Celebrate diversity with great bilingual children's book about Christmas around the world. Alice and Marek's Christmas (Alice and Marek's Christmas) is a diverse children's book that promotes culturally responsive teaching.

Marek and Alice's Christmas (Bilingual Multicultural Book)
Author: Jolanta Starek-Corile
Illustrator: Priscilla Lamont

Christmas Eve is here, and we must get ready! But what are these unusual traditions, like hay and the extra place at the table? This story is part of the "Celebration" series, and takes a look at how people celebrate different holidays around the world. This charming book takes us to the heart of Christmas in Poland, with recipes and activities to get you in the holiday spirit!

To access ideas for teaching about Christmas around the world, see our blog post about the topic.

THIS TITLE IS AVAILABLE IN MANY BILINGUAL EDITIONS.

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This brightly illustrated book is part of the celebration series, which explores the way people celebrate different festivals around the world. In the story, Marek, his sister Alice, and their parents are visiting their extended family including their babcia (grandmother), dziadek (grandfather) and prababcia (great-grandmother) in Poland. All are involved in preparing for the big Christmas celebration and Marek is full of questions. Why does prababcia put hay under the table? Why does she set an extra place at the table? Why do they look for the first star of the night before they begin their feast?

After the Christmas banquet, it is off to Midnight Mass for Marek, while Alice stays home with prababcia to see if at midnight “all the animals can talk.” But at midnight the kids are fast asleep, one at church, and one at home. After all, they have had a big day!

Marek and Alice’s Christmas describes many rituals of a traditional Polish Christmas, and invites readers to share in the celebration.

- Maureen Pugh, Culture Connection Newsletter