Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

• Story book

Preparation for Activity

• Choose a story from the following suggestions:
  • Winter Lights by Anna Grossnickle Hines, 2005. Poems and quilts illustrate the moon and the aurora borealis, the holiday lights of Santa Lucia, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Chinese New Year; the light of one, lone candle, and a hidden flashlight in the deep, dark night.
  • Winter's Eve: Love and Lights by Lisa Sferlazza Johnson and Tucker Johnson, 2007. Eve, the fairy, decides toexplore the winter festivals that humans celebrate and process discovers that each festival has a special light to offer.
  • Miki by Stephen Mackey, 2012. On Midwinter Eve, Miki and her friend Penguin find their wishes come true when they are given a little tree to brighten up their cold, dark home. However, keeping the fairy lights twinkling takes more energy than even the great Polar Bear can muster.
  • The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer and Jessie Reisch, 2003. The beginning of winter is marked by the solstice, the shortest day of the year. This book explains the winter solstice and how it has been observed by various cultures throughout history.
• Review How to Read a Story Book, under Resources in the Introduction.

Description of Activity

Hold up the book and say, in these words or your own:

Here's how I am going to read the story. Does anyone need to move so they can see and hear?

This will help children move if they need to and then get settled before the story is started, so they don't interrupt the reading. It also serves as a reminder that if they stand or sit right in front of the pages, no one else can see. Invite them to find a place to settle so that everyone can see. When all are ready, read the story.

When you finish reading, ask if anyone has thoughts about the story that they would like to share.

Including All Participants

Seat a child with hearing or sight difficulties near the reader.