Thanksgiving, 2021 is officially “in the books” and it’s time to move on and prepare for whatever winter holiday you celebrate. As the mother of five, I remember how hectic life could be during this time of year, but incorporating a family story time weekly or even daily, offers a wonderful way to slow down and reflect. Most traditional holiday tales offer beautiful language and opportunity for discussion. The longer stories can be shared a bite at a time and shorter ones read and digested in one sitting. Classic stories offer an opportunity to sooth frayed nerves and provide the closeness that is the true gift of the holiday season. A simple tradition this season, like family story time, offers rich dividends for everyone. Here are a few ideas to get you started…

• Kids old and young appreciate a good story. There’s a reason some tales are dubbed “classic” and this link includes ten Christmas classics that you can access for free. These tales lend themselves to discussion and appeal to most ages. Check them out at… https://www.homeschool.com/blog/2017/12/top-10-free-classic-christmas-stories/
• Similarly, those who celebrate Hanukkah can find a treasure trove of classics for children of all ages by exploring https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/october-2021/the-ultimate-list-of-childrens-books-hanukkah
• Kwanzaa is another popular holiday and related stories are easy to find. Here is one that offers the 10 Best Kwanzaa Books for Kids: https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/october-2021/the-ultimate-list-of-childrens-books-hanukkah