The thing I miss the most about retirement is the opportunity to read to kids and tell stories. I do/did dramatic readings of all the books I read aloud, and the one requirement the students had of the new librarian was the she do "funny voices." I have limitations, of course and while reading the first book below, my Yiddish tended to migrate to an Irish brogue, (which I don't do well.)
Anyway, these are a few of my favorite for the December holidays. Hershel for Hanukkah, of course. There are several others of a more serious nature. If you are interested, I can get the names for you. Especially if you are a non-Jewish family interested in expanding your cultural knowledge.
The Bird in Santa's Beard is wonderfully illustrated and explains why there are SO MANY Santas all around.
And my all time favorite is about a boy named Edward, who shows up in more of David McPhail's books, who is in the first grade and JUST CANNOT master reading. His parents insist that the teacher NOT test him but be patient. Edward is worried and worries about it as he falls asleep on Christmas Eve. Well, he wakes up when he hears sounds in the house, and sees that he has JUST MISSED the jolly old man. But, to his dismay, Santa has dropped his book in Edward's living room. Edward, (no dummy after all, he does know how to count to 100 and knows the names of ALL the dinosaurs) cleverly figures out a way to signal Santa, who comes back and asks Edward to accompany him on his journey. Along the way, a magical thing happens, and is told in a way only David McPhail can tell it.
Wonderful story...
