'Tis the Season for a Good Book
Recently, Marsha Masters, Associate Director at Economics Arkansas, presented a professional development webinar called 'Tis the Season for Economics. In that presentation, she shared several seasonal reading and activity options that K12 teachers and parents could use to create unique learning opportunities for their students. In this post, I’ll be sharing some of the reading suggestions from that session that you can share with the young people in your life this holiday season.
Books to Read This Holiday Season:
How Santa Got His Job & How Santa Lost His Job by Stephen Krensky
In the story How Santa Got His Job, readers hear the story of how Santa grew up and learned the value of his human capital. By trying several different jobs in his youth, Santa learned what he was good at and not so good at, as well as what he enjoyed and what he disliked. Using this knowledge, he eventually lands the perfect role for him.
In How Santa Lost His Job, Santa is ousted from his job by a vote from his elves, who want to increase efficiency at the North Pole and feel Santa has lost his touch. The elves want to automate the toy delivery process, and build a machine to deliver the toys they make. But on Christmas Eve when unexpected problems arrive, the elves learn that sometimes knowledge and experience are as valuable as speed and convenience.
A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert
This story is set in World War II. Anna needs a new coat for the winter, but her mother has no money to buy one, and many stores are running low on raw materials because of the war. Anna's mother trades family heirlooms to others in her community for supplies like wool and yarn in order to have Anna's coat constructed, and in the end, several people who traded and worked with her come to see Anna receive her special gift.
The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree by David Rubel
The Carpenter's Gift tells the story of Henry, an eight year old boy living during the Great Depression era in New York. He works with his father selling Christmas trees, and dreams of moving with his family to a safe. warm home. He and his father are in poverty, but are kind and generous to those they meet, and the kindness they reflect is shown back to them in the end.
Wrapping Up:
These books are fun reads for all ages during the holiday season. The time periods, places, and characters provide great discussion opportunities for readers. For each book on the list, free read-along versions are available on YouTube!
This winter break, grab a blanket, some hot chocolate, and curl up with a fun holiday book.
