Skate into the holidays with this snowy issue of Cricket!

“The Christmas Day Kitten” by James Herriot—There won’t be a dry eye in the house when you read this beautiful story about a mother’s love and her special Christmas gift.

“Shnook the Peddler” by Maxine Rose Schur—The boys call him Shnook, meaning foolish, but Leibush is strangely puzzled by the quiet peddler who brings wonderful things to his humble village in Russia.

“Drawing from Memory” by Allen Say—Young Allen Say leaves Japan and Sensei to make his way as an artist in America.

“Water to Ice” by Tyler Keevil—Jake begins to hang with Mike Glover and his gang after Master Kinsella leaves the dojo. 

“Allah Will Provide” by Robert Gilstrap and Irene Estabrook—In this humorous North African folk tale, a simple woodcutter concludes that there is no need to work, since Allah provides for all his creatures.

“Ooka and the Honest Thief” by I. G. Edmonds—In old Japan, Ooka’s idea of justice is confounded when he finds that a thief can also be an honest man. What is a wise judge to do? 

“The Year of Two Thanksgivings” by Bianca Lundien Kennedy—Since the time of Lincoln, Thanksgiving had always been celebrated on the fourth, and final, Thursday in November. But in 1939, there was a fifth Thursday in the month. Even a president gets into trouble trying to decide which Thursday is the real Thanksgiving.

You’ll also enjoy:

Poetry by Ted Hughes and Byrd Baylor

Ugly Bird’s Holiday Wish List Crossbird Puzzle

Poetry Contest—Submit you best poem filled with the holiday spirit!