Children's Books for Parents and Teachers - book reviews and suggestions for parents and teachers.
Culture
Hanukkah Around the World

Hanukkah traditions from several countries.

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Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy
By: Don Freeman
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Celebrate the festival of lights with Corduroy.

Corduroy’s having a Hanukkah party for all of his friends. First they light the menorah, then they eat yummy potato pancakes. After they open presents, there’s time for a game of dreidel. Introduce little boys and girls to all of the Hanukkah traditions with Corduroy, one of the most beloved children’s books characters for over forty years.

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The Sandwich Swap
By: Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Lily and Salma are best friends. They play together and stick together through thick and thin. But who would have ever thought that ordinary peanut butter or plain old hummus could come between them? Lily and Salma don’t quite understand each other’s tastes, but does that mean they can’t be friends? They understand far better than a lot of gown ups that these things hardly matter and that friendship is the most important thing of all.

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Missing Sisters

Twelve-year-old Alice, an orphan who has never been adopted because of her physical handicap and difficult personality, is shocked to discover she has an identical twin sister living nearby.

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The Fourth of July Story
By: Alice Dalgliesh
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

What happened on the Fourth of July long before there were fireworks and parades? Alice Dalgliesh takes young readers back to revolutionary times, back to the colonists’ desire for freedom and the creation of the Declaration of Independence.

Simple text captures the excitement of the era, telling how word of Independence travelled up and down the thirteen colonies, touching the lives of everyday people throughout the land.

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Star Spangled Banner

Patriotic images of everything from historical events to baseball games to children marching in 4th of July parades accompany the words of our national anthem. This timely book brings a modern narrative to the song that was written more than 175 years ago.

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Meet Rebecca (American Girl Collection Series: Rebecca #1)
By: Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Publisher: American Girl Publishing

Rebecca Rubin is a lively nine-year-old girl growing up in a big Jewish family in New York in 1914. She dreams of becoming an actress, but her parents and grandparents have traditional ideas and don’t think young ladies should perform. When Rebecca learns that her cousins in Russia are in great danger and must escape to America, she puts on a show to raise money–until her disapproving grandmother steps in. Unexpectedly, Rebecca finds another way to earn money. But for her plan to work, she’ll have to keep it a …

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Rebecca and the Movies (American Girl Collection Series: Rebecca #4)
By: Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Publisher: American Girl Publishing

On her tenth birthday, Rebecca can hardly believe it when her cousin Max, the actor, invites her to come to his movie studio! Although her parents don’t approve of actors or movies, Mama relents and says Rebecca may go. When the camera begins to roll, Rebecca finds herself facing an opportunity she never imagined in her wildest dreams. Does she have the nerve for it? And what would her parents say if they knew? Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section about the early days of silent movies.

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Rebecca and Ana (American Girl Collection Series: Rebecca #2
By: Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Publisher: American Girl Publishing

At last, Rebecca’s cousin, Ana, has made the long journey from Russia to Ellis Island. It’s crowded with two families living in one small apartment, but Rebecca is happy to share everything with Ana. At school, she is determined to help Ana learn English. But when the teacher tells her to include Ana in a special performance, Rebecca panics–Ana’s broken English will ruin the show! As the big day draws near, Rebecca learns an important lesson about what matters most. Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section about urban schools in …

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Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols

This spirited look at our national birthday explores the stories behind the familiar symbols of the Fourth of July and tells how they have come to be associated with the holiday. It will make the Fourth of July more meaningful for readers young and old.

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