CELEBRATE THE SEASON!

Explore Other Traditions & Cultures by Reading

The holiday season is upon us - a time when families gather to celebrate their traditions and cultures. In our country, family holiday celebrations reflect a diversity of traditions, foods, and activities. As such, the season provides a perfect opportunity to educate ourselves and our children about other cultural and religious traditions. What better way to do that than through reading?

Books have the power not only to ignite our imagination and inspire creativity, but also to inform and help us build bridges to understanding others who may be different from ourselves. Whether it's learning about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, or other celebrations, reading can open up the door to a world of rich traditions and rituals.

Reading and talking with children about how families across the country celebrate the holidays can help shape children's positive attitudes toward those who are different from themselves, but whose world they share. This season, why not visit a local library or bookstore with your children to seek out books on traditions or cultures different from your own.

The above was excerpted from a message by National PTA President Shirley Igo that appeared in the November/December 2001 issue of "Our Children" magazine. To read the entire president's message, as well as a short list of children's books recommended by the Anti-Defamation League, visit http://www.pta.org/cfplus/OurChildren/presmessage.asp

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