Trish Holland

This was a very sweet poem book about a man named McClaus and how he brings Christmas gifts to the sleeping soldiers. I think this poem did a good job of mimicking the well know poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore. The book begins with all the soldiers sleeping in their beds, dreaming about spending Christmas with their families, when all of a sudden there is a noise that awakes one of the soldiers. The soldier watches as sergeant McClaus and his men come in with gifts show more from families back home for the soldiers. McClaus then comes in and places the gifts at each soldier’s beside, later mimicking Santa Claus’s laugh. I think this poem was very sweet in the sense that it can teach us how hard it may be for soldiers to be away from their families during holidays. I also think that the illustrations are very cartoon like which I think was a fun touch. The rythme of the poem was done very well also, which one would hope so since it is mimicking A Visit from St. Nicholas. show less

This is such a precious take of "The Night Before Christmas" for children whose parents serve in the military. It offers a realistic look at soldiers missing their families on Christmas Day. However, with the aid of good leaders and care packages from home, the soldiers are able to have a little piece of the things they love with them while they are away. Although my children and I have lived through this type of sad Christmas separation from our Marine, this book really made us smile as we show more all read it together. It is nice for my children to think of daddy having as normal and happy of Christmas as possible. show less

A very cute and colorful bedtime story about a mother and child saying goodnight to various animals that live in the arctic. This would be a good book to read to an elementary classroom when learning about biomes and different animals that live in them. My love for this book might be a little biased because of a majority of my favorite animals are featured in it.

This story is about the night before Christmas. It has a big twist due to it is for soldiers. It is about soldiers who are "deployed" who hang stocking at the foot of their beds, hoping Santa will come. Santa comes during the night, but it is not no ordinary Santa, it is a "Santa" with military equipment. He is sad to see all those soldiers laying in their beds, away form their loved ones.

I loved this story. It is a cute, but very sad story. It makes the realization that the military show more families are not the only ones who are alone during the holidays. I can relate to this story, by growing up with my Dad gone all the time due to the military. He missed quite a few Christmas. I was not read this story as a child, but since my husband is in the Army, this is a book we read yearly to our children during the holidays.

I can use this story in my classroom, by reading it to the class, to help those children of deployed soldiers cope with their Mommy or Daddy being gone. I could also have the student's make Christmas cards for deployed soldiers. show less