New Year's to Kwanzaa: Original Stories of Celebration [Paperback]

Kendall Haven (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Storyteller Haven has written 31 stories of celebrations from many cultures around the world, with two or three stories for each month of the year. There's a wide range of cultures: Passover, Easter, and April Fool's Day in April; the Day of the Dead, Homowo, and Thanksgiving in November, and so on. Fictionalized scenarios dramatize what it's like for a contemporary kid to celebrate the various festivals--religious, historic, seasonal, cultural, legendary, etc.--and the story is often set up so that there's a naive outsider asking about the festival and a knowledgeable participant explaining what's happening and why. The fictionalization is somewhat contrived, but Haven generally stays true to the spirit of the festival. Before each story, there's a brief historical introduction; after the story, there are questions and follow-up activities. Teachers, librarians, and students will welcome the calendar arrangement and the seasonal focus. Hazel Rochman

About the Author

Kendall Haven, the only West Point graduate and working scientist in the United States to become a full-time storyteller, has performed for more than 3 million people. He has published more than 35 stories on audiotape and has more than 200 stories in book form. He lives and writes in northern California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing (April 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555919626
• ISBN-13: 978-1555919627
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,550,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Kwanzaa

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.