Category Archives: Annie Shultz

Baby animals: teaching personal responsibility

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Spring – new flowers, new birth, new warmth and happiness! We have a farming supply store nearby. Every Spring they display their banner – “chick days” – and my kids point excitedly out the car windows as we pass.

Normally we go in and look at the rows and rows of new fuzzy baby chicks and ducklings. I allow the kids to pet them, and hold them. But this year, we decided to adopt some!

I said some. My husband interpreted that as a bunch. So we are now the proud owners of a dozen new chicks and seven ducks!

David, Lizzie and Lucy are showing a very active role in the care of the animals. They can tell what the different chirps mean – whether they are excited or anxious. They learn responsibility as they help us clean out their tubs. They change their water and pour the food.

But one of my favorite things they learn from the baby animals is relational. They realize how strong they are compared to the fragile babies. They learn gentleness and how their actions can calm them or cause them more anxiety.

Like the time 4-year-old David saw a baby chick jump out of the tub. It was separated from it’s friends and started to chirp high, loud, and scared. David was in the living room and heard the sounds, rushed over to the chick. He gently scooped her up and held her in the palm of his hand. “It is ok baby chickie. Here, you go back to your home,” he said and tenderly let it down in the tub.

In this world, our actions affect others. Answering cries for help means the chicks grow big and healthy. I smile, knowing my children are learning how to impact this world positively – that is the true definition of responsibility.

How to start your child’s first diary

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My love of writing started very young – I’d say around second or third grade.  I fell in love with reading as soon as I could do it independently. Then, after I grew confident in my writing abilities, I loved expressing my imagination and my feelings on paper.

Reading books and stories about other people who shared my passion only helped to add fuel to my fire.  I remember relating personally to their stories and seeing bits and pieces of my own thoughts in the stories.

Every child is different, and some prefer to express themselves by building things or drawing pictures. What a diary does is encourages self-expression and the free-form of it helps them enjoy the act of writing.

Tips for starting a brand new diary

1. There are no rules.  Writing in a diary is all about falling in love with self-expression, so don’t use this as a grammar lesson.  Misspellings and lack of punctuation are all allowed because what matters is learning the love of writing.

2. Encourage pictures. Some children prefer to draw pictures, so allow that in the journal. Encourage your child to write a few sentences describing the picture too – so that as he or she looks back, they will know what it is they drew.

3. Read books about young writers. As I said above, the stories about writers like me helped me love to write even more! Some of my favorites are Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, and (for older children) Diary of Anne Frank.

4. Look back. This is one of my favorite things about a journal – reading about the memories I captured! Once a month or so, go back with your child and remember the fun times they captured in their journal.

What are some more tips you have found to encourage writing in young children?

How-To Jelly Bean Math

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Jelly bean math

 

As Easter draws near, I have plenty of colorful, sweet, and tactile objects to use to teach my kindergarten-age daughter early math. She loves the fun games we play with the pastel objects. I hope these ideas will spark some creative new ideas for you too.

Please share in the comments other early math activities you can do with jelly beans and eggs!

1. Learning doubles: It is especially simple to teach the concept of adding doubles when you have two sides of an egg that combine into one egg.  I put two jelly beans in one side and two in the other. I asked, “How many is two plus two?” She looked and counted!

To increase the difficulty and teach her to memorize these math facts, I used a different color for each double. Two in pink, 4 in blue, 6 in yellow, etc.  Then, she put the beans in each egg. With each egg closed, we went down the line, repeating the problem: “One plus one is two!” Pointing to blue egg she said, “Two plus two is four,” and so on.

This activity is excellent for tactile, visual and auditory learners as it uses all three senses at one point.

2. Memory:  Lizzie loved playing memory with the eggs.  I pulled out six plastic eggs and inside each one I placed a different number of jelly beans.  I let her study each one before closing them up. Then, I let her try to remember which egg had 3 beans, 5 beans and 6 beans.

3. Counting by 2′s: Learning to count by sets of numbers – evens, odds, fives and tens – is a very important building block of early math.

To make it more fun, I filled an egg very full of jelly beans.  I let her count them by singles first. Then I commented, “This is going to take a very long time, isn’t it? How about we count them by two’s?”

What helped my visual learner remember how to count by two’s was writing out 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 on a piece of paper. Then, she just remembered to “start over” when she got to 12 (instead of 2 it was 12, 14 for 4, etc).

The more Lizzie counted, the more familiar she became with the pattern.

I’d love to hear from you! What other jelly bean activities teach early math?

 

Positive aspects of attitudes that make learning difficult

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We approach the table. I have organized and displayed all the supplies for our craft and my 5 year old daughter is excited to begin! I show her the finished product so she can get an idea of what it will end up looking like, and try to give her the instructions.

She immediately grabs the scissors and begins cutting. She doesn’t listen, she thinks she already knows what to do!

I calmly ask her to slow down, and follow instructions. She looks up. Her breathing becomes faster. “But mom, no! I know what to do! I want to cut this first, and then put them on the paper.”

I have a choice: demand that she comply – isn’t following instructions something all kids must learn?  - or get inside her head and make this work for both of us.

In fact, with 3 children of various ages, I have noticed quite a few different attitudes and character traits that can either frustrate me as the teacher or help me make learning more effective for them.

Here are just a few traits I’ve seen, and how I turned them around. Please let me know in the comments other traits you work with!

1. Thinking outside of the box – This can also be called “failure to follow directions.”  My daughter will look at a project, and instead of doing it the way the instructions say, she will make it her way. This can be a wonderful attribute to have because she will pave her own way in life – she won’t just go with the flow.

To turn this around, I explain the goal and I allow her to explain how her way will reach the goal. There is a huge difference between defiance and creativity.

2. Stubbornness – This kind of follows the first trait, and usually shows up if I fail to communicate with her. Craft time and learning time can sometimes get rushed and chaotic. When Lizzie feels like she isn’t being understood, she sets her heels in the ground and won’t move.

To turn this around, I stop the activity and communicate with her. Stubbornness is another trait I want her to keep. That means she is tenacious and won’t give up when times get hard! That is why communication is so important. So I teach her how to express her feelings and find a mutually beneficial solution.

3. Not sitting still – My preschool son would much rather run, jump, and play with his toys than sit down and do work. What I see as hyperactivity can actually be a tactile learner.  I just need to let him act out activities, teach him songs with actions, and let him try (and fail, and try again) different projects.

4. Bossiness – I notice this with my oldest when she is doing projects with her younger siblings. “No, you have to use the glue stick!” Constant instructions, and frustration when they don’t do it her way. 

I see a leader in the making. She cares about her vision and desires to see it come to fruition. Molding and encouraging positive leadership traits are so important for natural leaders. I remind her to be empathetic – how would she feel if they did this to her? And also teach her that a good leader cares about how those around her feel, so kindness and gentleness are extremely important.

With young children, you have to teach them best so they will learn. Be creative with your lesson plans and discover success where you once found frustration!

Six simple activities for visual learners

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My 5-year-old daughter Lizzie is a visual learner. She loves to look at and describe what is happening in a story based on the pictures. She can pick out what is different between two photos, find the hidden picture, and has a very photographic memory.

Children who are visual learners can recall facts based on images. They remember information best if they see it in a photo, infographic, or other visually appealing way. They are also very sensitive to the body language of others.

Since my daughter is a visual learner, I have discovered a few ways to help her learn best.

Please share in the comments what your favorite visual learning activities are! 

1. Words written on objects

I print words and place them on the objects they represent. That way, when she sees the door, she will recognize that “D-O-O-R” spells door. It is all about visual recognition and familiarity.

2. What is different

I find printable sheets online all the time for this! Picking out the differences in two similar photographs sharpens her critical thinking skills.

3. Seeing words on pictures – reading software!

I love how Rusty and Rosy reading software is so effective for visual learners.  The pictures and words teach reading in a fun and engaging way.  I also make sure that all her other entertainment is educational too.

4. Describing the story as they see it in the pictures

Before we read a page in a book, I always ask Lizzie to describe the story she sees on the pictures. This helps increase her reading comprehension. Visual learners that take time to study the visual parts of their task will find more success at meeting their goals.

5. Seeing math via textile objects

Instead of merely repeating and speaking math, pull out objects that teach the math so the child can see it.  Here is one of my favorite examples: Hold 4 marbles in your left hand, none in your right. Ask the child to count the marbles. Then, switch 2 marbles to your right hand. Close your right fist.  Ask the child to tell you how many marbles are in your right hand.

By seeing the addition and subtraction, they can picture the math problem in their head when they are doing math later on!

6. Learning in everyday life

Read road signs. Allow the child to pay for things with cash and count out the money owed and count backwards the amount of change received back. Everyday learning experiences will be remembered – especially visual ones like food and objects in the store.

 

Favorite 15 books to read aloud

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book cloud

One of my favorite memories from school was listening to my teachers read books.  I loved the quiet time, listening to story unfold, closing my eyes and seeing the characters in my mind. This was especially enjoyable before I was able to read the words as fast as my teachers. I could really imagine the adventures and characters even while I was still learning how to sound out difficult words.

Below, I am sharing my favorite 15 books that I loved listening to as a child.  Please share in the comments what books you read to your kids, or what books you loved listening to!

  1. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan - This is a very short book, full of heart and family values.  I remember really loving Sarah, and feeling so strongly for her and relating to her not feeling beautiful. It is short, so really a quick read for younger children.
  2. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder – All of the “Little House” books are perfect for any age group. Laura is such a relatable little girl, I loved her spunk and especially fell in love with her Pa – a compassionate, wise and funny man.
  3. Stewart Little by E.B. White – The adventures of a tiny mouse, adopted by a human family, Stewart Little is fun to read aloud and listen to. It took my imagination to new heights (and tiny lows) as I saw the world from the perspective of 3 inches off the ground.
  4. The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis – This is the first chronological book in the Narnia series and one that captivated me as a child. I remember just wishing I had a magic ring that I could use to jump between worlds!
  5. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare – This book was read to me in 5th grade and I believe it is best for older children just because it teaches so much history with it. It also has some socially difficult scenes that tugged at my heart – rejection and hate.
  6. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry –  This  fictional book deals with a little Jewish girl’s experience in Denmark during World War II.  Due to the history, I suggest this for older children too.  I remember this book as a 4th grader.
  7. The Black Stallion by Tim Farley - This book is appropriate for all ages, although in the beginning there are a few scenes of the horse being mistreated that might affect sensitive children.  The entire book is told from the view of the horse, and helps children see the world from another perspective.
  8. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White - E.B. White has a heart for animals, and this story is perfect for all ages! It is such a sweet story and you really fall in love with Wilbur the pig.
  9. Animal Stories by James Herriot – Based on actual experiences, Herriot tells heart-warming stories of animals he helped as a veterinarian in England in the 1930s.  Each story made me smile, from the dog that only barked once, to a cat that had adventures in town.
  10. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater - This is such a silly and funny book! It is a short read, perfect for all ages.
  11. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl - This book is a million times more enjoyable than the movie. I laughed at the outrageous characters and enjoyed the images of the chocolate factory.
  12. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary - Just like Stewart Little, this book takes you on a journey through a house from the tiny point of view of a mouse. It was so fun to listen to and even more fun to play and act out with my toys afterwards.
  13. The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks  – Not only is it really cool to imagine your toys coming to life, but this book teaches children empathy and how to do what is better for others as opposed to yourself.
  14. SuperFudge by Judy Blume - Judy Blume books are great for kids, she really has a way of writing so they laugh at and relate to the voice of the characters. I remember laughing at the hilarious situations poor Fudge always found himself in!
  15. Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling - These are imaginative stories told in a very poetic voice. My favorite is still “How the Elephant Got Its Trunk.”

What are your favorite books to read? Do you have fond memories of being read to as a child?

25 lessons from a single Gingerbread house

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We recently made Gingerbread houses together. As soon as I brought out the graham crackers and frosting, I wished I had purchased one of those kits instead. But, the entire gingerbread house-making project was full of lessons and learning experiences (and so much gooey fun too), it was worth the extra hassle.

Here are twenty-five of the thousands of lessons we have learned from making the gingerbread houses.

1. Stability – You can see in the photo above, which house is stable and which is on the verge of collapse. Teaching my children why the first house is wobbly is foundational geometry. We explained how the bottom and side pieces all work together to support the top of the house.

2. Creativity – Adding the candies to the houses was full-on, no-rules expression of creativity. Just letting them have fun and playing with all the different colors and textures releases things in their brains and fuels their other educational moments.

3. Generosity – We put each type of candy in one large bowl and all three of my children had to share the candy. When one person needed the gum drops, another child helped them reach the bowl.  This is a lovely social development.

4. Science – why frosting becomes hard.  My 3-year old asked my why the frosting became hard as a rock. It was fun explaining to him and watching him learn!

5. Health/Nutrition – “Why can’t we eat all the candy, Mommy?” That was a fun one to answer! We explained how our bodies need to eat a variety of healthy foods to stay strong. The 5 year old understood the different types of food and vitamins too. “Like how oranges help my cold go away (Vitamin C) or carrots help me see in the dark (Vitamin A).”

6. Patterns – Lizzie (5) absolutely loves patterns! They are a foundation for early reading success and we use them in almost every educational activity. For the houses, I laid out candies on the table in different patterns and let her finish the pattern: (AB, ABC, ABB, etc)

7. Addition – We asked Lizzie if she added 3 chocolates to her house that has 2 chocolates, how many will she have total? She counted 5.

8. Subtraction – Then we asked her if she has 5 chocolates and mommy eats 2, how many will she have left? This left her with a frown of protest, but she answered and I gave her 2 more chocolates for her house.

9. Teamwork – My three children worked so well together! They shared candy, passed candy, helped each other by adding candies to each other’s houses. And since they are so young, we also taught them to “use your words if you are frustrated.”

10. Problem Solving – When they ran out of one candy, we helped them think through a solution. What other candy will work? If they ran out of room on one side of the roof, we looked at all options.  It was helpful to teach them how to consider all options instead of giving up.

11. Story telling – creating stories is another beginning skill for early reading. As we built the house, we created characters that might live in it, then added twists to the plot – who will destroy the house, how will they escape? It was so much fun!

12. Colors – Two year old Lucy had fun learning the colors of the candy!

13. Shapes – The house is made up of so many different shapes.  And for fun we even used candy on the table to create more shapes like hearts and hexagons.

14. Patience – Learning to take your time and not rush through a project is a life skill.  I constantly instructed them to take it slow, calm, and think before they act to make sure the project turns out how they want.

15. Perseverance – Even when things do not go as planned, it is important to pick up the pieces and try again. As you can see, the house on the left took some patience!

16. Planning – This is another skill they will use their entire life. Thinking before acting improves the success! We organized the candy and planned out which candy would go on the top, which on the sides and which they would eat.

17. Hypothesis and estimation – Science and math! I let Lizzie create a hypothesis that she tested. She estimated how much candy she would use on the right side of her house. Then she either accepted or rejected her hypothesis after making it.

18. Pride – Seeing the beautiful house all decorated with candy sure fills my kids with pride! Pride in their work means they try harder next time and always do their best.

19. Personal information – I just used this time to say “This is a house. Do you know the address of your house, Lizzie?”

20. Fine motor skills – From picking up individual Skittles to stringing the licorice, every activity improved their fine motor skills.

21. Making  mistakes – Kids must be able to handle the mistakes they make and learn how to improve their actions so they don’t make the same mistake twice.

22. Spatial concepts – Thinking through spatial relations is early geometry. “Will this piece of candy fit in between these 2 large chocolate pieces?”

23. Language skills – While you are building the house, recite your favorite Christmas song or poem, like “The Night Before Christmas”!

24. Distinguish similarities and differences – Lizzie loves looking at things and how they are similar and different.  Both houses are made of the same thing (graham crackers) but they are different.  Why are they different?  How can you tell they are different?

25. Mathematical concepts of “more than” and “less than.” – I would dip two pieces of candy in the frosting, “which one has more frosting?” Then I told her to say “this one has more frosting than this one.” We also did this with “whose house has more candy on it?” And so forth.

Have you made gingerbread houses with your children?  Please share your learning experiences too!

Pilgrim History Lesson

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pilgrim

One of my favorite things to do every Thanksgiving is remember the brave people that first came to America in search of religious freedom.  I want to teach my children to never take for granted their freedom of speech and religion, so I came up with a fun way to teach them about the Pilgrims.

Please share in the comments the ways you try to teach your kids about the first Thanksgiving!

I teach my children with one art project or game or skit for each letter!

P – pioneers.  Teach them about the adventurous spirit of the first pilgrims. They didn’t have any of the modern conveniences we do today. When they traveled by boat over here, it was beyond hard work. If you can, try to give your kids a small taste of their life by taking them on a picnic. Pack in a cardboard box foods the pilgrims might have eaten. Hike to get to your spot.  On your hike, talk about why the pilgrims took the hard journey, what they were thinking, and how they might have felt.

I – Inspirational: Since it was not easy to leave their homes and travel to a strange new place, they had to have passion.  Ask you child to write a paragraph or illustrate in artwork something about who inspires them to do things they might think is impossible.

L – leaders – Teach your child about William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Colony.  There is a fantastic 25 minute animated movie on YouTube about William Bradford and the first Thanksgiving.

G – grateful to the Native Americans.  When winter was upon the pilgrims and they had no food, the kind, Native Americans gave them food.  Take food to your local food pantry together. Discuss other ways you can give to others and also how it feels when someone is kind to you.

R – Religious. You don’t have to believe in God to enjoy religious freedom. Play a short role-playing game in which one child is a Puritan and you or other children are England. Make silly rules – like they have to wear their shirt on backwards to eat at the table, or they can’t talk about their favorite video game/music/show without being put in prison.  Discuss how precious freedom is.

I -Initiative.  The pilgrims did not blindly follow someone. They endured sickness, fear, and hunger to have freedom in a new world.  They had initiative.  Allow your child(ren) to spend the evening in their own rules, with no money or electronics. Let them do the cooking for dinner and ask them to lead a discussion about their thoughts on pilgrims and what it felt like to be one.

M – Mayflower Compact. Before the travelers signed the compact, they only ever knew what it was like to live under a monarchy. You can teach your child(ren) the difference between a monarchy and a democracy by living it out for an activity. You be the ruler, they have no choice. Then, switch! Let them have a leader they elect and vote on changes and decisions. Talk about the difference!

What are some other ideas for teaching early history around this amazing holiday?

 

 

Image courtesy of debspoons / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

 

In honor of the election, write a letter to the president

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Tuesday, November 6th is the BIG DAY! How are you educating and involving your children in this occasion?

My husband bought a place mat for Lizzie (5 years old) that lists all the presidents up to President Obama. I pulled it out and told her about how every four years, adults vote for who they think should be the next President of the United States.

Then, I asked her if she wanted to write a letter to the president. She thought this was such a wonderful idea! She asked, “Mommy, does he have a mailbox?” I told her he does, and he loves reading letters from children.

“You see, Lizzie, the president is elected by the choice of the people. So he cares about what is important to us, he wants to hear about our struggles and our happy times.” I had to keep it simple, she is only five.

I spelled out “Dear Mr. President” for her to write herself. Not only does this teach her patriotism, respect for the president, but it also helps her penmanship and letter writing (early reading).

Then, without a single bit of prodding or help, I just asked her to say the first thing that came to her mind.

“If you could tell our president anything at all, Lizzie, what do you want to say?” Then, I copied it down word-for-word and let her trace my letters.

Her concern was bad guys and she understands that the army is here to protect us. We live 20 minutes from a military base, and her uncle is in the National Guard, so she is familiar with it. This also opened up a conversation about who else is in the army, how we need to be thankful for how hard they work to protect us, and be grateful to their families for their sacrifice too.

One little letter and it sure packed a whole lot of education!

National Book Month! 18 Books Perfect for Preschoolers

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October is National Book Month!  Celebrating is as easy as going to the library and reading as many books as you want.

My kids love to randomly pull books off the shelf and see what they find. It is like a treasure hunt. Lizzie, 5 years old, just learned how to use the card catalog on the computer and asks me to help her find books that way too.

In honor of National Book Month, I am sharing eighteen of my children’s favorite books of all time. If we go to the library, they ask to find these books – and we have purchased almost all of them too!

1. Busy, Busy Town by Richard Scarry.  I remember Richard Scarry books from when I was a child and they are just as wonderful today.  My kids love the characters and the mishaps they find themselves in.  There is also a Busy Town TV Show, which helps foster the fandom of the books.
2. Good Night Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown.  This is probably one of the best books to read before bed. The rhythm lulls the kids to sleep. And it is simple to memorize, which helps with word recognition and early reading.

3. Diary of A Worm by Doreen Cronin – This fun book takes you through the many adventures of a worm. It is so creative and fun. Lizzie was laughing through some of the funniest parts!

4. Corduroy, by Don Freeman. This is the book that made me fall in love with Teddy Bears. It is a sweet little story of a teddy bear that explores a department store at night and finds a home the next day.  A fun way to help the story come alive is to hold a teddy bear while you read the story with your child.

5. When the Fly Flew In by Lisa Westberg Peters. This is a beautifully illustrated book! It tells the story of how four animals react to a fly and end up cleaning the room by accident. It teaches cause and effect and is just all around a funny book.

6. The Mitten, by Jan Brett.  This book stretches a child’s imagination! How many animals can fit into a small mitten? It is shocking and always makes my kids laugh.

7. Llama Llama Red Pajama, by Anna Dewdney.  Isn’t every child afraid of the dark at least once? This is one book in a series by this author, and the rhymes make it very fun to read.  This one is perfect for before bed, to reassure children that there is nothing to be afraid of at bedtime.

8. Are You My Mother, by P.D. Eastman.  I remember this book from when I was a child too! It teaches familial groups as a young bird asks different animals if they are his mother. Organizing things into like groups is an important early reading skill!

9. Watch Me HOP.  This book is illustrated using hologram photos, and is appropriate for toddlers.  It teaches the names of the animals and how they move, but my five-year-old loved moving the pictures.

10. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle. This book was literally worn out by Lizzie when she was a toddler. She loved to memorize the words and guess what was next! David and Lucy loved it too! In fact, we have checked out almost every single Eric Carle animal book – his artwork is amazing and the books have taught my children the names of so many different animals.

11. Pinkalicious, by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann. Now that Lizzie is five, she is enamored by all things pink, purple, and glittery.  Lucy (2 years old) loves this book too. It teaches the value that rules are made for a reason. When she eats the cupcake against her mom’s warning, she turns completely pink! There are a bunch of other books in this series, and Lizzie wants them all.

12. Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin. This is the second book by Doreen Cronin on my list! She is a very talented author. Lizzie’s other favorite book by Doreen Cronin is Dooby Dooby Moo, where the cows enter a singing contest at the fair!

13. If You Give a Pig A Party, by Laura Numeroff. The entire “If you give ___” series is one that cannot be missed! I love how it teaches cause and effect and especially how the author winds it all back to the beginning, every single time.

14. The Monster At the End of This Book by Jon Stone. I adored this book as a child! And now my kids are obsessed with it too! There is a second book called “Another monster” and it is just as funny. David loves how “strong” he is as he makes a “huge mess” by turning the pages. It really brings the story to life!

15. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, by Al Perkins. If you are looking for a book with an excellent beat, this is the one! It is perfect for early readers because the words repeat, encouraging word recognition.

16. Build A Burrito, by Denise Vega. This book is in both Spanish and English. It counts to ten, so it is a super simple way to introduce Spanish.

17. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr.  This is the second book on my list by Bill Martin Jr. – another talented author! I love how he anthropomorphizes the letters of the alphabet. It has the catchy rhythm his books are known for and is a super fun way to teach the letters to your toddler and preschooler!

18. No, David! by David Shannon.  David Shannon’s entire series cannot be missed! My three-year-old son David loves this book. It has barely any words, the beauty is in the artwork.  Every page is another mishap this young boy finds himself in. My son loved reading it, because he does most of the same things – and isn’t relating to a book one of the best things about reading? The other books in the series are just as fun to read – my daughter’s favorite is the Christmas one.

Your turn! Tell me which book(s) are on your must-read list!