The warmth of a fireplace in the living room, a cozy blanket, and a special holiday book can make magical Christmas memories for you and your children. Reading aloud to your child benefits his/her language development and literary skills. It also increases vocabulary and creativity while encouraging a lifelong love of reading. So, please consider reading one or all of the following stories to your child this holiday season:
“A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas,” is probably the most highly recognized Christmas book all over the world. Written in 1822 when he was 43 years old, well-known and respected scholar, Clement C. Moore, wrote this poem for his own children. It was not until he was 65 in 1844 that he actually acknowledged that he was the author of the famous verses. He was embarrassed for most of his life that his scholarly works were overshadowed by what he publicly considered a frivolous poem. In all, there are 28 sets of rhymes in this story. Right from the start, your child will recognize the familiar rhymes such as “house and mouse,” “care and there,” “beds and heads,” etc. Clement C. Moore will forever be remembered as the person who truly gave Santa Claus to the world. What a special and fun way to bond with your child as you read this entertaining book together! Another popular book at this time of year is “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” written by Robert L. May. Filled with beautiful illustrations, this book tells the classic story of how Rudolph’s shiny nose helps Santa find his way on one especially foggy Christmas Eve and saves Christmas for everyone. “Bear Stays Up for Christmas” by Karma Wilson is another sweet holiday book. Because Bear is a sleepy animal, his friends make him bake a cake, decorate the tree, sing Christmas songs, and do other things to help him stay awake for the big day. Children will surely enjoy this cute holiday adventure. Toddlers will enjoy the rhymes in Anna Dewdney’s book, “Llama, Llama, Jingle Bells.” And last, but not least, don’t forget to read “Ready for Christmas,” which is one of the holiday poems in my poetry book.
