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CM . . . . Volume XVII Number 25. . . .March 4th, 2011.
These six titles are the latest additions to the now 37-volume “Celebrations in My World” series designed for young readers. Each title consists of 14 chapters and examines the history, traditions, beliefs and celebrations of the featured holiday. Written in kid-friendly language, using fairly short sentences and simple vocabulary, the text is printed in a large, simple font on coloured backgrounds, adding visual appeal. Some of the titles provide more detail than others and require better reading and comprehension skills. Abundant, vibrant colour photographs, some black and white archival photos, as well as drawings and maps highlight the main concepts while "Did you know?" arcs provide additional information. Some titles also have a quiz at the back of the book. A table of contents, a glossary and an index are included. Election Day explains what a democracy is and the importance of citizens’ right to vote. A history of Election Day in the US, early and absentee voting, the duties of election officials, and what happens at a polling station are other topics covered in this title. Readers will also learn about the differences between paper ballots and electronic voting systems. Current photographs in this title include those of U.S. President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Groundhog Day features the North American winter celebration that is celebrated on the second of February. Readers will be surprised to find out that groundhogs are also known as woodchucks, whistle pigs, land beavers and marmots. This title provides a little bit of information about groundhogs- their habitat, homes, food, and hibernation patterns. It also discusses the history of the event, celebrations throughout North America, famous groundhogs, such as Punxsutawney Phil in Philadelphia and Wiarton Willie, an albino groundhog that is Canada’s answer to “Punxsy Phil”, and the movie Groundhog Day. Birthdays are celebrated in different ways in various parts of the world. Russian children, for example, might play the “clothesline game”, in which blindfolded party guests attempt to grab a small gift that is hanging on a clothesline, while children in China play “Jan, Ken, Pon”, a version of Rock, Paper, Scissors. These and other traditions are featured in Happy Birthday! Party foods, party favours, birthday themes and activities, planning a party and choosing a gift are other topics covered. Though there are a few games mentioned, readers are not told how to play them. African Americans’ freedom from slavery is celebrated on June 19th in most US states (some states celebrate on the third Saturday in June). Juneteenth, a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth”, is marked by parades, pageants, music (especially blues, gospel and jazz), picnics, and festivals showcasing the poetry, arts and crafts of African Americans. In Juneteenth, readers will also find out about the American Civil War, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and Black Music Month, which is held in June to coincide with the holiday. Another way of celebrating is to attend the annual Juneteenth Black Rodeo which not only provides exciting entertainment, but also reminds people that many of the freed slaves, accustomed to working on large cattle ranches, became cowboys. Obviously, this title will have more appeal in the U.S. than in Canada. Labor Day focuses on the holiday celebrated all across North America on the first Monday in September. This title traces the history of the holiday, from child labor to unions and the need to improve the lot of workers by means of fair wages, safety measures in the workplace and imposed limits on the number of hours they can work. Other topics include the ways in which the holiday is celebrated, similar holidays in other parts of the world, and the importance of showing appreciation to workers for the jobs that they do. Most children will associate Labor Day with the end of summer vacation and time to go back to school, but, in many cities, there are parades with floats and marching bands to commemorate the occasion and to honour workers. Mother’s Day and Other Family Days pays homage to families through a discussion of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day and Family Day. In this title, readers will learn about the history of the four holidays and get some ideas for simple crafts to make as gifts- a beaded charm for their mothers, a rock paperweight with “Dad Rocks” painted on it for their fathers, and a certificate to colour for their grandparents (the certificate is a free download from a web site). In Canada, Family Day is celebrated in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario in winter while, in other parts of the world, it is celebrated at different times. This title provides instructions for creating a family crest that has meaning for all members of the family. Basically, a fairly good series that helps young readers to understand the background of the many holidays that they (or their classmates) celebrate. Recommended. Gail Hamilton, a former teacher-librarian, lives in Winnipeg, MB.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to
cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
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