Esche, Maria and Braham, Clare  
Kids Celebrate: Activities for Special Days Throughout the Year  
Publisher: Chicago 1998.
New with no dust jacket Chicago Review Press Paperback Narrow 8vo 8" to 9"; 295 pages; This book has more holidays covered than I've seen in any other book. From Jacob Grimm's Birthday on January 4 to Clara Barton's Birthday on December 25 (You wanted secular? You've got it. No mention of Christmas.), this book has many not-so-famous holidays spread throughout the year that can easily tie into the curriculum. You can celebrate the birthdays of Martin Luther King Jr., A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Thomas Edison, Marian Anderson, Nicolaus Copernicus, Dr. Seuss, Alexander Graham Bell, Randolph Caldecott, Vincent van Gogh, Hans Christian Andersen, Buddha, Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, John Adubon, Sir James Barrie, Rachel Carson, Frank Lloyd Wright, Maurice Sendak, Wilma Randolph, George M. Cohen, P.T. Barnum, Amelia Earhart, Beatrix Potter, some presidents, and many more. I've only gone as far as July.

Besides the national holidays, and some religious ones (though I see no mention of Easter or Passover), you will find celebration activities for Chinese New Year, Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras, Ireland: National Day, The Vernal Equinox, International Children's Book Day, World Health Day, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Mother Goose Day, Cinco De Mayo, National Dairy Month, Flag Day, Summer Solstice, Dominion Day (Canada), Independence Day, Tanabata Star Festival (Japan), Space Week, Peace Day, Baby Parade (Ocean City, NJ), Anniversary of Woodstock, Transcontinental Railroad Completed, United Nations International Literacy Day, Navajo Nation Fair, Good Neighbor Day, Anniversary of the Chicago Fire of 1871, Pulaski Day, United Nation's Day, National Magic Day, Samhain, Election Day, Sandwich Day, Shichi Go San, National Adoption Week, St. Nicholas Day, St. Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, and (would you believe?) even more I haven't mentioned.

For each event, there are one of more activities that tie in with it. Materials needed for these activities are likely to be in most homes or schoolrooms. Activities are geared toward those between the ages of three and nine. There are more than 100 special days, and over 200 activities. So if you need an excuse to celebrate, or if you just want to add a special theme for a day or week or month, this is the book for you. There are celebrations from many different cultures, religions, and countries. There are lots of literature tie-ins. So whether you need ideas for a home, school, or youth group, this book ought to help. And it's a great resource for increasing cultural literacy, too.; ISBN: 1556522924

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Purchase direct from: Barb's People Builders Teaching Help. Item number: 4030.