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–one young and one old–and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.
A new variation of an old tale works only if you’re familiar with the original story. Before you open the pages of any of the delightful tales that follow, read the originals and discuss them with your students. After they’ve enjoyed the classics, a new kind of fun can begin: discussing similarities and discovering the twists.





