Monday, December 25 through Tuesday, December 26, 2023.
Chapter A Day celebrates "the Littles" with two days of children's Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Chanukah stories. Hosted by Executive Producer Michele Good and read by Wisconsin-based kids and grown-ups who reflect the characters in the stories, these delightful books celebrate the holidays through a range of cultural perspectives. Featuring music from the Madison Youth Choirs and others.
Special thanks to Madison Youth Choirs and CTM of Madison for providing the talented kids and to Madison Youth Choirs for providing the choral music.
Part One
"The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story" by Lemony Snicket
Illustrations by Lisa Brown, McSweeney's; First Probable Edition (October 28, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1932416870 | ISBN-13: 978-1932416879
Latkes are potato pancakes served at Hanukkah, and Lemony Snicket is an alleged children’s author. For the first time in literary history, these two elements are combined in one book. A particularly irate latke is the star of “The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming”, but many other holiday icons appear and even speak: flashing colored lights, cane-shaped candy, a pine tree. Santa Claus is briefly discussed as well. The ending is happy, at least for some.
Music: “Shalom Aleichem” and “Miserlou”, from the album Hanukkah Songs of Celebration by Jeff Wolpert, Somerset Group, Ltd. 2013
"Tree of Cranes" by Allen Say
HMH Books for Young Readers; First Printing Edition (October 28, 1991)
ISBN-10:039552024X | ISBN-13: 978-0395520246
As a young Japanese boy recovers from a bad chill, his mother busily folds origami paper into delicate silver cranes in preparation for the boy's very first Christmas.
Music: “Kamimu” performed by Tomoko Sunazaki from the album Asia Mus: Asia Music, Celestial Harmonies 1996.
"Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story" by Angela Shelf Medearis
Illustrated by Daniel Minter; Albert Whitman & Company; Reprint Edition (September 1, 2000)
ISBN-10: 0807573159 | ISBN-13 : 978-0807573167
In an African village live seven brothers who make life miserable with their constant fighting. When their father dies, he leaves an unusual will: by sundown, the brothers must make gold out of seven spools of thread or they will be turned out as beggars.
Music: “Little Drummer Boy (African Tribal Version) by Alex Boye’, Alex Boye’ 2020
Part Two
"Nine Days to Christmas" A Story of Mexico by Marie Hall Ets & Aurora Labastida
Dover Publications; Bilingual Edition (October 18, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0486815323 | ISBN-13: 978-0486815329
Generations of readers have treasured this 1960 Caldecott Medal winner and its tale of a little Mexican girl's excitement at the approach of Christmas. Ceci eagerly awaits Las Posadas, the traditional nine-day series of yuletide celebrations. This year she'll lead the candlelight procession that reenacts Mary and Joseph's trek to Bethlehem and receive her very first piñata.
Music: “Las Posadas Mexicanas” sung by the Luz de las Naciones Choir, recorded live in Salt Lake City, 2014.
"Coyote Christmas: A Lakota Story" by SD Nelson
Harry N. Abrams; Library Binding Edition (December 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0810993678 | ISBN-13: 978-0810993679
On Christmas Eve, Coyote wants to find some people to trick out of a hot meal. He knows that there’s one character people can’t refuse on Christmas Eve: Santa Claus! Using straw for a jolly belly and wool for his Santa’s beard, the Trickster fools a family into welcoming him to their Christmas meal. But just when he thinks he’s gotten away with his ruse, taking their food and leaving the family with nothing, he’s foiled by a strange occurrence. Could it be a Christmas miracle?
Music:
“Lakota Lullaby”, Robert Tree Cody, from the album Dreams from the Grandfather: Native American Songs for Flute & Voice”, Canyon Records 1993
Our Readers
- The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming read by Sebastian LeBarron, Mari Garey, Michele Good and Lisa Spierer
- Tree of Cranes read by NayMyo Win
- Seven Spools of Thread read by Sebastian LeBarron, Jayquan Jaeger, Calvin Branum, Walker Stephenson, and Cynthia Woodland
- Nine Days to Christmas read by Michele Good, Jayquan Jaeger, Jackie Tabares and sons, Miranda Garcia-Dove, Lola Hernandez, Walker Stephenson, and Davi Leal
- Coyote Christmas read by Calvin Branum, Nicoletta Avery Fulwilder, Michele Good and Carly Lincoln
Michele Good served as Host, Producer, Sound Designer, Director, Engineer, and Technical Director. Special thanks to Steve Gotcher (for spreading Holiday cheer with the Greetings and the breaking of a pinata) and Aubrey "The De-Muffler" Ralph for their elfen audio magic, Valerie Waszak for getting the rights to the books and to the web team for wrapping all the presents into such a pretty package!