Non-Fiction Picture Book Review: Celebrate Kwanzaa

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Kwanzaa
Written by:  Carolyn Otto
Published by: National Geographic, 2008

* I first discovered the National Geographic series, Holidays Around the World with Celebrate Hanukkah.  I found it to be a very informative but easy to understand book with amazing photographs (though you wouldn't expect less from National Geographic!).  I was excited to discover that they had a Celebrate Kwanzaa book and put it on hold at the library.  I ended up reading this book to just my 6 year old daughter, only because my son was off playing and we were snuggled up on the couch reading.  Just like the Celebrate Hanukkah book this book was written so even young children can easily understand it.  The author explains what Kwanzaa is, how people celebrate, and even gives some information on Africa.  The photographs show all the different ways that people celebrate the holiday including dancing, lighting the kinara, drummers, and people dressed up in bright clothing, "displaying the patterns and colors of Africa."  This is not the first book that we've read about Kwanzaa, so my daughter is familiar with holiday.  There is a picture of children in Africa playing mancala, which my daughter told me she has played at school (which was news to me!).  Although she said it's really boring.  The author also gives a recipe for Sweet Potato Pie at the end of the book along with a list of other resources to find out more about the holiday.  Overall, this is a great book for young children about Kwanzaa with accopmanying photographs, rather than illustrations.

This book was borrowed from the library.

Family Rating: 2 thumbs up!

Non-fiction Picture Book Review: Celebrate Hanukkah

Celebrate Hanukkah
Written by:  Deborah Heiligman, Consultant:  Rabbi Shira Stern
Published by: National Geographic, 2006

* Happy Hanukkah! Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and the first of eight holiday related book reviews.   I reviewed this book on my original blog The Busy Mom Cafe at Hanukkah last year.  However, it is hard to find children's books that describe and explain holidays so that a 4 and 6 year old can understand them. This book fits so well that I wanted to share it again, in case you might have missed it.  Although this book is geared toward 1st through 4th graders, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book understandable to my 6 year old daughter.  While it may be a little advanced for my son he enjoyed looking at the pictures and I think with repeated readings he learns a bit more each year.  The text is short and simple, yet informative.  Being from National Geographic, you get a global perspective of the holiday with photographs of children from all over the world and information on how they celebrate the holiday.  At the end of the book there are instructions on how to light the menorah and the prayers to say, a recipe for latkes, and instructions on playing the dreidel game. There are also book and websites listed in the back if you want to find out more about the holiday.

My mother-in-law's family celebrates Hanukkah so my children are familiar with the traditions.  During Hanukkah we light a menorah, play dreidel with them, and eat potato latkes.  I like that they get to participate and learn about both Jewish and Catholic holidays throughout the year.  While we enjoy reading fiction picture books about the holidays, I think it is important that they also read and listen to factual books too.  This is a book that is informational and enjoyable for us all.

This book was borrowed from the library.

Family Rating: 2 thumbs up.