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Write to a Friend Month | Read a New Book Month

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Birthday Celebration

“I find joy in talking about ideas, starting ideas, [trying] something new (especially when it’s something crafty), making art with children (who are fearless, how I admire that!), having an unrushed museum day, and walking.” —Emily Hughes, author and illustrator 8

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Read a New Book MonthUse Mr. Schu’s Book Release Calendar (http://tinyurl.com/83pgzq2) to find a great new book to read.

Share “Raising a Reader! How Comics and Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Love to Read!” (http://tinyurl.com/o2v3f5h) the next time someone disapproves of graphic novels.

Hanukkah (December 6–14) Read aloud and sing Honeyky Hanukah by Woody Guthrie, illustrated by Dave Horowitz.

Bill of Rights Day Introduce your patrons to Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/.

Create a colorful and interactive display based on Scholastic’s “A Guide to Using Graphic Novels with Children and Teens” (http://tinyurl.com/mryzf8j).

Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s BirthdayWatch Jarrett’s inspiring TED talk about how he became an artist (http://tinyurl.com/pu8tvx6).

Phil Bildner’s Birthday “Nonfiction picture books should be featured prominently in every middle school and high school library.” —Phil Bildner

“Nightingale’s Nest tells the story of my heart. I’m not sure who coined the phrase, but I read somewhere that every author has a ‘book of the heart’ and Nightingale’s Nest was that for me.” —Nikki Loftin

How does reading “open a world of possible”? Find out at http://tinyurl.com/o8u3nqf.

Share the 2015 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning with your colleagues and patrons (www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-apps/2015).

Learn how to paint a cutie-face rock (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui02UhbSIto).

George Washington died on this day in 1799. Browse George Washington’s papers: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.html.

Rosa Parks’s Birthday Share Scholastic’s online exhibit “Rosa Parks: How I Fought for Civil Rights” with your patrons (http://teacher.scholastic.com/rosa/sittingdown.htm)

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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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Day of the Ninja Your patrons will have a blast Ninjafying themselves at www.ninjafyme.com.

National Poinsettia Day Read aloud The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola.

William Joyce’s Birthday Did you know William Joyce won an Academy Award for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore? Learn more at http://morrislessmore.com.

National Cookie Day Read aloud Ame Dyckman’s Tea Party Rules, illustrated by K.G. Campbell, and serve your favorite cookies. But watch out: Cub might snatch one!

“Picture books are often incredibly deep. The simplest stories can have such profound impact and can have so many layers.” —Karl Newsom Edwards, author and illustrator of Fly!

Write to a Friend MonthUse the ReadWriteThink Letter Generator (http://tinyurl.com/ygnrlsz) to teach your patrons about the five key parts of a letter.

Mary Downing Hahn’s BirthdayRecommend Mary’s latest book, Took, to the reader who always requests ghost stories and mysteries.

“It seemed as if anything could happen, anything at all. The bloomabilities were endless.” —Sharon Creech, Bloomability

Eve Bunting’s Birthday Read aloud and discuss Bunting’s Yard Sale, illustrated by Lauren Castillo.

Coming to TheatersStar Wars: Episode VIIBooktalk Tom Angleberger’s Origami Yoda series (http://origamiyoda.com).

Wright Brothers Day Who were Wilbur and Orville? Explore their lives at http://tinyurl.com/oza4lpr.

“Reading is restorative.” —Pat Zietlow Miller, author of Wherever You Go

Kwanzaa (December 26–January 1) Explore Scholastic’s Kwanzaa Scrapbook: http://tinyurl.com/orbgfgk.

Christmas “Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” —Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express

National Eggnog DayServe eggnog and read aloud a stack of your favorite holiday picture books.

New Year’s Eve Tomorrow is the perfect day to start reading 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts by R.J. Palacio.

Tanya Lee Stone’s Birthday “Why would a wealthy young woman do this when she could have lived anywhere?” —Tanya Lee Stone, from The House That Jane Built: A Story about Jane Addams

Are you a member of the Nerdy Book Club? It is easy to join! All you have to do is read the blog at https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com.

Full Moon