Just twenty-four hours before the Newtown tragedy, I was reading books to a room full of kindergartners in southern California. At the beginning of the school year, I signed up to read to my daughter's class. After all, my own classroom is only a short nature walk away.
I'm lucky enough to walk my daughter to kindergarten every morning. I say lucky because there are few better ways, if any, to start your morning. Seeing those five and six year-old smiles never gets old. Neither does seeing their energy and eagerness to live and learn.
During our walk, I say
good morning to every child we pass. Most of them are between five and ten years-old. Some of them say
good morning or just
morning. Some smile. Some stick out their tongues and laugh. Some ignore me. But that's okay. They are only kids. They are on the brink of life. They are learning and developing. They are sponges waiting to absorb the next waterfall they encounter. They are honest and eager to please. They are innocent. They are fragile.
I am a husband. I am a parent. And I am a teacher. I have only ever been a teacher. It is all I know and all I really care to ever do. I teach eleven and twelve year-olds. They are three times the size of kindergartners and infinitely "smarter." But when you take away the size and knowledge, they are still kids. They smile. They laugh. They stick out their tongues. They ignore me. They are honest and eager to please. They are all of these things, just like kindergartners. They are even innocent and--though stronger and more independent--still fragile. They are special to their families and their teachers, more special than they'll ever know.
The kids and teachers from Sandy Hook Elementary will always be remembered. They, too, are more special than they'll ever know.
Kids are the joy to the world,
they are the merry in Christmas,
the burning candle in Hanukkah,
they are different shapes and sizes
like the snowflakes that fall
from Above,
they are the bright lights
filling us with hope
for a better place,
they fall down and get up,
cry and laugh in the same breath,
hold hands with new friends,
ask questions that cannot be answered,
say "I love you" when least expected,
they give meaningful hugs
and remember them forever,
Kids wrap their arms around life
and refuse to let go.
They make the world whole.
Kimmel, Eric A. When Mindy Saved Hanukkah. Illus. by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic, 1998.
Can children ever get enough of stories with small heroes? Of Kimmel’s many finely crafted picture books, this is one of his best. Mindy and the rest of the Klein family live behind the walls of the Eldridge Street Synagogue in New York. When resourceful Papa goes on his quest for a candle they can melt into tiny candles for their menorah, he meets with near-disaster. “A fierce Antiochus of a cat” pounces on him. Leave it to brave little Mindy to save the day! A huge part of the fun of this exciting story is Barbara McClintock’s humorous, detailed ink and watercolor paintings, evoking century-old styles and interesting aspects of this historic synagogue. I can’t imagine a more enjoyable way for children to discover the reasons for Hanukkah.
More Great Hanukkah Read-alouds
da Costa, Deborah. Hanukkah Moon. Kar-Ben, 2007. “At Aunt Luisa’s you ll get to celebrate the Hanukkah Moon,” Isobel’s father promises. This likable picture book centers on Hanukkah customs with a Latina twist.
Kimmel, Eric. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Holiday House, 1994. Hershel of Ostropol arrives at a village where the people can’t celebrate Hanukkah because their synagogue has been overtaken by goblins. Hershel is brave and bright enough to outwit those goblins, though, in this thrilling story brought to life by Trina Schart Hyman’s spooky illustrations, which won a Caldecott Honor.
Krensky, Stephen. Hanukkah at Valley Forge. Dutton, 2006. This engaging story features a young Jewish soldier explaining Hanukkah to George Washington. Atmospheric watercolor paintings evoke the contrast between the cold Pennsylvania winter and the soldier’s glowing candlelight.
Kroll, Stephen. The Hanukkah Mice. Marshall Cavendish, 2008. A girl’s new dollhouse is the perfect place for a family of mice to celebrate Hanukkah.
Manushkin, Fran. Hooray for Hanukkah! Random House, 2001. “I am bright, but I could be brighter!” Hear the story of Hanukkah from the perspective of the menorah in this charming book for young children.
Polacco, Patricia. Trees of the Dancing Goats. Simon & Schuster, 1996. 
Based on the author’s childhood, Polacco shows how Trisha and her family prepare to celebrate Hanukkah. When Trisha visits her neighbors, she finds them bedridden with scarlet fever instead of decorating for Christmas. Then Grampa comes up with a surprising way to cheer up their neighbors. The plan involves a lot of work and even sacrifice, but it will make for a holiday for all to cherish.
Rosen, Michael J. Elijah’s Angel: A Story of Chanukah and Christmas. Harcourt, 1992. Touching story of a friendship between nine-year-old Michael and the elderly African-American Elijah, who gives the boy one of his carved wooden angels. Should a Jewish child keep such a gift?
Singer, Isaac Bashevis. Power of Light: Eight Stories for
NOTE TO SELF: Is this story kosher?
Perhaps it's just the cynic in me but I find this a little hard to swallow.
Jones Soda Co., a Seattle-based purveyor of offbeat fizzy water, is selling holiday-themed limited-edition packs of flavored sodas. What makes this story intriguing is that they are proposing a ham-and-latke-flavored soda.
Talk about trying to be everything to everyone!
Jones Sodas Christmas Pack flavors include Sugar Plum, Egg Nog, Christmas Tree and Christmas Ham. They are also claiming that their newest product will be kosher - including the ham!
Actually, the packages are divided up according to the holiday with the Christmas pack featuring such flavors as Sugar Plum, Christmas Tree, Egg Nog and Christmas Ham. The Hanukkah pack will have Jelly Doughnut, Apple Sauce, Chocolate Coins and Latke sodas.
"As always, both packs are kosher and contain zero caffeine," Jones said in a statement.
The packs will go on sale Sunday, with a portion of the proceeds to be given to charity, the company said.
Jones' products feature original label art and frequently odd flavors. Last year's seasonal pack was Thanksgiving-themed, with Green Pea, Sweet Potato, Dinner Roll, Turkey and Gravy, and Antacid sodas.
For its contract to supply soda to Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, Jones came up with Perspiration, Dirt, Sports Cream and Natural Field Turf. The company -- fortunately or unfortunately -- prides itself on the accuracy of the taste.
Excuse me while I gag...
Jones also makes more traditional flavors, including root beer, cherry and strawberry. I dunno - call me silly but I'll pass on the ham soda.
Today is the birthday of Dylan Marlais Thomas, one of my favorite poets.
In My Craft or Sullen Art
In my craft or sullen art
Exercised in the still night
When only the moon rages
And the lovers lie abed
With all their griefs in their arms,
I labor by singing light
Not for ambition or bread
Or the strut and trade of charms
On the ivory stages
But for the common wages
Of their most secret heart.
To read the rest of this poem, click
here. To find out more about Dylan Thomas, click
here.The round up is being held at
A Wrung Sponge. Thanks for hosting!
My poetry offerings this week are again inspired by "Doctor Who". As I mentioned in my review of "The Shakespeare Code", the Doctor quotes the third line of this poem by Dylan Thomas:
Do not go gentle into that good night
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
The rest of the poem, including an audio version, is available here.
Then Will Shakespeare starts to quote to Martha
Sonnet 18
Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
though he only manages the first line before he's interrupted by the arrival of Queen Elizabeth I. (I have to say, the look on the Doctor's face, as Shakespeare starts his recitation is utterly priceless ! A combination of disbelief and bemusement - as if he's wondering why Shakespeare wants to quote poetry to Martha, although Shakespeare's been flirting with Martha all the way through the episode...)
Oh, Tracy, my eyes filled with tears reading this. --Nan
Very moving...
Beautiful. Kids are special. They are.
I had the heartbreak of going to a wake for a student at our school today. That compounded with the CT tragedy has had me sobbing for days.
Kids are a joy to this world. I will be strong so I can teach tomorrow with a smile and hug my own kids with a smile.
Perfectly stated. Thank you.