Eight fun Chanukah tips to share with children in your life

'Celebrating Chanukah' photo by Paula Slade

Parents’ Choice® award-winning kids’ musician Mama Doni (a.k.a Doni Zasloff Thomas) is wishing everyone a Happy Chanukah and she’s provided some fun videos to share with your child each night.

This Chanukah season, Doni offers Mama Doni’s Eight Fun Tips for Chanukah, a series of 30-second video segments, featured at the end of this article, with a fun family activity for each of the eight days of the holiday.

These are Mama Doni’s tips — in her own words and they include:

DAY 1. Makin’ Lotsa Latkes!

“Chanukah is a celebration of light and oil, so we make latkes because making them uses so much oil! Start the holiday off right with a fun latke contest.  Gather some friends and make the traditional latkes, but then ask everyone to think of a special ingredient to throw into the batter. Try making veggie latkes like carrots (I call those carrotlatkes), broccoli (i call those broccolatkes), fruits like apples (applelatkes), banana (bananalatkes), even crazy things like spaghetti (spaghettilatkes), chicken (bokalatkes), or even chocolate chips (chocolatkes)! You can even make a latke sundae with sprinkles.  Kids can be the judges. Yum! Let me know how you did! “

DAY 2: Get Your Dreidel On!

“It's dreidel night! The dreidel is a four-sided top etched with Hebrew letters, which stand for the phrase, "A great miracle happened here." That miracle is the miracle of Chanukah.  Now, this is a chance for you to get your dreidel on-- for chocolate coins. Get yourself some dreidels and some gelt (instead of gelt, you can also use chocolate kisses or lollipops, or you can go healthier and play with fruit snacks or boxes of raisins).

Everyone spins the dreidel, and depending on what Hebrew letter the top lands on, you either win all of the candy (gimel), half of the candy (hey), none of the candy (nun) or have to give one back (shin). What I like to do is after everyone has had a turn to spin, is take a ROCKSTAR BREAK, and turn on your Chanukah tunes on my Chanukah Fever CD, and have a Chanukah dance party!  Everyone gets a candy or gelt if they go crazy dancing and singing! Then back to playing…. “

Day 3: The Story of Chanukah

“The Jewish holiday of Chanukah literally lights up our homes! Chanukah is also called “The Festival of Lights,” referring to the flames that we light on our menorahs on each of the holiday’s eight nights. The story of Chanukah is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees  and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when there was only enough for one day. Chanukah is about hope and spiritual light, and it’s a time to be with friends and family, as we celebrate the light in our lives. “

DAY 4: Are you Grateful?

“On this day, get out a piece of paper and think about eight things you are most grateful for in your life.  Make your lists and read them to each other.  You can set up an area of your house as a stage, and everyone in your family can get on stage and read his or her list.  Of course if you want to sing the list, go for it! (Sing the list to the melody of “Maotzur”…)”

DAY 5: Is It “Chanukah” or “Hanukkah?”

“Everyone says the name of this holiday differently, but both ways are cool.  Something fun to do on this day is try replacing your "h" sound with the "chh" sound for a little while. You can say things like "chello?" or "chow are you?" It might make your throat tickle as well as give you the Chhhanukah giggles! Make sure to wish everyone a "Chappy Chanukah!”

DAY 6: Honey This Ain’t Money

“Everyone knows about Hanukkah gelt, (the Yiddish term for money) right? It looks a lot like change or gold, but it is actually made of chocolate!  A fun thing to do on this day is go to the store with your mom or dad or babysitter.  Put the Hanukkah gelt in your pocket ,and then when you get the cash register, take your Hanukkah gelt ,and hand it to the person at the counter as if you were paying with real change. Only let the joke go for a couple of seconds, because you are not trying to be mean, just a little silly!  Make sure your mom or dad has real change ready to pay right away. Maybe the store owner will have a good laugh with you, and remember to wish him or her a happy holiday!”

DAY 7:  Gobble Up Sufganiyot!!!

“Did you know that jelly donuts, also known as "sufganiyot," are a traditional Hanukkah treat? Kids all over the world are gobbling them up at Hanukkah time! Now, imagine a place made out of… JELLY?! Jelly donut boats, jelly streams, jelly birds, jelly donut houses... Imagine this crazy cool place with me.”

DAY 8: Eight Special People in Your Life

“It's the last night! This is the night where you can pick eight people in your life.  These could be your mom, dad, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends... eight people who are special to you, and you can call them (or if they are nearby, you can give them a hug) and wish them a happy happy Hanukkah and tell them how much you love them.”

In addition to the video below, which is for the first night, Mama Doni’s Eight Fun Tips for Chanukah are on the home page of her website — http://mamadoni.com -- through the end of December, where you and your children will be able to view all eight videos plus an energizing and fun music finale that will get the whole family movin’ and groovin'.

Mama Doni, a resident of Montclair, New Jersey, hopes that her music will add some Jewish flavor to the lives of people everywhere.

As you can see from the video, she speaks with great passion about preserving the priceless Yiddish and Jewish spirit by imbuing it with a contemporary vibe that connects to life in our times.

All of Mam Doni’s recordings recordings are available nationwide, as CDs and digital downloads, from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, FYE.com, iTunes, and select Costco locations.

Doni currently has a number of projects in the works, which include: A Mama Doni book; DVD; new CD and a TV pilot.

Halloween happenings part 4: Books to celebrate the season

Last year, a new literary tradition  was started by best-selling author Neil Gaiman, with the sole purpose of getting fun, spooky and spine-tingling books into the hands and minds of children everywhere for Halloween. The tradition is known as "All Hallows Read."

Gaiman has nothing against candy, that’s still a definite holiday must-have. In the spirit of this new tradition, today's post features great reads that are available free from local libraries nationwide.

If you’re not familiar with the recommended titles below, which cover a variety of age ranges, or you wish to actually purchase and add them to your child’s collection, simply click on the links for in-depth information from Amazon.com along with customer reviews.

A Very Brave Witch (Written by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Harry Bliss) - A best-selling New York Times/award-winning American Library Association book, this opening salvo is a direct hit and charming tale of a little witch whose curiosity about trick-or-treat helps her overcome her fear of humans and find a new bond of friendship.

Go Away, Big Green Monster (Written and illustrated by Ed Emberly) - Caldecott Medalist Emberly’s bold use of colorful and humorous monster illustrations takes the “scary” out of this read, and “puts” fun back into it.

By the Light of the Halloween Moon (Written by Caroline Stutson, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes) - Wiggling toes tempt a variety of not-so-scary goblins and ghouls.

The Berenstain Bears Go on a Ghost Walk (Written and illustrated by Stan and Jan Berenstain) - One of several Halloween-themed Berenstain Bear classics. In this book, Papa Bear is in charge of the Bear Country School's Ghost Walk and he “learns the hard way that one bear’s fun is another bear’s nightmare.” Be sure to also check out these other entertaining titles, each offering a lesson to be learned for the entire Bear Family: The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin;  The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat; and The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House.

A Dark, Dark Tale (Written and illustrated by Ruth Brown) - This whimsically illustrated and simple text creates rib-tickling scariness, taking young readers on a visual journey with the word “dark.”

Clifford’s Halloween (Written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell) - Everyone’s favorite big red dog loves everything about Halloween, even dressing up in a costume.



 

Georgie (Written and illustrated by Robert Bright) - First published in 1944, this evergreen-classic features a friendly little ghost who needs a new home to haunt.

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever (Written and illustrated by Steven Kroll) -“Desmond” and “Clayton”, two adorable field mice grow the biggest pumpkin ever, and learn valuable lessons about friendship, cooperation and helping.

The Witch in the Cherry Tree (Written by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Jenny Williams) - David and his mother must find a way to protect their freshly baked cakes from the tricky witch in the cherry tree, who longs for fresh baked goodies.

The Terrible Trick or Treat  

(Written by Edith Battles, pictures by Tom Funk) - A real classic. Beautiful fall-colored illustrations and a charming story about a young boy named “Christopher” who  discovers more tricks than treats on Halloween.

A Woggle of Witches (Adrienne Adams, Author, and illustrator) - Simple text and double page illustrations take a friendly group of witches through the nighttime skies.

The Graveyard Book (Written by Neil Gaiman , Dave Mckean illustrator) "It's kind of like The Jungle Book, only instead of a jungle it's a graveyard. It's about this 2-year-old whose family is killed, and who is adopted and brought up by dead people and taught all the things that dead people know." ~ Neil Gaiman ~  A Newbery Medal and Hugo Award-winning bestseller. Suggested reading levels for The Graveyard Book are ages 9-12, but more often than not, Gaiman’s superb storytelling and rich language as well as imagery crosses boundaries well into the adult world.

You can also connect to Gaiman’s own free video readings of The Graveyard Book at Mr. Bobo’s Remarkable Mouse Circus, the author’s official website for young readers.

After you hear Gaiman read his entire book, you may want to view the video below that covers some of the informative question and answer sessions that took place during his book tour for The Graveyard Book.

For more Halloween articles, you may want to see:

Halloween Happenings Part 1: Pumpkin picking

Halloween Happenings part 2: Go ‘Boo at the Zoo’

Halloween Happenings part 3: Seasonal videos

Shel Silverstein: Timeless entertaining children's author

'Everything On It' by Shel Silverstein

On September 25, 1930, Shel Silverstein, the witty and entertaining children’s author was born in Chicago, Illinois, and during his 68 years of life, he produced some of the finest evergreen classic children’s books that are still cherished today by new generations of fans both young and old.

Admired for his ability to wed and rhyme hilarious word choices, which were born from conscious deliberation, Silverstein produced some of the most delightful books of poetry that capture the carefree silliness of childhood.

Children gravitate to his distinctive style and grasp his works quite easily. His simple line drawings are the perfect adjunct to his text and help add focus as well as promote imagination and discussion.

Early last week, HarperCollins posthumously published a new title of Silverstein’s poems and drawings, Everything On It, which had been compiled from Silverstein’s archives and selected by his family for publication.

Everything On It, is an outstanding collection of more than 130 never-before-released poems and line drawings, and is already garnering five-star reviews on Amazon.com.

Silverstein wore many other hats in addition to being a children’s poet/author and illustrator, he was also an accomplished playwright, screenwriter, recording artist, composer, and lyricist whose music has been performed by such legends as:  Kris Kristofferson'  the Irish Rovers; the late Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash. In fact, it was Silverstein’s song, “A Boy Named Sue,” which was performed by Cash that won Silverstein a coveted GRAMMY in 1970.

If you’re not familiar with the writings of Shel Silverstein, his “Official” website, ShelSilverstein.com is a wonderful place to start, and is presented in a choice of “high” or “low” bandwidth for custom navigation.

The site is geared to children, parents and educators. For kids there are free and entertaining games, puzzles, downloads, animations and e-cards. For parents/educators there are complimentary lessons and activities, event kits, drawing and activity booklets along with a list of all of his books, which includes sample excerpts and on-line buying resources.

If you are interested in reading the multitude of four and mostly five star reviews his other books elicit, Amazon.com has a special Silverstein author page, or check with your local library for recommendations.

In 1964, Silverstein opted for a change of writing pace and created one of his most memorable works, The Giving Tree, a parable about giving from the heart without expectation, a lesson that is as fresh today as when it was first penned.

Over the years, The Giving Tree’s sage and simple message has been translated into more than 30 languages.

Below, for your enjoyment is an animated video of Giving Tree that was produced and narrated by Shel Silverstein in 1973.

Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD features animals with a fun attitude

Almost all children are familiar with the tale of The Three Little Pigs, but Scholastic Storybook Treasures has taken it a bit further and provided a hilarious and entertaining DVD version with THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS…AND MORE ANIMAL ADVENTURES.

The title story on this DVD, "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" is based on Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s 5-star retelling of the classic fable, and offers the tale from the “Wolf’s” point of view.

Also included in this 62-minute beautifully produced animated DVD from the award-winning Weston Woods Studios is a special read-along feature and four other delightful stories: THE PIG’S WEDDING (Written and illustrated by Helme Heine) ; WALLACE’S LISTS (Written by Barbara Bottner and Gerald Kruglik, illustrated by Olof Landstrom, narrated by Zach Braff); HENRY BUILDS A CABIN (Written and illustrated by D.B. Johnson, narrated by James Naughton) ; THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT (Written and illustrated by Simms Taback, narrated by Mandy Patinkin) plus an interview with Scieszka and Lane.

Best pricing for THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS…AND MORE ANIMAL ADVENTURES is currently available through Amazon.com Marketplace for $5.15 plus shipping and handling – a bargain for this excellent compilation, and guaranteed to keep kids happily entertained on a snow day or sick day.

A behind-the-scenes peek: Disney's SECRETARIAT

He was a magnificent colt that made horse racing history in 1973, garnering the first Triple Crown victory in 25 years; his image graced the covers of “Time,” “Newsweek,” and “Sports Illustrated” all in the same week that year; in 1999 this great stallion’s chestnut image was finally immortalized on a U.S. Postal Service stamp, and on Friday, October 8, 2010 Walt Disney Pictures releases SECRETARIAT, the film based on “the impossible true story” of perhaps one of the greatest racehorses of all time.

Rated PG for “brief mild language,” SECRETARIAT is a feature not only for equestrian lovers and history buffs, but a movie for families that stars Diane Lane as Penny Chenery, a housewife and mother, who “despite all odds and her lack of horse-racing knowledge” helps make a dream a reality in the competitive, male-dominated world of the sport of horse racing.

For your viewing enjoyment; (just released) a behind the scenes featurette, “Penny’s Story – Against All Odds” from Walt Disney Pictures’ SECRETARIAT.

Simply click on this link and you will be taken to a private screening. Enjoy!