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I am back this week with another holiday book recommendation for you!  Have you read Merry Christmas, Old Armadillo by Larry Dane Brimner?   This book has been in my library for years (it was published in 1995) and it is a favorite of mine because of its sweet story of friendship and love during the holiday season. Lessons from the story... Compassion  The main character in this story is Old Armadillo. He lives alone, and on Christmas Eve his loneliness is very evident and so sad. This is a great place to stop and talk to your students about compassion for others. If students have neighbors or friends who are alone during the holidays this story might encourage them to do something special for others. I also think that this book provides a great discussion starter for focusing on kindness during the holiday season. I have included a simple activity that you could use with this book (or even on its own) to help students think about simple acts of kindness they could do for others.    G

Holiday read alouds are the BEST! In the coming weeks I am planning on sharing some of my very favorites with you. First up is... The  Trees of the Dancing Goats  by Patricia Polacco. This is a touching book that really exemplifies the meaning of the holidays. I am a HUGE fan of Patricia Polacco.   Several of her books would make it on my Top 10 Favorites of all time list. This includes some of her holiday books, such as the one I will be sharing with you today.  This is a touching book about both Hanukkah and Christmas. I love how it celebrates and honors both holidays and their traditions in such a beautiful way.  This book is based on a childhood memory of Patricia Polacco's. The main character, Trisha, and her family are all set to celebrate Hanukkah when an epidemic hits their little town. Trisha is exposed to scarlet fever after a visit to the neighbors, and fortunately no one in her family becomes ill. Many of her neighbors are not so fortunate, though.  As Trisha's fam