Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations

By Kelly Bouldin Darmofal and Brad Calhoun

Young Alex is beyond excited on Christmas Eve. He knows that Christmas celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ, and he cannot wait for tomorrow to come--he wants a puppy of his own to play with and love. On Christmas Day, he opens a large box with, yes, a puppy inside. Alex names him Zipper! However, when grandparents come bearing gifts, Zipper bounds out of the open door. Mother and Alex then begin a neighborhood adventure as they search for a runaway dog and meet neighbors with different winter holiday celebrations and traditions: the Hindu Diwali, the Jewish Hanukkah, the Latinx Las Posadas and the African-American Kwanzaa. Alex then returns home for a Christmas feast, happy with his new canine companion and the knowledge that his neighborhood is filled with amazing people who are more alike than different.
"Kelly Darmofal takes her readers on an unexpected Christmas journey that leads her readers to discover the beauty of our diverse winter holidays! Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations is a book to read aloud to all!"
--Debbie McIntyre, Principal of Jefferson Elementary School
"With warmth and cheer, Darmofal captures Christmas Day in Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations. A day of adventure for a boy becomes a day of learning and connecting with others for a deeper understanding of cultures and traditions that differ from his own. A great holiday read!"
--Emily M. Cagle, Media Specialist at Meadowlark Elementary School
"With vibrant illustrations and easy to understand language, the author introduces us to five holiday celebrations enjoyed by families of different cultures. This book is non-judgmental and depicts appreciation for the differences among us. While it is intended for children, parents might also learn something new. Holidays With a Tail is a valuable resource if we plan to raise our children with an acceptance of diversity."
--Dr. Laurie Zelinger, Child Psychologist, Author of Please Explain Vaccines to Me Because I HATE SHOTS!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Loving Healing Press
• Release date: Nov 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781615996179

Kelly Bouldin Darmofal

After suffering a severe Traumatic Brain Injury at age 15, Kelly returned to school in '92-'93 with multiple disabilities including double vision, memory loss, and aphasia. Undaunted, Kelly struggled to graduate from a school adapting to a new disability category -- TBI. Developing coping techniques on her own and with varied assistance, Kelly continued to persevere, completing both college and a Masters in special education at Salem College. She currently writes and teaches in North Carolina where she resides with her husband and son.

Book preview

Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations

Copyright © 2021 by Kelly B. Darmofal. All Rights Reserved.

Illustrated By Brad A. Calhoun

ISBN 978-1-61599-615-5 paperback

ISBN 978-1-61599-616-2 hardcover

ISBN 978-1-61599-617-9 eBook

Published by

Loving Healing Press

5145 Pontiac Trail

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

www.LHPress.com

[e-mail]

Tollfree 888-761-6268

FAX [phone]

Distributed by

Ingram (USA/CAN/AU), Betram’s Books (UK/EU)

This book is dedicated to my son Alex.

Foreword

When teaching at a multicultural elementary school, I have sorely needed a book like this for my students. Holidays with a Tail is the perfect read aloud for a classroom comprised of myriad ethnicities and traditions. My hope is that with this culturally diverse story, children will learn a greater appreciation for the entire holiday season.

The boldfaced words in the text are later defined in the glossary at the end of the story. The reader may wish to discuss such words and definitions with students prior to reading.

Reviews for Holidays with a Tail

[beckvalleybooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was such a cute story to read, a really good book to read over the holidays giving children the chance to explore the different festivities, cultures, and traditions enjoyed by their neighbors.The colorful graphics compliment the tale as you chase around with Alex and his mom to find their new escapee puppy, meeting their neighbors as they go. Definitely promotes the friendly, positive feeling of this festive time of year, encouraging the acceptance of everyone who lives differently from yourself.I enjoyed reading about the different festivities and the history of them myself, I found the language is very easy to read and understand if a child is reading it too. With the addition of the glossary at the back, Kelly Bouldin Darmofal has ensured that the story can be fully understood by anyone who reads it.A lovely book promoting the different holiday festivities enjoyed by everyone.

[lilyroseshadowlyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was such a cute book! The illustrations are adorable, and it's the perfect book for the holiday season. I like how it covers more than just Christmas, introducing kids to other traditions and beliefs. It's also a great way to start conversations with kids about other winter holidays, especially with Christmas being the one you most often see in the media. This would be the perfect book to curl up with and read as a family leading up to Christmas day.

[coverloverbookreview · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This storybook reveals a diverse range of faiths, festivals, foods, and holiday celebrations. It presents many traditions and observances people of various faiths practice over the holidays.In Holidays with a Tail, Alex receives a special little gift on Christmas morning—a puppy that he names Zipper. When Zipper unexpectedly dashes out the front door, Alex and Mom scour the snowy neighborhood to find him. On their search they come across people of many cultures celebrating the holidays, and Alex discovers that everyone doesn’t celebrate the holidays the way he does. This story is so diverse. Alex learns about Hindu Diwali, Jewish Hanukkah, Latinx Las Posadas and African American Kwanzaa. When he returns to his own home, Alex enjoys a Christmas feast with Zipper and his family. Not only has he gained a new puppy, but he’s also gained a wealth of knowledge about his diverse neighbors.This book is not only entertaining but serves as a teaching tool. It encourages kids to be aware, accepting, and informed about different cultures, beliefs, and celebrations. Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. My review was not influenced.