25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 15

How's your weekend going? As for mine: christmas movies - check, hot chocolate - check, sleeping in way too late - check. As for the hard stuff, like getting a tree and decorating, that may have to wait until tomorrow or maybe next weekend.

Have you read the fun Thanksgiving book Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano? Well for Day 15, I'm highlighting Silvano's other turkey book, Turkey Claus.

Via Amazon

I saw this book in the last Scholastic order and put it on my list, but ended up taking it off, as I was already spending way too much (which I think I do every single month at Scholastic), so I may have to pick it up the next time I see it. Similar to Turkey Trouble, in this book, Turkey is trying to avoid being eaten for Christmas dinner and this time he looks to Santa Claus for help. It's a fun little read that may come in handy during the chaos that will be next week.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 14

One more week! I know next week will be busy, but hopefully tons of fun. Honestly, between decorating gingerbread houses and carolling, I'm quite excited. But for now, I'll enjoy the weekend!

You may have read this next or perhaps seen it - Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh. It's a sweet story about Olive the dog, who misunderstands the lyrics to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and thinks it is talking about here. She heads off for the North Pole and actually ends up saving the day for Santa.

Via Amazon

You can also check out the video on Youtube:

So what are your plans for the weekend? I'm hoping for some Christmas movie marathons, hot chocolate, reading the pile of books I've been neglecting and - if I'm brave - some Christmas shopping!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 13

Here we are already - Day 13 of my Christmas picture book countdown. Make sure to click {HERE} if you need some more Christmas picture book ideas, I can't believe the countdown is halfway done!

Today's book is Santa's Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene.

Via Amazon

On Christmas Eve, Santa eats a few too many treats and ends up stuck in a chimney. The animals of the house and the reindeer must work together to get him out, but which animal will end up making the difference? Your students will have fun predicting as you read aloud. I also have a fantastic freebie to share courtesy of Nancy over at First Grade W.O.W. She has some amazing resources, including a unit to be used with Santa's Stuck. Click {HERE} or the picture to download and make sure you leave her a comment letting her know how awesome it is.

Via First Grade W.O.W.

Make sure you also head over to Reading Toward the Stars for Book Talk Thursday to find some more Night Before Christmas book ideas!

I have to admit that I haven't read many other versions, so I'll have to stick with plain old 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. I like the pictures in this new version illustrated by Holly Hobbie.

Via Amazon

Which version do you prefer?

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 12

Whew! That was a close one - I *may* have almost missed blogging today because I *may* have just woken up from an unexpected nap! But we are here, so let's get started:

For day twelve, my pick is The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood.

Via Amazon

I own the Underwood's The Quiet Book and The Loud Book, so I was happy to find this book this year (even though it's a year old - how do I keep missing fantastic books?). This is a sweet book about different kinds of "Christmas quiet." Your students will have fun coming up with their own ideas for "Christmas quiet," or perhaps "Christmas loud!"

And with that finished, I think I may have to go back to sleep now!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 11

Is it only Tuesday? I feel like I'm already behind and the week just got started! I am so exhausted that I don't have a freebie to share tonight, but if you missed them, check out my Polar Express freebie {HERE}, my Mooseltoe freebie {HERE}, my Snowmen at Christmas freebie {HERE} and my When Santa Lost His Ho! Ho! Ho! freebie {HERE}.

So for day 11 of my Christmas picture book countdown, I chose Who Will Guid My Sleigh Tonight? by Jerry Pallotta.

Via Amazon

This is a fun story about how Santa found the perfect animal to guide his sleigh. Your students should enjoy picturing the other animals that Santa tried. If this books seems familiar, you may have seen some of Pallotta's other books such as, Who Will Be My Valentine This Year? and Who Will Help Santa This Year?

The one reason why I wanted to mention this book is because it talks about reindeer and I just had to mention these adorable reindeer pictures you may have seen floating around Pinterest:

Via ARTventurous

I saw a few other teachers (even Kindergarten!) try these last week and they turned out ADORABLE! It takes a few steps (pencil, pastel, paint the background, paint the nose and scarf, paint the fur) but with patience and support, they will turn out fantastic. If you do it with younger students, make sure to do the step-by-step drawing with them - ARTventurous has great step-by-step instructions (& pictures).

These pictures will be sure to brighten up your classroom bulletin boards!

I just found out a fun Christmas Questionnaire over at Michelle's (Fabulous in First) blog. I guess I'm not too tired to join in and answer a few Christmas questions!

Here are the questions:

Hot Chocolate or Eggnog
100% hot chocolate. I think I might go make some tonight!

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them underneath the tree?
Wrap unless it it something awkward (like a bike. Who on Earth could wrap a bike?).

Colored lights or white?Photo Cards, Letter or Store Bought Card? 

When I was growing up, it was always color. Now, white, white, white!

When do you decorate? 

Way too late. As in, I still do not have a tree or bit of decorations in my house. Hopefully this weekend!

Real or Fake Tree? 

REAL. It always takes me hours to pick out as we go through every.single.tree at the tree lot. I tend to pick out ones that are too tall (roof-scrapin' tall) and wide (can't-see-the-front-door wide), though not quite as big as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!

What Tops Your Tree? 

Umm - an embarrassing star that I homemade years ago. I think this is the year I'll have to find a new topper.

Favorite Christmas Memories or Traditions? 

So many little things remind me of childhood holidays - getting up way too early to peek at stockings, eating chocolate on Christmas morning, visiting extended family, listening to the same Christmas songs year after year. Some of that we still do, some I've outgrown (ahem, there is no way I'm getting up at 4 a.m. to look at stockings or presents!).

Do you remember your favourite gift as a child?
I was (and still am) a complete bookworm. When I was nine, my aunt and uncle got me FIVE books and I was on top of the moon!

Do prefer giving or receiving? 

Giving all the way. It is such a great feeling! 

What is your favorite Christmas song? 

Oh, there are so many! Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You, Run DMC's Christmas in Hollis, Madonna's Santa Baby spring to mind, but I think my number 1 favourite is Carol of the Bells.

Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum? 

They kind of make me nostalgic, but after the first few licks, no thanks,

Favorite Christmas Movie? 

Home Alone! 

Do you shop online or at stores?

A little of both, but I try to do as much online as possible.

Photo Cards, Letter or Store Bought Card? 

Umm, let's just say I'm not a big card person.

Head on over to Fabulous in First to join the holiday fun!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 10

I'm going to have to make tonight's post a short one because, well, A) it's Monday B) I'm tired already C) I almost forgot to post tonight!

For today's book, I'm going to mention a new one for me, Santa Claus and the Three Bears by Maria Modugno.

Via Amazon

This book is a fun twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This would be great to add to your library if you're studying fairy tales around the holidays. To make the read aloud more meaningful, have students compare and contrast the two stories or make text-to-text connections.

And with that, I'm off to relax!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books (& a freebie!) - Day 9

It's Sunday already? Not only is it Sunday, but it's already Day 9 of my Christmas Picture Book countdown. If you missed some of my previous freebies make sure to click {HERE} for some Polar Express train tickets, {HERE} for a Mooseltoe freebie and {HERE} for a Snowmen at Christmas freebie.

Now that that's out of the way, let's move onto a new book. Today's book is When Santa Lost His Ho! Ho! Ho! by Laura Rader.

Via Amazon

For the freebie, I've made three versions of a writing prompt. Your students will have fun brainstorming and writing about ways to make Santa laugh. I'm sure you'll have fun reading their hilarious answers!

Click {HERE} or the pictures to check it out.

I'm also linking up early for Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies, make sure to head over there to find some more fantastic freebies!

Have a great week!