Chinese New Year of the Goat books for kids, children's literature from China

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival celebrates the culture of the Orient. It begins Feb. 19 in 2015 and culminates with a Lantern Festival. What better way to explore Chinese culture in your classroom than with literature? Here is a list of children's books for pre-K to second graders from China. Some books are specifically Chinese stories and others are Japanese Buddhist stories. Chinese New Year encompasses traditional animals of the zodiac so many kids' books in this list are animal-themed. It's CNY Year of the Goat (or Sheep) in 2015.

Free Catholic Bible printables, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week coloring pages

Catholics celebrate several special religious days, referred to as holy days of obligation. These days center around a Bible event in the life of Jesus or His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. Holy Days are All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas (preceded by the holy season of Advent), Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1), Ash Wednesday (movable feast which kicks of the holy season of Lent and leads up to Easter), Ascension Thursday (movable feast) and the Assumption of Mary (August 15). Here are free printable Catholic coloring pages featuring Bible stories. prayer, sacraments, mass, Gospel, saints, Lent, Advent, holidays and holy days, life of Jesus, Catholic saints' feast days, rosary and stations of the cross.   Free Catholic Bible printables, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week coloring pages | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year of the Monkey 2016: Books for kids, children's literature from China

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival celebrates the culture of the Orient. It starts late January to mid February, on Feb. 8 in 2016. CNY culminates with a Lantern Festival. What better way to explore Chinese culture in your classroom than with literature? Here is a list of children's books for pre-K to second graders from China. Some books are specifically Chinese stories and others are Japanese Buddhist stories. Chinese New Year encompasses traditional animals of the zodiac so many kids' books in this list are animal-themed. It's CNY Year of the Monkey 2016.  If you were born in 2004, 1992, 1980 (etc.) you're a monkey! Here are Chinese New Year of the Monkey books for kids, children's literature from China | Examiner.com

Free printable Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer coloring pages, Santa Claus crafts

"You know Dasher and Dancer, But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!" Here are free printable coloring pages from that beloved Rankin-Bass Christmas cartoon and Little Golden Books. Not part of the original Santa Claus story of eight reindeer in Clement C. Moore's "A Visit From St. Nicholas poem," cowboy Gene Autry added Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a misfit little reindeer who is shunned for his glowing crimson snout . But as karma would have it, bullied outcasts often perform heroic deeds--such is the story of Rudolph. Needs must, Santa Claus finds Rudolph and his shiny schnozz invaluable in guiding the sleigh to deliver Christmas presents. Little Golden Books came out with a book and Rankin-Bass made a feature Christmas cartoon about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer--which has become a classic.   Free printable Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer coloring pages, Santa Claus crafts | Examiner.com

Christmas stories, kids holiday books: Have yourself a Tomie DePaola Christmas with 30 days of Christmas countdown books by the master!

Looking for the best Christmas stories and holiday books for children? Then have yourself a Tomie DePaola Christmas! Tomie DePaola is a one of the world's best-loved illustrator-authors in children's literature. Tomie DePaola admits that he loves Christmas and it shows in the holiday magic he imbues in his stories and art. Here's the definitive Tomie DePaola Christmas stories collection. Included are Advent books, too: Advent is the Catholic season of preparation leading up to Christmas and Tomie DePaola books indulge that spirit of anticipation. He's done a nice series on saints' feast day that fall in Advent.  Christmas stories, kids holiday books: Have yourself a Tomie DePaola Christmas!

Free printable Advent coloring book and Bible Christmas coloring pages

Advent is the Christian season of preparation before Christmas. It begins four Sundays before Christmas. The Catholic church entered Lent on November 30, 2014. During Advent, people practice gospel virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. They follow Advent calendars with Bible readings and prayers.   Free printable Advent coloring book and Bible Christmas coloring pages

Free printable pilgrims crafts: Thanksgiving pilgrim 3D paper craft projects

Thanksgiving in the US celebrates the survival of the Puritans, also called pilgrims, who came on the Mayflower. Thanksgiving remembers the difficulties the New England pilgrims faced and the help they received from local native American Indians. The Thanksgiving dinner honors the feast shared by the New England pilgrims and native Americans as they gave thanks for getting through their early trials. Images of pilgrims are typical Thanksgiving Here are free printable pilgrim crafts.Free printable pilgrims crafts: Thanksgiving pilgrim 3D paper craft projects | Examiner.com

 

Free printable Halloween masks: Star Wars, celeb, animal, monster, steampunk, 3D

Halloween isn't just for little children. Adults can dress up too. Here are free printable Halloween masks of Star Wars, politicians, celebrities and more. These will be perfect for Star Wars: The Force Awakens fans. Use political masks in fun, educational government current events activities. Or use your Halloween costume to make a statement! Students will love making masks of world leaders, politicians and famous persons. Teachers might assign students to stage mock debates or elections. They could write speeches, debates or dramatizations of historical events and wear masks. Use celeb masks for for creative writing inspiration on satire, parody or essay writing. Use 3D animal masks in science.Free printable Halloween masks: Star Wars, celeb, animal, monster, steampunk, 3D | Examiner.com

Free printable Thanksgiving activity booklets for US, Canada Thanksgiving Day

 Thanksgiving Day is October 12 in Canada and the third Thursday in November in the U.S. Here are free printable Thanksgiving booklets and fall themed activities and lesson plans for Thanksgiving Day. These activities explore pilgrim settlements, early American and Canadian exploration, Acadian settlements and western history. Activities cover native Americans, tribes in Canada and their interactions with Europeans. Then there are cute turkey patterns to color. Print coloring pages of turkeys, pilgrims, Indians, fall and autumn crafts and more. Teach children that the point of Thanksgiving isn't just eating. It's about gratitude for blessings. Make Thanksgiving crafts and send as greeting cards to shut-ins.Free printable Thanksgiving activity booklets for US, Canada Thanksgiving Day | Examiner.com

'Do You Want to Play with my Balls?' Crude kids' books for Literacy Month?

September, National Literacy Month celebrates reading, particularly to children says the Fort Bend Herald on September 15. But there's a trend in children's literature to cater to the lowest common denominator: adult humor. It began when Adam Mansbach published"Go the F to Sleep" and then "You Have to F*cking Eat." Now the latest is "Do You Want to Play with My Balls?" by the Cifaldi Brothers. This ostensibly-child's story features gratuitous references to male genitalia, cloaked as puns. It's supposed to be for adults, but juxtaposed with cartoon pictures of children, it borders on pedophaelic pornography. How appropriate are crude kids books for anyone to read, let alone kids?'Do You Want to Play with my Balls?' Crude kids' books for Literacy Month?