Behind the Books

"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." — Gustav Mahler One of the best things about creating the Changing Traditions  series is discovering facts that I never knew myself and bringing them to life in these books. When I started researching Samhain: A Story About Halloween , I assumed pumpkins had always been part of Halloween. After all, these orange glowing jack-o'-lanterns seem just as much a symbol of the holiday as costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating. It turns out, pumpkins weren't the original Halloween lanterns at all. Long before pumpkins lined front porches across North America, people in parts of Ireland and Britain carved turnips, rutabagas, and other large root vegetables into lanterns. And that discovery sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole looking at all the different casts of these lantern carvings like the one below from Ireland.  A traditional Irish turnip Jack-o'-lantern from the early 20th century. Photographe...

There’s something magical about reading by lamplight in October. The air feels crisp, the pumpkins glow on porches, and little ones start wondering which costume to wear next. Whether your family loves a bit of silliness or prefers a cozy not-too-spooky story, these Halloween picture books are perfect for sharing with children under six. Room on the Broom Buy Room on the Broom on Amazon by Julia Donaldson Illustrated bye Axel Scheffler A cheerful witch, a helpful cat, and a sky full of surprises. This rhyming classic reminds us that there’s always room for one more friend, even on a broomstick. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Buy It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Amazon by Charles M. Schluz This classic Halloween story that we we watch every year is also a book. It’s Halloween night, which means costumes, trick-or-treating, bobbing for apples…and waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Is this finally the year that it shows up? The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything...

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Aesop Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to share stories about gratitude, family, and traditions. These picture books are short enough for toddlers, filled with familiar characters, some new ones to and will be loved by all the generations in your home. Franklin’s Thanksgiving  by Paulette Bourgeois, illustrated by Brenda Clark Available on Amazon Franklin the turtle is sad when his grandparents can’t come to celebrate with him for Thanksgiving, but he soon learns that there’s always room at the table for friends. Thanks for Thanksgiving By Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette Available on Amazon Charming story about where to begin to give thanks as it celebrates the many things children are thankful for, paired with warm and cozy illustration. Bear Says Thanks By Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman Available on Amazon Bear wants to host a feast but doesn’t have any food to share. His friends remind him that what matters mos...