I’ve received a wonÂderÂful earÂly ChristÂmas gift this year — two new regÂuÂlar stoÂryÂtimes to conÂduct. Both interÂestÂed in the season’s books — and do I have ChristÂmas books to share!
The only downÂside — and I can live with it — is that it’s via the techÂnoloÂgies with which we see peoÂple these days. I’m so grateÂful for the Zooms, the FaceÂTimes, the FaceÂbook Lives…it’s the only way to safeÂly see folks and it makes things like stoÂryÂtime posÂsiÂble. It’s nothÂing like gathÂerÂing in perÂson. Still—stoÂryÂtime! I love it howÂevÂer it comes. And to go through our ChristÂmas books again is sheer joy. My kids are old enough that we haven’t done marathon ChristÂmas stoÂryÂtimes around here in awhile. My heart is filled with gladÂness to pull them off the shelf again.
Secret upside: One of the techÂnoloÂgies does not coöperÂate on my comÂputÂer and so requires that I film via phone, and for one reaÂson or anothÂer (I’ve givÂen up tryÂing to underÂstand it), I can’t do it in a way that lets me see if I’m holdÂing the book straight and out of the glare of the light. I require assisÂtance. ForÂtuÂnateÂly, I have genÂerÂous and willÂing camÂera folk in my house. Last week, it was DarÂling DaughÂter, home from colÂlege, who filmed. And since she was on the othÂer side of the camÂera, it was like readÂing her some of her old favorites. I saw her smile a couÂple of times as we read. AnothÂer layÂer of stoÂryÂtime fun for me. (It’s all about me!)
This week I’m readÂing Shall I Knit You a Hat? A ChristÂmas Yarn by Kate Klise, illusÂtratÂed by her sisÂter, M. Sarah Klise. (If you have four minÂutes, this litÂtle video about how they startÂed makÂing books togethÂer is super sweet and sisÂterÂly and Christmasy.
Shall I Knit You a Hat? is a stoÂry about knitÂting. RabÂbits knitÂting. And I know that sounds too odd to be good, but I promise you, it makes such a sweet stoÂry. A blizÂzard is comÂing in on ChristÂmas Eve and the forÂcast says it won’t stop until the snow reachÂes the tallest tips of LitÂtle Rabbit’s ears. (LitÂtle RabÂbit has very long ears.) So MothÂer RabÂbit, as knitÂter everyÂwhere do, chanÂnels all her worÂry into a sweet litÂtle long-eared hat for her LitÂtle RabÂbit. In turn, LitÂtle Rabbit’s genÂerÂous heart leads them to make hats for all their friends. SurÂrepÂtiÂtiousÂly, they meaÂsure their friends and design hats with their parÂticÂuÂlar needs, perÂsonÂal style, and speÂcial conÂsidÂerÂaÂtions takÂen into account. For instance, the deer’s hat must show off his loveÂly antlers.
It is so stinkin’ cute! And I’ve nevÂer read this book to a kid or group of kids who did not love it. SomeÂtimes we try our hand at designÂing hats for othÂer aniÂmals — very creÂative activity.
I’ll be watchÂing this week’s stoÂryÂtime audiÂences because the last time I read it to a group of kids they pointÂed out two things I had not noticed. 1) LitÂtle RabÂbit creÂatÂed the gift tags for the boxÂes conÂtainÂing the extraÂorÂdiÂnary hats he designed. They are simÂple paintÂings of the aniÂmal receivÂing the hat — kids notice this kind of detail. The tags look just like what they would paint. 2) When the aniÂmal friends first receive the hats — hats that are pretÂty eclecÂtiÂcalÂly designed — they look less than thrilled. It’s not until the snow falls that they fulÂly appreÂciÂate the care and love that has gone into the designs of their indiÂvidÂual hats.
This is the work of a marÂvelous writer-illusÂtraÂtor partÂnerÂship — the stoÂry is shared in words and picÂtures. SomeÂtimes the adult readÂers miss it, but kids notice.
So, fa-la-la-la-la! I’m off to read to screens full of kids. HopÂing my daughÂter will film again this week. She loved this book when she was little.
The video clip you linked to WAS sweet and sisÂterÂly. Thanks for sharÂing it.