Pete the Cat Save Christmas and Teaches About Generosity

Cover of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

I've written before about how much I love the Pete the Cat books.  New this year is a book all about Pete the Cat saving Christmas and it is as clever and colorful as the original.  The story begins with Santa getting sick: "Twas the day before Christmas and Santa was ill.  In the cold winter wind he had caught a bad chill."  In desperation, Santa calls Pete the Cat and asks him to help out by delivering the toys, to which Pete replies, "I'll do it... and although I am small, at Christmas we give, so I'll give it my all."  That phrase becomes the basis of a catchy song which you can download here along with the author, Eric Litwin's rendition of the book.  In the end, Pete saves the day by delivering the last gift just in the nick of time to the cheers of all the residents at the North Pole and even Santa himself.

While the book has a catchy rhyming text and splendid illustrations, my favorite part is the message that Pete shares.  Always willing to help out, he sings over and over that although he is small he can give it his all.  This is an important message for children, especially during the Christmas season.  Just as the message of Christmas came in the form of a small baby, so each of us, children included, can contribute something to someone, somewhere during Christmas if we will just respond to the need and give it our all. 

I used this book in classroom guidance during the last week of school before the Christmas break to teach about generosity and giving.  As part of the lesson, students wrote about a way they were generous in the past and plans they had to be generous in the future. 

Do you have other books about Christmas that you would recommend for teaching children to be generous?  How do you teach children this important leason at this time of the year?

I wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!

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