Folktales, Book Spotlight, Reso, Holiday Promo  /  November 2018


Folktales Foster Cultural
Literacy and More
How can you repay an extraordinary kindness if you don't know who's responsible? What will you do if the gift you made for someone special gets ruined? Would you accept an invitation from an impressive stranger?

Besides being enormously entertaining and providing provocative real-life scenarios to contemplate in a safe setting, folktales teach values, positive traits, and cultural traditions, and can take your family on a trip without leaving home!

Rooted in worldwide oral traditions and easy to remember and share, folktales offer a wealth of benefits, such as rich vocabulary, reading comprehension skills like distinguishing between characters and following events in sequence, a nd fabulous critical reading opportunities: "why would that character do that?!"

Holiday stories such as the ones featured below are part of the global folktale tradition. At this time of year, what better gift could we give our children than kindling their imaginations while helping them develop cultural literacy and language skills?

- Kathy Balch, BookTree Founder
Book Spotlight: Holiday Folktales
Gingerbread Baby, by Jan Brett. Innovative and finely-crafted spin on a fun and familiar classic with holiday and winter themes, for ages 2 and up.

The Elves and the Shoemaker, by Jacob Grimm and author/illustrator Jim LaMarche. Classic Brothers Grimm tale of generosity and kindness, enhanced by outstanding artwork, for ages 4 and up.

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story, by Angela Shelf Medearis and illustrator Daniel Minter. Family conflict gives way to community and collaboration in this beautifully-illustrated story with deep lessons, for ages 5 and up.

The Legend of the Poinsettia, by Tomie dePaola. An award-winning author/illustrator brings a Mexican folktale to life with brilliant artwork, for ages 3 and up.

The Magic Dreidels, by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrator Katya Krenina. Chanukah tale of trickery and humor, magically illustrated and told, for ages 3 and up.
Discover and Sign Up for Activities with RESO!

We know you are a busy parent who wants the best for your child, so we want to make sure you are aware of Bay Area based Reso. Reso's unique service allows you to discover and book an expanding range of local children's activities: camps, crafts, sports, dance, science, outdoors, theater, and more!
Holiday Promotion at Partner Locations!

Special Offer:  Email us  a photo of a receipt for $30 or more from a BookTree partner retail location, and we will email you back a gift certificate for 3 free months of BookTree*. Great gift for a family who you think might enjoy trying BookTree!

This promotion is valid for the following neighborhood shops where BookTree members can pick up and return book totes: A Child's Delight (Corte Madera), Chloe's Closet (SF Bernal Hts, SF Inner Sunset), Memento Press (SF Union Square), Small Frys (SF Noe Valley), Secret Garden (Greenbrae), Toy Crazy (Larkspur), Paper Caper (Burlingame), Adventure Toys (Los Altos), and Cheeky Monkey Toys (Menlo Park).

*Limitations: This is a 3-month free trial, redeemable by families who have never received a BookTree tote and are not currently signed up for BookTree. Limit one redemption per household. Receipt must be for purchase of $30 or more and show a November or December 2018 date. Cannot be combined with other BookTree offers. Offer expires 12/31/18.

BookTree serves over 200 locations in San Francisco, the peninsula from Sunnyvale north, Marin County,
and western Los Angeles County. Have an idea for a location we should serve? Email us!
Like us on Facebook