Nine Days to Christmas facts for kids
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| Author | Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida |
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| Illustrator | Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida |
| Country | United States |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
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Publication date
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1959 |
Nine Days to Christmas is a charming children's picture book. It was written by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida. This book won the famous Caldecott Medal in 1960. This award is given for the best illustrations in an American children's book. The story takes readers on a special journey to Mexico during Christmas time.
Contents
The Story of Ceci
The book tells the story of a little girl named Ceci. She lives in Mexico City. Ceci is very excited because she is finally old enough to join in a special Christmas tradition. This tradition is called a posada.
What is a Posada?
A posada is a traditional Mexican Christmas celebration. It happens for nine nights leading up to Christmas Eve. These parties remember the journey of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay. People often sing songs and have parades. They visit houses, asking for shelter, just like Mary and Joseph did.
Choosing a Piñata
Ceci's favorite part of the posada is choosing a piñata. A piñata is a decorated container filled with candy and small toys. It is usually made of paper mache. Children take turns hitting it with a stick while blindfolded. The goal is to break it open and get the treats inside. Ceci wants to pick the perfect piñata for her very first posada. The book shows her excitement as she searches for the best one.
About the Authors
Nine Days to Christmas was a special collaboration. It was written by two talented women.
Marie Hall Ets
Marie Hall Ets (1895–1984) was an American writer and illustrator. She was known for her simple, warm stories. Her books often featured animals or children. She won the Caldecott Medal for her illustrations in this book. She also wrote and illustrated other popular books. These include In the Forest and Play with Me.
Aurora Labastida
Aurora Labastida was a Mexican librarian. She worked at the Benjamin Franklin Library in Mexico City. She helped Marie Hall Ets with the story. Labastida shared her knowledge of Mexican culture and traditions. This made the book's details very accurate and real. Their teamwork brought the magic of a Mexican Christmas to life for readers everywhere.
The Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is a very important award. It is given each year to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The award recognizes outstanding illustrations. Winning the Caldecott Medal means a book is considered a classic. It is celebrated for its beautiful artwork and storytelling. Nine Days to Christmas won this award in 1960. This shows how special its illustrations are.
