Christmas Stories, Reading and Big Book Sale 2024!
Natalie Appleton
How can you enrich holiday reading traditions with the kids in your life? What is the Big Book Sale Transition Committee working on now? Read on for inspired stories and storytelling.
What was your favourite Christmas story growing up? The Night Before Christmas? The Nutcracker?
For so many of us, memories of the holidays and winter are entwined with reading special stories alongside sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents. Through our stewardship of Calgary Reads Big Book Sale, we’re fortunate to be helping the next generation of readers get the books and reading experiences they need to thrive in school and in life—and to enjoy wonderful reading moments over the Christmas break.
For those of you who might be reading with a young person over the holidays, here are some of the ways you can enrich that time and help spread the joy of reading.
Wee read
Wee read is a free, online program with fantastic tips about how to help children become stronger readers. It only takes about an hour and you can do it any time.
Wee read is also one of the Calgary Reads 'seeds' gifted to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area and this new website was made possible with Big Book Sale proceeds. Learn more and get started: www.weeread.ca
Classic and contemporary Christmas stories
Here are just a few holiday picture book picks loved by all ages.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schulz
- Dasher by Matt Tavares
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss
- Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury
- The Christmas Orange by Don Gillmor & Marie-Louise Gay
- The Crayons’ Christmas by Drew Daywalt
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore
The Big Book Sale Transition Committee (now officially called Early Childhood Literacy Committee) is already hard at work making plans for the 2024 Calgary Reads Big Book Sale, and its upcoming community impact. It’s also the perfect time to reflect on the year that’s passed and our many achievements. One of the many stories about Calgary Reads seed partners that we’re thrilled to be celebrating is the recent rebranding of LENA Early Talks.
LENA Early Talks is a free program that helps caregivers boost language learning skills and build healthy relationships with their child. Hosted by YW Calgary, LENA Early Talks focuses on increasing conversation, specifically back-and-forth talk, with children under age three. With help from Big Book Sale proceeds, LENA Early Talks is now reaching more families than ever. Congrats to the Early Talks team for a beautiful job 'seeding reading!'
As we look to a very special 20th Big Book Sale, we hope you’ll stay tuned as we share dates and opportunities to volunteer individually and as a group.
Until next time, season’s readings!