A collection of stories, poems, legends, folktales, and carols relating to Christmas.

An illustrated collection of Christmas poems, songs, recipes, and prayers.

This third edition of Index to Children's Plays in Collections updates and expands upon the two previous editions with a wide diversity of dramatic literature for children published between 1975 and 1984.

The author of;Owl Moon, ;Devil's Arithmetic, and;How Do Dinosaur's Say Good Night?, ;Jane Yolen has been called the "Hans Christian Andersen of America" and the "Aesop of the 20th century."In Jane Yolen, fans of this award-winnin.

A unique interdisciplinary study, this book examines the British and European tradition of the wren hunt, in which a bird ordinarily revered and protected for most of the year was killed around the time of the annual solstice. In focusing on this ancient ritual, Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence draws on her training in cultural anthropology and biology to cast a fresh light on the complexities of human-animal relationships.Following an introductory chapter on animal symbolism, Lawrence proceeds in subsequent chapters to describe the wren both as a biological entity and as the subject of numerous tales and legends, to delineate the details of the wren hunt ceremony and the various meanings ascribed to it, and, finally, to relate the ceremony to important contemporary issues in human-animal interactions and current attitudes toward the living environment. Whereas most other studies tend to concentrate solely on human perceptions of animals and fail to include the animal's role in the relationship, Lawrence's approach shows how the participation of both animal and human determines the symbolic status of the animal -- which in turn influences the treatment of that animal within a particular society.At a time when human destructiveness toward nature has reached tragic proportions, Lawrence contends, it is critical that we understand the processes by which certain cultural beliefs, in combination with observations about the natural history of a particular animal, result in emotional and mental responses that may ultimately determine the fate of that species. The author argues persuasively that the wren hunt -- with its ancient roots, associated beliefs, and complex meanings in thepreindustrialized world -- still has much to teach us.

** FREE DIGITAL SAMPLER FEATURING EXTENDED EXCERPTS FROM TOP NEW HOLIDAY BOOKS ** Deck the fall! Carve out a little me time and get into the holiday spirit with a sneak peek at four great seasonal books. Whether you’re looking for a Christmas romance that will whisk you off to a picturesque town, an uplifting tale of fate and redemption, or a clever family drama centered around the holidays, this sampler will give you a taste of it all. Don’t delay—download now and curl up with this fireside read today! Featuring extended excerpts from: The Sergeant’s Christmas Mission by Joanne Sims Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane by JoAnn Ross Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony The Twins’ Family Christmas by Lee Tobin McClean

Contains resources for teaching "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson that provides lesson plans, vocabulary and comprehension activities, quizzes, and graphic organizers.