December

A young boy named Simon and his mother live in a cardboard box on the streets of Los Angeles during the cold month of December. Each day, they visit a nearby building where Simon likes to look at a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby. Simon's mother works hard to provide basic necessities while trying to save enough money for an apartment. The pair maintain hope and support each other through their difficult circumstances, making the best of their situation during the holiday season. Throughout their daily struggles, Simon and his mother encounter both kindness and indifference from the people around them. Their story brings attention to family bonds, perseverance, and the realities of homelessness during the winter holidays. The book addresses complex social issues through a child's perspective while exploring themes of dignity, compassion, and economic inequality. Its straightforward narrative allows young readers to connect with serious topics in an accessible way.

Readers describe this picture book as a gentle, thoughtful exploration of grief during the holidays. Parents and teachers report it helps children process loss while maintaining hope. Positives: - Clear, relatable way to discuss death with young children - Illustrations capture winter atmosphere and emotions - Balance between sadness and comfort - Works for both religious and secular families Negatives: - Some found it too melancholy for young readers - A few noted the storyline moves slowly - Religious references may not suit all families Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (147 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 ratings) One parent wrote: "This helped my 6-year-old understand her feelings about missing grandma at Christmas." A teacher noted: "My students connect with the main character and it opens up important conversations." Multiple reviewers mentioned using it in grief support groups and counseling settings with elementary school children.

Rosa's Bus by Jo S. Kittinger This picture book tells the true story of Bus #2857 and its connection to Rosa Parks' act of civil disobedience during the Civil Rights movement.

The Wall by Eve Bunting A child visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with his father to find his grandfather's name among the fallen soldiers.

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting A homeless boy and his father live in an airport, moving from terminal to terminal, while seeking a path to a permanent home.

The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida A Japanese American girl receives a bracelet from her best friend before being sent to an internment camp during World War II.

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki A Japanese American boy and his family cope with life in an internment camp by creating a baseball field and forming a league.

🎄 Eve Bunting wrote December after being inspired by a real-life Christmas tree lot where homeless families were allowed to live during the holiday season. 🏠 The author has written over 250 books for children, many dealing with serious social issues like homelessness, immigration, and war. 🌲 Christmas tree lots in America became popular in the 1850s when the tradition was brought over by German settlers, similar to the setting depicted in the book. 📚 The book's illustrator, David Diaz, won the Caldecott Medal for another collaboration with Eve Bunting titled Smoky Night. 🎁 The story reflects a real crisis: approximately 2.5 million children in America experience homelessness each year, with numbers typically rising during winter months.