Children’s / Teenage general interest: Celebrations, holidays, festivals

Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND KIRKUS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF 2023"This book is, in a word, immaculate." Kirkus (Starred Review)A beautifully illustrated, interactive guide to ancient, nature-based holidays and customs. Through themed meditations, crafts, and rituals, young readers can learn about old and new ways of honoring the seasons—and create their own!Each “spoke” in The Wheel of the Year marks an important turning point: the winter and summer solstices, the spring and fall equinoxes, and the festivals of seeding, growing, and harvesting that arrive in between. Within each section, enjoy: An overview of the holiday and its significance in cultures around the world A sensory scavenger hunt for sights, sounds, and smells the season Ideas for a seasonal altar using objects from nature Themed crafts, rituals, games, and recipes Blending nature connection with art, poetry, and myth, The Wheel of the Year conveys the magic and beauty of ancient traditions and encourages young readers to notice, care for, and celebrate the natural world around them.Trade ReviewKIRKUS STARRED REVIEW A thorough, accessible, yearlong walk through the seasons.Speaking to her readers in a wise whisper, Cook proclaims that there’s real magic in this world—it’s all around us, and kids have a special knack for seeing it. She sets out to help readers “find and recognize magic,” starting with Ostara, the spring equinox, and rolling through the wheel of the year to Imbolc, a cross-quarter fire festival halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The book carefully and meaningfully lays out the rhythms of the wheel[.] It provides suggestions for individual nature-based spiritual practices and activities, including crafts and scavenger hunts that involve multiple senses. The book includes recipes using herbs, berries, and fungi (along with safety information for the kitchen and foraging) and guidance for refreshing your altar to welcome the energy of the incoming season. It also references non-Western cultural practices and explains cultural appropriation, giving readers context about the sacred Native American practice of smudging, and it suggests gathering herbs other than sage to bundle and burn. Cook’s obvious wealth of knowledge and care in explaining both the light and dark of the world around us is complemented perfectly by Roux’s charming, delicate illustrations of natural objects, critters both cute and crawly, and racially diverse young people. This book is, in a word, immaculate.A graceful invitation that children will happily accept. (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

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Book SynopsisAli and Ayeesha are excited. It is Ramadan, and that means it will soon be time for the whole family to come together and celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Join them as they prepare for the festival. Add over 200 stickers to bring the beautifully illustrated scenes to life.

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Book SynopsisFrom egg hunts in the springtime fields to baking treats for a picnic, the little bunnies in this book are busy preparing for Easter. Use the stickers to bring the beautifully illustrated scenes to life.

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Book SynopsisA festive guide to Christmas celebrations around the world that is perfect for children ages 4 and up!Everyone loves Christmas! But have you ever wondered what Christmas might be like around the world? This book teaches kids about different cultures, leading them to live culturally respectful lives.In How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World, you’ll discover: Who brings Christmas presents in Italy? Where can we sunbathe on the beach on Christmas Day? What is the typical Christmas dish in Japan? Would you like to spend Christmas day in Ethiopia? Which goodies are always present on festive tables in Greece? So much more! Trade Review"Intended for young readers ages 6-9, How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World lives up to its title with an array of fascinating facts about how young people experience Christmas in many different nations: Spain, Germany, Mexico, the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Greece, Ethiopia, Italy, Israel, Russia, Venezuela, Finland, and France. Charming, playful color illustrations add a vibrant touch to the educational and eye-opening glimpse into cultures around the world. Highly recommended!" ―Midwest Book Review "This book, which is geared towards children, was honestly enlightening to me as a twenty-four-year-old […] I recommend this book to anyone with children in their lives so that others are able to really open their eyes to diversity and different cultures." ―Heather Padgett, reviewer "Perfect book to read all year round as each of these holidays come up. The information is concise and would be a great resource for creating activities for each holiday for hands-on learning. Perfect for children ages 3 and older." ―Youth Services Book Review "In this book, you will visit fourteen different places, each with its own cultures, customs, foods, and beliefs. It is important to remember to be kind and respect one another’s different ways of celebrating. The illustrations in this book are very bright and festive! I think this is a fun book to be read aloud to the whole family! I especially like reading about how people in Mexico celebrate Christmas with a pinata and traditional Mexican dishes, like tacos, because I love tacos and rice!" ―KidsBookBuzz "[…] A cute and fun look at the ways the holiday is celebrated in 14 different countries. This is a festive and colorful read that will charm Christmas lovers."―YA Books CentralTable of ContentsSpainGermanyMexicoThe USAJapanAustralia and New ZealandGreeceEthiopiaItalyIsraelRussiaVenezuelaFinlandFrance

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Book SynopsisPacked with joyful scenes showing Lunar New Year being celebrated in different countries around the world, from dragon dancers and delicious food to kite flying in South Korea and a gloriously decorated temple in Malaysia. Just brush water over the black and white designs to reveal an array of vivid hues.

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Book SynopsisDiscover and Learn is a visually stimulating series that explores core areas of learning. This series uses eye-catching imagery, informative diagrams and fascinating facts to bring key subject areas to life.

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Book SynopsisBunny searches for and finds the perfect Christmas tree in this perennial holiday tale Bunny is looking for the perfect Christmas tree. Her forest friends tell her that the perfect tree is one that is just her size, bushy as Squirrel’s tail, perfectly pointy on top for a star, the greenest green, and smells like Christmas. But sometimes the perfect tree is the one surrounded by friends.Trade ReviewFull of dialogue, the text is delightfully uncomplicated, yet the word choice is rich and inviting. The illustrations are crisp, clean, and adorable in deep jewel-tone colors set against a bright snowy backdrop. * School Library Journal *This sweet, delightful story brims with messages of holiday warmth, cooperation, and friendship. * Kirkus Reviews *Illustrations in a muted, wintry palette perfectly complement the story. * The Horn Book *

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Book SynopsisWhen do you eat ''bread of the dead'', or walk barefoot across red-hot coals? When might you dress up as a demon in a hairy suit and huge horned headdress? What are you celebrating if you climb an 18-metre-high tower made out of buns? Includes a stunning central gatefold that opens out to reveal a calendar of all the festivals featured in the book. This is a visual celebration of festivals from across the globe, from the more familiar to those you might never have heard of before. Discover more about Junkanoo in the Bahamas, Juneteenth in the United States, Matariki in New Zealand and Poland''s Great Dragon Parade. As you journey around the world, explore celebrations of food and drink, nature, culture, religion and history, plus ways to mark the passing of the year.

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Book SynopsisThe glorious publication of Clement C. Moore's timeless verse sees it brought to new life by the beautiful illustrations of Christian Birmingham.Every Christmas Eve brings with it hushed anticipation and wonder.Here is the story of this magical night, when children around the world await the arrival of the gifts that symbolise all the warmth and love of Christmas.

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Book SynopsisA gorgeous, no-mess activity book for 4-8 year-olds, with stickers, press-out pieces and puzzles! Welcome to Sunnyville! A 32-page story to keep forever, packed with extra tear-out activity pages and more fun games on the companion website, this title represents real value for money.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated collection of stories and activities to celebrate traditional Pagan festivals and the changing of the seasons• 2023 Coalition of Visionary Resources Gold Award• Shares original stories, based on traditional folktales and designed to be read out loud, for each festival, such as Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasad, the solstices, and the equinoxes • Includes traditional games, hands-on projects special to each holiday, and seasonal recipes to enjoy the tastes and smells of each feast day • Discusses the sacred symbolism, magical lore, and cultural practices within each story and the healing and magical uses for the trees and flowers featured Once upon a time, when only candles lit the inside of homes and people traveled on foot or by horse, the family would finish their supper, wash and dry the dishes, and sit down before the hearth to hear a tale. These tales were not only entertaining but also passed down both history and tradition to the next generation. And as the wheel of the year turned, these tales also served to teach the children about holy days and festivals and the Gods and Goddesses who reigned over the changing seasons.In this beautifully illustrated book, Ellen Evert Hopman shares rich stories drawn from traditional folktales, hands-on crafts, and seasonal recipes to help families and classrooms learn about and celebrate traditional holy days and festivals of the sacred earth year. Designed to be read out loud, the stories are complemented with pronunciation guides and translations for foreign words. You will learn of the Cailleach, the ancient Goddess of Winter; La Befana, the Italian new year’s witch; Eostre, the Goddess of Spring; Kupalnocka, the Polish feast of wreaths at midsummer; Yule among the Vikings; and many other deities and celebrations.For each story, the author includes hands-on projects special to the holiday--from crafting magical wands and brooms to flower crowns and Brighid’s Crosses--as well as seasonal recipes, such as Magical Peppermint Chocolate Tea, Beltaine Bannock, and La Befana Cake, allowing families to enjoy the tastes, smells, and sounds associated with the feast days and celebrations.Trade Review“The traditions, rituals, and stories of the eight celebrations of the wheel of light are full of beautiful energy--stories that bring alive the spirits of the Earth, spirits that many may call fantasy, but I know differently. Once Around the Sun brings alive that which comes from beyond our senses with the traditions and rituals of reaching out and giving back to the spirits and fairies with food and other gifts.” * Nicholas E. Brink, Ph.D., author of Baldr’s Magic *“What a gift to families! This practical and magical collection of stories, recipes, and engaging activities takes its readers right back to the rhythm of a simpler, meaningful life, marking time with relevant ritual reverence for Mother Nature, her seasons, and her bounty.” * Burleigh Mutén, author of Goddesses: A World of Myth and Magic and The Lady of Ten Thousand Nam *“Once Around the Sun is a delightful family treasure. Cultures throughout the world have used storytelling as a way to pass on knowledge, and this book’s stories and poems alone make it worth owning. Yet, its recipes and activities add another dimension that makes this book an invaluable resource for parents wanting to share ancient cultures and beliefs with their children. Young ones are sure to love activities such as making a magic wand and writing secret rune messages with invisible ink. I would highly recommend this fun and informative book for any family that wishes to explore the seasonal stories and celebrations.” * Robin Corak, author of Persephone: Practicing the Art of Personal Power *“Ellen Evert Hopman has written a book that will delight children, families, and those who are looking for traditions to explore and stories to share as they celebrate the holidays. I especially love the tales that beg to be read aloud and, as with all good folk stories, add depth and ancient wisdom with the telling. Recipes and special crafts to make with children meaningfully connect folk customs with the seasonal changes. Once Around the Sun is a book not only enjoyed with the first reading but also when it is picked up and read again and again with each turn of the seasonal wheel.” * Laura Wildman-Hanlon, author of What’s Your Wicca IQ?, Wiccan Meditations, and Celebrating the *“For all of us, children and adults, who love fairy and folk stories, these nine tales told by Ellen Evert Hopman carry us to the roots of ancient lore. Earth, sky, and the waters are embodied in Gods and Goddesses with power to bring feast or famine, health or disease, tragedy or happiness, depending on their actions--and the hard work, gratitude, and faithfulness of humans. Alongside the stories are embedded recipes, games, and verse. This book is a treasure trove for curious children and their grown-ups, who wish to bring the rich spirits of the natural world to life.” * Patricia Lee Lewis, author of A Kind of Yellow *“Once Around the Sun is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature written for children and their parents. Hopman uses the structure of ‘wheel of the year’ to explore the meanings and celebrations of each season through a selection of stories from a variety of countries and traditions. With its beautiful illustrations from artist Lauren A. Mills, this book is sure to be enjoyed by children of all ages.” * Fiona Tinker, author of Stories for the Songs of the Year *“Now we can all share the glory of seasonal celebration with our children and grandchildren, so they can sweep out the old year with La Befana, make runes like a Viking, knead soda bread for Imbolg, and drink the herbal teas of the season. All the traditional stories, songs, and celebrations take the family through the year with joy and blessing.” * Caitlín Matthews, coauthor of The Lost Book of the Grail and author of The Art of Celtic Seersh *“From the Cailleach to La Befana, this skillful storyteller--this blessed shanachie-- weaves a splendid wreath to revel in the seasons of the rolling year. Beautiful illustrations, recipes, and an inspiring foreword by Jane Yolen envelop this tender reminder of the importance of myth and story in making us healthy, happy human beings. A must-have for your bedside reading stack!” * H. Byron Ballard, author of Seasons of a Magical Life and Roots, Branches, and Spirits *Table of ContentsForeword: Stories That Bring the Sun Upby Jane YolenIntroduction: The Circle Will Go ’Round 1 A Tale of the Cailleach, the Great Goddess of WinterAn Irish Tale for Samhain (October 31–November 1) 2 Old Nisse and the Return of Sunna, the Sun Goddess A Norse Tale for Yule and the Winter Solstice (December 20/21/22/23) 3 La Befana, the Christmas Witch An Italian Tale for the New Year (January 1) 4 Waiting for Brighid An Irish Tale for Imbolg (February 1–2) 5 Eostre, the Goddess of Spring, Hares, and EggsAn Anglo-Saxon/Germanic Tale for the Spring Equinox (March 19/20/21) 6 A Magical Beltaine JourneyAn Irish Tale for May Day (May 1)7 Kupalnocka and the Magical Fern FlowerA Polish Tale for the Summer Solstice (June 20/21/22) 8 Lugh of the Long Arm and the Blessing of the Early HarvestAn Irish Tale for Lúnasa (August 1) 9 The Spirit of the Grain and the Spirits of the Sea A Scottish Tale for the Fall Equinox (September 21/22/23/24) Index of RecipesIndex of Activities

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Book SynopsisMeet rattling skeletons and ghastly ghosts as you embark on a Halloween adventure. Explore the haunted house, creepy crypt and wailing woods, adding sparkly stickers to bring each spooky scene to life. With rich, quirky illustrations by Kyle Beckett, children will spot a funny new detail each time they look. Brilliant for developing creativity and fine motor skills.

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Book SynopsisThere's no place like home for the holidays! Join our Sesame Friends as we celebrate the holiday season together in this all-new multicultural book for kids!No matter what holidays you celebrate during the most wonderful time of the year, love, family, togetherness, and giving are universal. In this diversity book for kids, share in the joy with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and more as they celebrate holidays from around the world. Featuring international Sesame Street characters, and celebrations spanning from Thanksgiving to Chinese New Year, this sweet story proves there's no place like home for the holidays.Why readers love Home for the Holidays:Parents, grandparents, and teachers from around the world will enjoy reading this festive, multicultural book with childrenScreen-free fun for children during the winter seasonIdeal holiday gift and novelty stocking stuffer for kids

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Book SynopsisThis title invites readers to a birthday party. Simple text, straightforward photos, and a photo glossary make this title the perfect primer on birthdays.

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Book SynopsisMeet Jessie, Keira and Ruby, three excited dolls who are going to be bridesmaids! There are over 350 stickers of fabulous dresses, shoes and accessories to dress the dolls. Choose outfits for the dolls as they prepare for their cousin's special day.

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Book SynopsisCome and join the fun with music, dancing dragons and dazzling fireworks, as Jing and her family celebrate Lunar New Year. Add over 150 stickers to bring the scenes to life.

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