An Orange for Frankie

by Patricia Polacco

I love true stories, even if they are only based on a true story.  Patricia Polacco is well known for the beautiful accounts of her own family stories.  This book tells of Frankie, who is Patricia Polacco's grandmother's youngest brother.  It is the story of Frankie's last Christmas and the power of giving when you don't think you have anything to give.  

Frankie's mother was a great example of giving.  She generously made breakfast every morning for the train engineer and "hobos" who hopped off the train when they made their stop near the Stowell home.  The best part is, she always recruited her nine children to help.  It was on one of those mornings that Frankie saw one old man who drew his attention as being particularly cold in the December snow.  As the man washed up, Frankie could see he had no shirt on under his tattered jacket.  Quickly, Frankie ran up to his room and grabbed the only sweater he knew would fit the man.  It was his best sweater. 

Frankie didn't want to tell his mother he had given away his best sweater, especially because money was so tight and the sweater had been a gift from his sister.  The night before Christmas Eve Frankie's sister tells him that she's made him a muffler to match the beautiful sweater.  Frankie believes he has done something wrong, and holds it all in to not spoil Christmas for everyone.   

Although I think this story could have held up on its own as a great read just with that story alone, Polacco continues on to tell about Frankie's father getting stuck in bad weather while on his way to get the traditional family oranges for Christmas.  There is a lot more to this story, and in the end I think it sounds like she tacked on the ending of "The Christmas Orange," but it's still a fantastic book and well worth the read.  And if it really did happen, I love the story all the more!

So peel open a Christmas Orange and read a good book!

images via www.patriciapolacco.com

The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza

You just put gingerbread cookies in the oven... one hand is on the phone with Kohl's customer service letting you know you left your credit card behind while buying something for your sister that you ended up replacing with something better and returning anyway... the other hand is finding a family picture for those cards that you've got to get out-but why is no one looking in the same direction in any picture?  Your left foot is trying to keep the tottering toddler from climbing the Christmas tree---again, and your right foot is, well, holding you up...barely.  And then you realize...when was the last time I thought about WHY I am doing this?  

It's a great reason why we do it all, but sometimes we get so caught up in the everything-else of Christmas, we start to forget the important parts.  

by David Shannon

The story of Mr. Merriweather, a man who usually celebrated Christmas with a wreath and some simple decorations on the tree.  One year, to his family's delight, he decided to really go out and add a small string of lights around the window.  When teased about the lights by his neighbor, Mr. Merriweather decides to make a few improvements...but then he doesn't stop.  He eventually creates what can only be described as a Christmas Extravaganza.  People flock to his home to see the lights, traffic backs up around his neighborhood, brown outs blanket every other house, and Mr. Merriweather doesn't realize everything else that he is missing while he's caught up in making the display bigger and better.  Unfortunately, his neighbors finally get fed up and instead of talking it over with Mr. Merriweather, take matters into their own hands, which they eventually regret.

I like that Mr. Merriweather's intentions are not to outdo the neighbors, but just to make a grand display to celebrate Christmas.  Sound familiar?  Reign in excesses, and you'll be amazed how much more you can enjoy the holiday season.

*I recommend this book for first graders and up. 

Want to read the story of a real-life Christmas Extravaganza from the house photo above?  Go here to read it on the Boston Globe.  Seriously, the book sounds like it was written straight from the article.

house image via ecomorons.org

book image via overstock.com

Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale

by Martin Waddell

illustrated by Jason Cockcroft

A beautifully (LOVE it!) illustrated picture book that more accurately depicts the birth of the Savior not in December, but on a cold spring night.  

Kind Ox invites Old Dog in from the cold, telling him, "There's always room for a little one here."  

Old Dog passes on the kindness to Stray Cat, and so on through barn animals who would not normally treat each other with such kindness.  

Tired Donkey comes bearing a precious load.  He is also welcomed, "There's always room for a little one here."  

And so it was there that "a Little One came for the world."

May we all make room for the least of these this Christmas.

Teaching by bringing extra to the ordinary:

Use the following poem with a little bag of M&M's and you'll find your kids will never see those little candies the same way again.

More Than Colors

These special little candies,

Come in colors bright and fun.

There’s more than color to be found;

A story of God’s Son.

The M’s turn into W’s,

If you turn them upside down.

A few more turns and E and 3’s

Are waiting to be found.

M is for the manger,

Where Mary laid her precious boy.

Little did the world know,

This baby would bring great joy.

The W is for the Wise men, 

Who followed a bright star.

The star revealed a king was born,

They came but, oh, so far.

In Bethlehem they found Him,

Just as they had been told.

3 is for the gifts they brought;

Frankincense, myrrh and gold

W is also for their worship,

As they bowed before their King,

Salvation is the promise given,

There’s nothing we can bring.

Faith alone is how we come

He died to set us free.

E is for eternity,

God’s gift to you and me.

Barbara Hooks' Version of a poem by Pam Ridenour

image via simonsays.com

poem via daniellesplace.com