Quick Pick Picture Book – The Trees of the Dancing Goats

This is a fabulous story for the winter holidays. Patricia Polacco has written The Trees of the Dancing Goats about her own experiences growing up on her grandparent’s farm.  One winter, while her family is making their preparations for Chanukkah, scarlet fever strikes many families in their area.  Worried that their friends and neighbors will have to make do without Christmas, Trisha’s family sets to work to save the day.

Great for: This book is great for helping children understand how they can support friends who have different religious beliefs without compromising their own.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – There is a brief reference to the Jewish farmers fighting the Syrian army.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – There is a scarlet fever epidemic in the area where they live.  Trisha worries that she will get sick.