let’s all put up menorahs!”

 

And that is just what happened.   Some citizens in Billings cut menorahs out of construction paper and taped them to their windows.   Then the newspaper published a picture of a menorah and even more people taped them to their windows.  Soon menorahs appeared in houses on almost every street in the town.

 

Isaac’s friend Teresa Hanley had never seen a menorah -- so Isaac explained about the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil.  His teacher pointed out that Chanukah celebrates the fight for religious freedom.

 

A few days later, Isaac was driving in the car with  his mom.  “Mom, remember last year when I told you I wanted to bring some of my Chanukah presents to school to show the other guys?”

 

“Uh-huh,” his mom answered.

 

“Well…now don’t be mad…but I didn’t tell them they were Chanukah presents.  I felt funny.  Nobody else gets Chanukah presents.  And I didn’t want to be different.  I just wanted to be like the rest of the class so I told them they were Christmas presents.  But this year I’m going to say I got them for Chanukah.”

 

“I’m glad, Isaac,” his mom answered.

 

“Mom, stop!”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Look!”

 

Ahead was a house with a big picture window. Taped to the window was a large picture of a beautiful menorah drawn with many brightly colored crayons.  Over the menorah was the message.  “For our friend Isaac – with love from Teresa and the rest of the Hanley family.”  Underneath was a picture of a Jewish star and a Christian cross.

 

“She never told me she was doing this…” Isaac said.

 

“You know, honey,” his mom replied.  “Hate can make a lot of noise.  Love and courage are usually quieter.  But in the end, they’re the strongest.”

 

As Chanukah passed and Christmas grew nearer, more and more menorahs could be seen throughout Billings.  The town continued to fight against the acts of hatred, and slowly but surely those acts began to stop.  The townspeople told each other this was a gift they had given to themselves.  And that it was their best holiday gift, ever.