Wednesday, December 21, 2011

On, Donder and Blitzen!

I read to Sam's class yesterday at Thomas Elementary.  It was so fun; but even more moving was the thrill in Sam's eyes  as he watched me read.  I gave them a little history about Clement Clark Moore, the author of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" or as he titled it "A Visit from St. Nicholas". 

And we discussed the difficult words like "coursers" ( do you know what they are?) and sugar plums and "threw up the sash".  Bruce Whatley's illustrations of this old classic are beautifully surprising.  And he adds a little side story about the man who saw Santa.  It was such a trip to ask them questions and hear their answers.  Kindergartners are very imaginative.

And to top it all off. Brandon was there after eating lunch with Sam, so he took some good pictures.  They  are on facebook.  Sam has Nyla Rideout Davis for his teacher.  My Sam and I taught her in Sunday School at Minter Lane, um, years ago.  And now she has grandchildren.

Thank you God that children still enjoy good books, and that I got to read to them.
By the way "coursers" are a team that pulls something, like a team of oxen or a team of horses.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a goodnight. (This is the correct way to end the book as Moore wrote it.)

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