This Wednesday, December 19, is Holly Day! It’s a day set aside to celebrate holly, an evergreen plant that is associated with Christmas. The Mailbox® is in North Carolina, and I see holly bushes all over the place, which seems odd to me in the middle of summer. Here are some interesting holly facts you…
It’s that time of year when teachers (and parents) are ready to pull out their hair for one reason or another. If your kiddos’ attention spans and brain waves have been intercepted by the upcoming Christmas holiday, try this. Grab a bag of cotton balls and a glue stick. Then print a copy of the…
Here we come to save the day! The new book Even Superheroes Make Mistakes follows superheroes who sometimes nab the wrong guy or bungle their speeches at the Hero Convention. But instead of slumping into despair, they still fly out of bed, polish their boots, and zoom into the day, ready to try again. Sound…
This Wednesday, December 12, is National Poinsettia Day! The poinsettia is an indigenous plant of Mexico and is known for its red and green leaves. It was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico. In Spanish, the plant is called flor de Nochebuena, or…
Do you know the Christmas song, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas?” The singer proclaims that only a hippopotamus will do—not a crocodile or rhinoceros. Well, I couldn’t find a hippo, but I did find an adorable rhino decked out in a winter scarf that I’m pretty sure will do for this month’s First Friday…
Which country produces the most gold? What’s the world’s largest company? What’s the world’s busiest airport? If you’re ready to geek out on minutiae, then this week’s giveaway is for you. Here’s how to enter: Take your best guess at which country produces the most gold, and then submit your answer to this blog…
Hanukkah began yesterday at sunset. So it’s perfect that we begin the week with a blog that focuses on this festival of lights! Here are some interesting facts to help those who aren’t familiar with Hanukkah traditions: The word “Hanukkah” is Hebrew for “dedication.” You may have seen “Hanukkah” spelled in a variety of different…
What can 1,800 pounds of butter; 2,925 pounds of brown sugar; 7,200 eggs; 7,200 pounds of all-purpose flour; 1,080 ounces of ginger; and a few other ingredients create? A giant gingerbread house, that’s what. The 21-foot high house, which was built in 2013 to help raise money for a trauma center, covered an area about…
Sugar cookies should be sweet, right? Not this one! Cookie may be tough and not so tasty, but she still has an important role to play in the Land of Holiday Treats. Read all about it! For a chance to win this book, submit a comment to our blog by Tuesday, December 11, to…
Tomorrow, November 27, is Kevin Henkes’ birthday! He’s the author of over 50 books, most of which he has illustrated as well. He’s well known for creating relatable characters that deal with familiar problems in whimsical and engaging ways. I did a bit of digging looking for interesting Kevin Henkes facts, and here’s what I…