Hello Beautiful People!
HAPPY DECEMBER!!!
I absolutely love this time of year. The lights, the music, the food, the good cheer…if I could bottle up the good wishes and feelings of Christmastime I would. It’s a time to be happy, to celebrate, to reflect. It’s a time to love on one another a little bit more. It’s a time to extend a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on. It’s a time for open hearts and healing words and a whole lotta love.
My family has always called me the resident Christmas Elf. I used to get in trouble for wanting to watch White Christmas in July. I remember ignoring all the tell-tale signs that Santa wasn’t…well…I still can’t talk about it. [Insert some sort of funny emoticon here.]
But really, Christmas for me has always been about giving. Giving love. Giving support. Giving to others when they cannot help themselves.
And so, we launch The 12 Days of Books.
It’s by far one of my favorite things here at The Write Teacher(s), and I’m over the moon enjoyed to have my bookworm partner in crime to assist me in this project, the lovely Ms. Sara M. Brink.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with these 12 Days of goodness, lets recap.
Each day…
- TINSEL TITLE TIP. What does this mean? It’s just a suggestion for the perfect gift, stocking stuffer, holiday grab bag item…you get the idea.
- MERRY MEMORY LANE – Sara + I will suggest a childhood favorite, perfect for your little ones.
- GIVE IT BACK – For each day, we’ll highlight one charity that does a world of good. These organizations are the beautiful bits of humanity. They are the glow to your holiday sparkle. And we just love ’em.
And so, without further ado…welcome to Day 1!
Tinsel Title Tip, Day 1 –
The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 1 – by Jennifer Ashley Tepper. GAH. My heart just explodes with joy and goodness and all things wonderful when discussing this book. Jennifer’s passion for theater is just contagious. You meet this woman and you end up humming Sondheim when you leave. You want to learn about New York City, you want to learn about Broadway. She reminds artists of what came before them, giving an undening amount of respect and admiration to those who have paved the way…and it’s beautiful. Here’s what you should know about The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 1 – it features firsthand accounts from actors, directors, producers, stagehands, designers, ushers and more, and each chapter is a different theater. It gives you a little slice of each theater, from a myriad of different perspectives. If you love theater, you should get this book. If you know someone who loves theater, you must buy this book for them. If you want to gain an insight into the Great White Way, you should get this book. If you love PEOPLE, you must get this book.
Merry Memory Lane, Day 1 –
Megan’s Pick – Pete and Lily, by Amy Hest. This comes back to me every year. And every year, I find a way to work this into The 12 Days of Books – I love it THAT much. It’s about love. It’s about family. It’s about best friends finding themselves in NYC – post a divorce and the death of a parent . It’s fantastic. And my copy still sits proudly on my bookshelf, faded, with Amy’s autograph!
Sara’s Pick – The Word Eater by Mary Amato: This children’s title hits me again and again, even years after I first picked it up. When Lerner finds a worm that can make things magically disappear, she learns how precious words are. She also learns the power of responsibility. An impacting read for all ages!
Give it Back…
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Live, Love, Learn,
Megan, Sara, & The Write Teacher(s)