Festive Tales for Independent Readers

Seven-year-old Buddy inaugurates the Christmas season by crying out to his cousin, Miss Sook Falk: "It's fruitcake weather!" Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls.  Buddy and his eccentric elderly cousin set out on a crisp day in November to r

In Billings, Montana, a Menorah displayed in boy's bedroom prompted someone to throw a rock through the window.

Go "time traveling" without leaving the classroom with this fun activity.

Twelve-year-old Sam Goodman knows the holidays are going to be difficult when his dog knocks over the Hanukkah bush/Christmas tree. His Jewish father and Christian mother have never quite figured out how to celebrate both holidays, and when the tree goes down, their resentments, simmering for so long, boil over.

Santa Paws is known far and wide for his amazing rescues. Even the people on tiny Blueberry Island off the coast of Maine have heard of his daring feats.

Charlie's school is holding a Kwanzaa Festival, and he doesn't want any part of it. Last year, he became the class clown. He was chosen to stand in front of the entire class wearing a dashiki, beads, and sandals — in the middle of winter! This year, he just wants things to be normal.