You thought I forgot, didn’t you? I didn’t forget; I just got wrapped up in the Twelve Days of Christmas and the Advent Blog Tour, so I decided to postpone this until Thursday afternoon. : )
We haven’t had a chance to read our new library books because we’re off our library schedule due to holiday activities and just made it to the library on Monday. We have, however, had a chance to enjoy Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida. This Caldecott Medal winning book was published in 1959, and ‘though the story might seem a little dated, it is familiar enough to my preschoolers to keep their attention. It is the story of Ceci, a kindergartener in Mexico, who is finally old enough to attend her very own posada, or Christmas party. The posadas are hosted by different families on the nine nights preceding Christmas, and Ceci’s family will host the first one of the season! The details of Ceci’s day (i.e. shopping with the family servant, getting into mischief when she should be napping, going to morning kindergarten) provide a sense of familiarity that shows how childhood in other countries is similar to childhood in ours. However, the story also provides descriptions of some Mexican traditions such as the parade of the Holy Pilgrims and the breaking of the pinata. The story ends with Ceci unhappily sharing her pinata, but the pinata surprises her with its own special message. This story will be re-read here at the Hope house; in fact, it has already been requested again!
What is your family enjoying as a read-aloud? Link us to your blog page or leave a comment to tell us about it here!
(Does anyone know if Mr. Linky works with WordPress blogs? I’m accustomed to there being a list of participants after the Mr. Linky icon, but it never appeared in the first Read Aloud Thursday post. Can anyone help me with this?)
Filed under: Award Book, Bookish Thoughts, Picture Books, Read Aloud Thursday |
Hope Is the Word 
That sounds like a great Christmas story! I’ll have to check the library for it.
I’m reading Jotham’s Journey aloud for Advent…we’ve never read it before, but are all loving it! Lots of cliff-hangers and it is hard not to read ahead. We’re at the part where Jotham meets Ishtar and saw a kite for the first time.
I’m also reading Understood Betsy. I read it aloud years ago, and my girls (14 & 12) have read it many times to themselves. Now my boys (8, 6 & 3) are getting to hear it! Betsy just spent her first morning on Putney farm and helped make butter.
My dh is reading The Fellowship of the Ring aloud. We’re all enjoying it, especially me! I’m constantly comparing it to what happened in the movie but our children are just able to enjoy the story. The 4 hobbits just arrived at Crickhollow…I plan on memorizing the bath song. 🙂
We’ll probably still be reading these 3 books next week…
Lee (from the WTM board)
I posted a link to last week’s review of three books we read. Shhhh, don’t tell, but we’re still finishing Mary Jane: Her Book. The review was due before we were ready.
We are reading ‘A Christmas Mystery’ by the Norwegian Jostein Gaarder. Come on over and find out if we are enjoying it….
[…] Him at Hello)64. Serena (Against Medical Advice)65. Serena (Fixing Hell)66. Janet (Epicenter)67. Amy @ Hope Is the Word (Nine Days to Christmas for Read Aloud Thursday)68. SmallWorld Reads (When the Emperor Was Divine)69. caribooksccops (Brisingr)70. […]