Hello Book Bums families!
As the brisk wind blows away the remaining leaves and snow shows up in the forecast, you may take extra joy in spotting a red cardinal this winter. Some people believe cardinals are a sign of hope; some just enjoy their burst of color on a gray day. Dr. Christy shares her ideas for some winter birdwatching and learning about cardinals.
We are also diving right into December with all sorts of ideas and tools for you. This week we are sharing gift ideas, Christmas card tips, downloadable activities and more. Read on and enjoy!
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Word of the Week
cardinal (kard-ih-nul)
noun - person, place, or thing
1. a North American songbird; the male is mostly red in color
2. a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church
adjective - describing word
1. of basic importance, serious
A cardinal rule in writing is to show rather than to tell.
*Sometimes words have several very different definitions, and that is the case with cardinal. The familiar red bird may be the most common, but we think it's good to be aware of the rest as well.
Literary Calendar
• December 6 is the birthday of author Jason Reynolds.
• His website features the headline, "Here's What I Do: Not Write Boring Books."
• His middle grade and YA novels and poetry (and sometimes novels written in poetry) have won many awards and medals .
• Long Way Down takes some inspiration from A Christmas Carol and could be a fun place to start exploring his work.
From our Bookshelves
Red and Lulu, by Matt Tavares, is a delightful book about a pair of cardinals who made their home in a beautiful evergreen tree. One morning, Red left to get something to eat. When he returned, he found that their tree had been cut down and loaded onto a truck. He could hear Lulu singing from inside the tree, so he followed the truck as it made its way down highways, across bridges, and into an enormous city. Unfortunately, Red lost sight of the truck—it was going too fast, but he continued to look throughout the city. Then, he saw a tree and heard people singing, “Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree, thy leaves are so unchanging.” How delighted Red felt when he finally found Lulu perched upon their favorite branch of their tree! Thousands of people had come together to see Red and Lulu’s beautiful tree on display at the Rockefeller Center. Later, when their tree was taken down, the two birds made a new home not too far away. But, every year, when the air turns cold, Red and Lulu return to the city to listen to the people sing as they gather around another beautiful Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
In case you want to hear the song, we’re including two different versions of the song, “Oh, Christmas Tree.” There aren’t many versions that don’t involve scary cartoon trees with mouths singing a creepy version, but we did find two that remind us why the song was once so popular. You just might find them Christmas playlist worthy!
Tips for Families
We’ve mentioned, in the past, the power of pairing of storybooks with nonfiction/fact-filled books. Because it’s Christmastime, I thought I’d share a gift idea. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving, and it also promotes a love for learning. Though it may not be the greatest hit on Christmas morning, it will be truly enjoyed for years to come!
I already have a copy of Red and Lulu, but I’m also going to purchase a good pair of kids’ binoculars and this book about Birds of Ohio.
After Christmas, when things have settled down a bit and the grandkids are over, I’ll pull out the binoculars and the Birds book I got them. With the bare branches it should be easy for even the little ones to spot some birds—especially those eye-catching cardinals! First, I’ll invite the kids to watch this fact-filled video about cardinals.
Next, we’ll go outside to see if we can find a cardinal or two. We may even put out some black oil sunflower seeds, some crushed peanuts, and/or cracked corn for any cardinals who might be passing by. Finally, across the next couple of days, I’ll challenge the kids to keep their eyes watching for those beautiful cardinals. Who knows how these kinds of experiences might positively impact kids’ lives? You might have inspired the next Jane Goodall, Rachel Carson, or John James Audubon.
When I was growing up in Maineville, Ohio, I had some wonderful neighbors. Many of them were extraordinarily talented artists, and they helped to shape who I am today. (You know, the kind of person who thinks a pair of binoculars is a great Christmas gift!) Well, two of my neighbors’ siblings are well-known local artists. I’m sharing two links, here. Check them out. You won’t be disappointed.
Jenny is a photographer, and she’s got some gorgeous shots of cardinals on this link:
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/winter-cardinal-jenny-gandert.html
Jeff is a renowned painter, and you’ll truly marvel when you see his work (including a cardinal), here:
https://jeffgandert.com/wildlife-paintings
Tips for Raising Readers and Writers
If you’re looking for ways to promote literacy with your kids for the holiday season, we’ve got ten ideas for you!
Invite them to . . .
1. make Christmas lists. Have them write down ideas for you so you don’t forget.
2. write a letter to Santa.
3. make some sweet treats with you, reading and following a recipe.
4. create place cards for the family meal.
5. make journal entries keeping track of your elf’s antics. You could even add photos.
6. make Christmas cards to give to family members over the holiday.
7. list all the holiday movies they want to watch and add them to a family calendar.
8. make To & From tags for gifts.
9. read lots of holiday books. (Try to read one a night for every day before Christmas.)
10. sing Christmas carols using lyric sheets.
Pause for Poetry
From the Book For Everyone
by Jason Reynolds
Your dream is the mole
behind your ear,
that chip in your
front tooth,
your freckles.
It’s the thing that makes
you special,
but not the thing that makes
you great.
The courage in trying,
the passion in living,
and the acknowledgement
and appreciation of
the beauty happening around
you does that.
Practical Grammar
Have you received your first holiday card, yet? I just love finding a beautiful card or two tucked inside my mailbox each day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s just one more reason it’s the most wonderful time of the year!
If you have yet to send your Christmas cards, read on to avoid a common holiday greeting gaffe.
Here’s what you need to know:
You need no apostrophe when signing your name.
If your last name ends with s, x, z, ch, or sh, add an es to the end of your name.
Example: “Happy holidays from the Williamses!”
If your last name ends with any other letter, just add an s.
Example: “Merry Christmas from the Tofts!”
You know that rule where you change a y to an i and then add the endings? It doesn’t apply to names.
Example: “Warm Greetings from the Henrys!”
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