The Trees of the Dancing Goats

The eight days of Hanukkah had always been one of Trisha's favorite times of the year. Her Ukrainian-born Babushka would make hand-dipped candles for the Menorah, and cook delicious latkes. Her Georgian-born Grandpa would carve colorful animals out of wood - presents for Trisha and her brother, Richard. Best of all, Momma would have two weeks off from her job as a school-teacher, and the entire family would be together on their Michigan farm! But when Trisha and her family learn that most of the members of their small farming community have been stricken with scarlet fever, and are unable to prepare for or celebrate their own holiday - that of Christmas - they decide to share the joy of the season with their neighbors...

Apparently based show more on an actual event from Patricia Polacco's own youth, The Trees of the Dancing Goats is a heart-warming holiday tale that emphasizes the importance of friendship and community, of sharing our blessings with others, and respecting diverse beliefs. I found myself tearing up, as I reached the conclusion. Truly a wonderful book, one that can be appreciated by those who celebrate Hanukkah, those who celebrate Christmas, those who celebrate both, and those who don't celebrate either one. show less

I hoped to read all of Polacco's books in 2014, but alas fell short of that goal. Rich in detail and personal history, her books bring a rich meaning to family values.

As her beloved Babuska prepares for Hanukkah, her loving grandfather hand crafts lovely wooded animal toys. As her brother Ralph and she grow excited by the day, they relish the time when their school teacher mother will have two weeks to be with them on their grand parents Michigan farm.

On a cold winter night, when the snow is thick and white, the family learns that their Christian neighbors are ill with Scarlet Fever. Extending love and kindness, the family finds small trees to decorate with the hand carved animals. Delivering the gifts during the snow storm, leaves them show more with a warm feeling.

When the neighbors are better, they provide a hand-made Menorah.

The best thing about not reaching my goal, is that there are so many more wonderful books of this author to cherish and read in 2015. show less

I really enjoyed this book. I love the message of true friendship that is portrayed in this story. Trisha's best friend, Cherry, and Cherry's family, are sick with a terrible fever. Trisha's family seemed to recognize the pattern of many of the families around their neighborhood were coming down with the same fever which was preventing them from celebrating Christmas. Trisha was told by Cherry that her family would miss out on Christmas because they have not put up a tree. She was scared that Santa would forget her and her family. Trisha and her family celebrated Hanukkah, she and her family decided to cut down and decorate Christmas trees for all of the families that could not celebrate their holiday tradition. This was very touching show more because not many people would sacrifice their own traditions by putting it off for a little while to practice something they do not normally do, like decorating a Christmas tree. This is a valuable lesson for children (and adults) to learn because everyone, no matter how different their beliefs are, should be accepted. Trisha's family did not scorn Cherry and the others because they did not celebrate the same holiday as them. This book also teaches about traditions. Many of us who did not really know what Hanukkah is or why it came to be, can learn a little bit of its history from this story. It id important to understand that everyone is not really that different; yes we may believe different things, and practice different rituals, but in the end, we all have feelings and want some of the same things. And when people accept others, that is when we are truly all brought together. show less

This is a very sweet story of... holidays, I guess, and neighborliness, presumably based upon an event in the author's life.

She and her family were preparing for Hanukkah when they realized that all their neighbors were sick with scarlet fever... and the kids were basically going to have no Christmas at all because they and their families were too sick to celebrate. Nobody wants to think of their friends as giving up their holiday, so Patricia's family, who was luckily all well, prepared small Christmas trees for their neighbors and decorated them with the wooden toys they'd made for their own Hanukkah.

This is exactly the example of charity that's right for kids to learn about. You do something nice for people because it's the right show more thing to do, and you do it gladly. You don't bemoan giving up your things, and you don't expect a reward (although they get one in the form of their neighbors continuing to be good friends.)

A good message for any time of year, whatever your beliefs. show less

Trisha and her family were setting up their Hanukkah festivities when realizing that their surrounding neighbors were all sick with Scarlett Fever. The other families were not Jewish and did not celebrate Hanukkah, but they celebrated Christmas and were not able to prepare for the upcoming holiday. Trisha and her family did not want to see their neighbors not be able to celebrate Christmas this season, so they decorated Christmas trees with their own wooden toys placing the trees in the neighbors yards. Trisha and her family also prepared food for their sick neighbors. This book is great to read around the holidays to show what the real spirit of the holiday is. This is a season of giving and helping others in need. It teaches students show more that when they give to others they should be happy doing so and shouldn't expect anything in return. Great book for teaching kindness and giving. show less

Trisha's family is ready to celebrate Hanukkah when they learn that all of their neighbors are struck with scarlet fever. The family puts their own holiday on hold so they they can minister to their sick neighbors. They use the hand carved and painted animals that their grandpa made to decorate Christmas trees for them and take them baskets of food and candles. This book is based on a true story from Polacco's own past.

Curriculum connections: This is a great book to compare Christmas and Hanukkah and their traditions. You could also discuss immigration and how people bring their religions, traditions, and language with them when they move to a new places.

Trisha comes from a Jewish background, and all of her family is with her to celebrate the holidays. Her Christian neighbors are unable to decorate for Christmas due to scarlet fever. Trisha and her family find it difficult to celebrate Hanukkah knowing their neighbors cannot celebrate their holiday. Trisha and her family come together and help decorate their neighbors house for Christmas. It is a celebration of friendship.