Christmas Titles from Scholastic (Giveaway)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...definitely in the stores (that started in October) but also now in my house and classroom. I love to extend the season at the front end...and take everything down immediately after!

When I pulled out the Christmas bins, I rediscovered a lot of great storybooks that my girls have enjoyed in the past, but I am now adding two more titles to the mix, courtesy of Scholastic Canada:

A Porcupine in a Pine Tree by Helaine Becker

This is a cute, Canadianized remake of the traditional 12 days of Christmas, where five Stanley Cups replace the traditional five golden rings (we all know which is more valuable) and Mounties and Maple Leafs round out the crew. Frannie is now able to name several more members of Canadian wildlife after hearing this version of the song!

Listen, Said The Donkey, by Jean Little

I am all about Christmas - from Santa Claus and reindeer to candy canes and gingerbread, I certainly embrace the less religious aspects of the holiday. I do, however, work on teaching my students and children that the "reason for the season", so to speak, should be foremost in their minds. That's why I requested a copy of this book, which is described on the jacket like this: "Five animals gather at a lowly stable, speaking of the child who was just born there, and of how each one came to be in Bethlehem. Their tales cast the Christmas story in a new and wondrous light."

The stories are beautifully written by one of Canada's most treasured children's authors, with soft illustrations to spark the kids' imaginations. There's a lot of text on these pages, so it's not for the really little ones, but my four year old daughter and eight year old students all enjoyed it.

(Just an aside - if you're looking for another way to reinforce the religious aspect of Christmas, my girls LOVE their Fisher Price nativity. Frannie was saying "Jesus" at 19 months old, and for the right reasons!)

As always, Scholastic is offering to share both of these titles ("A Porcupine in a Pine Tree" and "Listen, Said the Donkey") with a lucky This Mom Loves reader. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below telling me when you did (or will) decorate for Christmas this year. (Me? It was all done on November 12th, except for the trees which go up December 1st. Yes, I said "trees", plural. The blue-and-silver on the main floor, and the random kids' ornaments tree in the family room downstairs.)

Be sure to leave your email address, if it is not on your profile! If I can't contact you, you can't win!

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This contest will run until Wednesday, December 1st at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, after which time a winner will be chosen by random number generation. Good luck!