A Year Full of Holidays

by Susan Middleton Elya, Diana Cain Bluthenthal (Illustrator)

Nell's birthday is in August, and as soon as it?s over, she starts to feel as though her next one is never going to get here. But then her mom reminds her that the year is packed with different reasons to celebrate, as each month in the calendar brings another holiday?from Labor Day to New Year?s to the Fourth of July. And when there?s always a different special day just around the corner, the time between birthdays really flies! With a bouncy text and sweet, stylishly retro illustrations, this one-stop holiday book is guaranteed to be enjoyed all year long.

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Susan Middleton Elya is the author of many books that cleverly incorporate Spanish vocabulary into lively verse. She is originally from Iowa and now lives in Northern California.

Reviews

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful and educational journey through the year, with information about each major holiday! So bummed I just missed Thanksgiving last year, but Mom says it'll be better this year because I can have mashed potatoes. Woooooo!!! -M

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell has such a great time celebrating her birthday in August, that she can't wait to do it again next year. But . . . that's such a L-O-N-G time away . . . Her parents help her pass the time by fully experiencing each monthly holiday. Before she knows it, a whole year has gone by. Nice illustrations plus fun, rhyming text make this one a joy to read.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not her usual bilingual fare. And super Christianity-centric.

[Julie Graham 47150 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character, Nell, celebrates her August birthday and later that evening asks her mother, "When will my birthday come back?" "The holidays," says her Mom, "will help you keep track." The book then describes a holiday that the child and HER FAMILY celebrate each month of the year. If you are looking for a book that is all inclusive or you have a diverse classroom that includes children from different cultures, religions, and/or ethnicities, you may be disappointed. I personally like how the illustrations show Nell and her family growing through the course of a year (Nell matures; a family member is pregnant and has a baby, another baby grows to be a toddler, etc.). I would just add other books to include the holidays of more cultures and religions.

[Derek Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell had her birthday and had so much fun she asked her mom when her birthday will be back. Her mom told her the holidays will help her keep track. Mom explained that in each month there is at least one holiday, but some have two. Nell started learning about the different holidays starting with Labor Day. Her dad explained to her why they celebrate the holiday and what the family does to celebrate. The next one was Halloween and then Thanksgiving followed by Christmas and New Years. The holidays passed, and each one was described and told which month it was in. All of the holidays passed and she was back having her birthday party with a bigger cake and presents.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

An oh-so-boring book that makes the year feel longer than it is.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun rhyming book that reminds me a bit of Dr. Seuss's style. Helpful for kids trying to figure out how the calendar works.