'Twas Nochebuena
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The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that 'Twas Nochebuena is a bilingual (but mostly in English) homage to the classic poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," exploring the many traditions that accompany a Latinx family's celebration of Nochebuena. Narrated by a young Latina girl who lives in a multigenerational household, the holiday picture book will teach readers about her favorite aspects of Christmas Eve, from cooking and decorating to playing games and opening presents.
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What's the story?
'TWAS NOCHEBUENA takes place on Christmas Eve, but this isn't any ordinary celebration -- it's Nochebuena, when Latinx families stay up late celebrating the holiday. The little girl narrating the story takes us on a Christmas Eve journey that includes her family's beloved customs, from making delicious tamales and playing Lotería to marching house to house for Las Posadas and attending a late Mass. With her extended family close by, the narrator enjoys a special Christmas Eve that incorporates Spanish vocabulary (there's a glossary and author's note in the back of the book).
Is it any good?
This delightful picture book captures beautiful Latinx holiday traditions. Families who celebrate Nochebuena will be particularly touched by the story (even if your family may have slightly different cuisine or play different games), but everyone who celebrates Christmas will find this a worthy addition to the holiday bookshelf. Using the same structure of Clement Moore's classic Christmas poem, author Roseanne Greenfield Thong artfully weaves in Spanish words and traditions, explaining why in most Latinx families, Christmas Eve and not Christmas Day is considered the main event of the holiday season.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about what they learned about the Latinx tradition (in this case, Mexican American) of Nochebuena.
If you celebrate Christmas, how does the celebration of Christmas Eve described in the story compare with yours?
Discuss your own holiday traditions. Which ones do you look forward to each year? Do you have favorite children's books that portray those traditions?
Book details
- Author: Roseanne Greenfield Thong
- Illustrator: Sara Palacios
- Genre: Holiday
- Topics: Holidays
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Viking Juvenile
- Publication date: December 1, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 25, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love holidays
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