Midwest Book Review on “Holidays With a Tail”

Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations” is multicultural holiday story that appeals to culturally diverse juvenile audiences.

Written experienced elementary school teacher, Kelly Bouldin Darmofal, Holidays with a Tail begins the story with Alex on Christmas Eve, after having just moved from the suburbs to the city. Alex had wished for a Christmas gift of a puppy to play with. The next day brings one new surprise after another. Being Episcopalian, Alex celebrated Christian traditions in December, and he was overjoyed to find a puppy-sized box with holes in the lid for his present. Out popped Zipper, his new adorable golden puppy, his special Christmas gift.

The next day, when grandparents came bringing more Christmas gifts, Zipper surprised Alex by running out the door and into the snowy night. This begins a wonderful tale of exploration of ways different folk with different religious traditions celebrate the midwinter time of Solstice.

Zipper leads Alex and his mom, Katy on an exploration and traveling tour of festivities and homes, including four different families celebrating the Jewish Hanukkah, the Hindu Dwali, the Latina las Posadas, and the African American Kwanzaa. Each resident kindly explains the symbols and reasons for their celebrations, along with special foods and candle lighting customs and their significance.

Alex and Katy reclaim Zipper and eventually return to their home to celebrate Christmas dinner with their family and their special foods and gifts.

“Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations” is the perfect vehicle to explain to young children the wonderful richness and significance of different holiday celebration traditions for different cultures, peoples, and religions.

Read the original review on MBR


Holidays With a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations
Kelly Bouldin Darmofal, author
Brad A. Calhoun, illustrator
Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
www.LovingHealing.com
9781615996155, $17.95 PB, $29.95 HC, $4.95 Kindle, 34pp

What Happened to Chester? [PB]

SKU ‎ 978-1-61599-700-8
$15.95
An En-deer-ing Tale of Hope and Healing
1
Product Details
UPC: 978-1-61599-700-8
Brand: Loving Healing Press
Binding: Paperback
Audiobook: iTunes, Audible.com
Edition: 1st
Author: Lauren Persons
Illustrator: Noah Hrbek
Pages: 22
Publication Date: 10/01/2022

Rory, an adventurous, take-charge young girl, meets her match in Hobblety Wobblety Chester McDeer. She soon learns that her friend can jump over any obstacle, despite his disability, and make a big difference to family and friends. Colorful, fun illustrations make the journey delightful for kids young and old.

"What Happened to Chester? is a heartwarming story. This book is compelling to young eyes while teaching a very important message of overcoming obstacles. The book guides the reader to understand being different. My favorite aspect of the book is the bond created by Chester and Rory, because it provides a positive example of how it's okay to be friends with people who are different than you. I also think this story's softly underlying message may help prevent bullying. This is a great book for young children." --Lauren Nicole Pace, community research coordinator, Medicore Transport & Achievement Centers

"What Happened to Chester? is an uplifting book for those who have experienced the excitement of adventure that abruptly results in a different life pathway. Chester's accident doesn't keep him from living life to the fullest. A child's takeaway from this tale is to be true to oneself and keep focused on dreams and goals - no matter what obstacles they may have to overcome. This beautifully illustrated book is an endearing tale of resilience." --Linda Cohen, elementary school principal

"This was not only a sweet story, but also an educational one, filled with empathy and love for animals; in this case, an injured deer. The wonderful and poetic storytelling of Lauren Persons guides you through events with Rory and how empathetic she is toward Chester. As an elementary school teacher, teaching empathy towards animals is a difficult task, but Lauren Persons has accomplished this task with great storytelling and love."--John Mascia, elementary school teacher

"This warm, wonderful and inspiring book shows kids that it's ok to be different and not to let anything or anyone scare you away from your purpose. --Chanene Hawkins, TESOL teacher

From Loving Healing Press

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