Celebrate Diwali

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 12 September 2006

Beautiful, dynamic photographs and brief, lively tect introduce readers to the joyous holiday of Diwali, evoking the celebrations of HINDUS, Sikhs and Jains around he world.

In Deborah Heiligman's inviting global odyssey of the Hindu holiday we learn that Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and of light and darkness. Although celebrated differently in different places, Diwali is universally viewed as a time of great joy, celebrated with fireworks, sweets and gifts. Celebrate Diwali brings to life the holiday's traditions, food, and celebration rituals. The informative back matter includes Diwali recopies, a glossary, a Diwali card game, a map, and a resource list of books and Websites. Also included is a note to parents and teachers form the book's consultant, Dr. Vasudha Narayanan.


Trick or treat? Celebrate Halloween is a real treat. Vivid images and Deborah Heiligman's lively, inviting text illuminate the spookiest night of the year. The book spirits readers on a front-seat tour of Halloween celebrations around the globe as it explores the rich history of this holiday, the creepy creatures associated with it, and the origins of such customs as carving jack-o'-lanterns and trick-or-treating. Halloween folklore, food, games, costumes, and traditions all combine in a most bewitching brew.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.


With dazzling photographs and lively, lyrical text, this book introduces young readers to historical and cultural aspects of the Christmas holiday. Kids will get diverse and unique viewpoints about this very special day. With fascinating facts, a recipe, and Common Core-alignment activities, reading and learning about Christmas adds to the excitement in preparing for it.


The joyous celebration of Easter is seen through a global perspective in this National Geographic volume featuring over 25 vibrant photographs. Witness the holiest day on the Christian calendar as it is celebrated throughout the world: from the famous Easter Egg Roll at the White House to the traditional bonfires throughout Europe, to colorful customs, to the universally popular dying of eggshells worldwide.

The first-person narrative leads young readers through the origins and traditions of this springtime festival of rebirth and hope. Reverend George Handzo gives parents and teachers a historical and cultural background in his informative note.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Celebrate Passover

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 13 February 2007

The most celebrated holiday in the Jewish Year, Passover commemorates the Exodus of Hebrew slaves from Egypt to freedom over 3,500 years ago. This colourful book explores the many forms that this weeklong celebration takes worldwide.

Deborah Heiligman's rich text details the long lavish meals called seders, at which Exodus is recalled in ritual, prayer, song, and story. The historical significance of the food at thee Passover feats is also explained, and delicious recipes encourage readers to experience the full flavours of this internationally observed holiday. Rabbi Shira Stern's informative note provides parents and teachers with a historical and cultural background of the celebration of Passover.


Thanksgiving is the original American holiday. When the Pilgrims sat down to give thanks for the hard-won bounty of their new world, they continued a Native American tradition that would become a focal point in the calendar of all generations of Americans to come.

The author relates this holiday to the harvest festivals celebrated by thankful believers of many faiths all over the globe. The book's stunning pictures show the celebration in its historical and cultural aspects, and the back matter contains a delicious Thanksgiving recipe, a glossary, and a useful list of holiday references and resources.

Dr. Elizabeth Pleck gives readers, parents, and teachers an historical and cultural background to this unique American tradition in her informative note.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Celebrate Easter

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 13 February 2007

This joyous celebration of Easter is seen through a global perspective in this National Geographic volume featuring over 25 vibrant photographs.

Witness the holiest day on the Christian calendar as it is celebrated throughout the world: from the famous Easter Egg Roll at the White House to the traditional bonfires throughout Europe, to colourful customs, to the university popular dying of eggshells worldwide. This first person narrative leads young readers through eh origins and traditions of this springtime festival of rebirth and hope. Reverend George Handzo gives parents and teachers a historical and cultural background in his informative note.


Celebrate Christmas

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 9 October 2007

December 25th is a day of peace and festivity, the culmination of a season of worldwide goodwill.

Carol singers give voice to the joyful spirit, trees are decorated, and gifts exchanged between families and friends. A name-check of the gift-bearers awaited by children reflects the global nature of the celebrations: Pere Noel in France, Santa Claus in America, La Benfana in Italy, and the Three Kings of Hispanic cultures. With first-person narrative, informative back matter, and evocative photography, Celebrate Christmas is a rich historical and cultural resource for children.


Celebrate Hanukkah

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 10 October 2006
In Celebrate Hanukkah Deborah Heiligman welcomes readers to a holiday celebrated by Jewish communities around the world.

The vivid photography of National Geographic illustrates the joyous celebrations of Jewish people around the world—including Ghana, Uganda, India, Israel, Peru, the United States and Poland, as they light menorahs, spin dreidels, and make latkes.

The richly informative back matter details many facts, such as the story of U.S. astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman, who brought a menorah and a dreidel on his Space Shuttle mission in 1993. Hoffman observed the traditional spinning of the dreidel, but wisely left the menorah unlit in the proximity of several thousand liters of rocket fuel! Also included are the author's sure-to-please latke recipe, Hanukkah blessings, and a Hanukkah song.

A note from Rabbi Shira Stern, the book's consultant, sets the holiday in its global religious and cultural context.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the fast's end, are sacred times for millions throughout the world.

Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr examines the reasons for the month-long dawn-to-dusk fast and observes some of the wide variety of celebrations at the end of the fast worldwide. Deborah Heiligman's text examines the historical, religious, and cultural aspect of this Muslim holiday. The book's beautiful photographs are complemented with a map pinpointing the exact locations illustrated. The extensive back matter also includes a list of further resources such as books and Web sites, useful for the research student and paper writer in grades one to four.
The book's consultant, Dr. Neguin Yavari gives an explanatory note about the religious and cultural significance of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.


Celebrate Independence

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 28 February 2009

Strike up the band, pack a picnic, and enjoy the fireworks. Celebrate Independence Day takes a nationwide perspective on the joy of America's biggest party.

All the history and culture of Independence Day is here, along with fun facts, an all-American recipe, a locator map for every photo and a complete resource guide. Deborah Heiligman's rich narrative evokes the patriotic flavour of the Fourth and explains its associations with liberty and democracy. The text also looks at how people from other nations celebrate their independence days, and includes an expert consultant's note.


Celebrate Independence Day

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 17 January 2008

Strike up the band, pack a picnic, and enjoy the fireworks. Celebrate Independence Day takes nationwide perspective on the joy of America's biggest party.

All the history and culture of Independence Day is here, along with fun facts, an all-American recipe, a locator map for every photo and a complete resource guide. Deborah Heiligman's rich narrative evokes the patriotic flavour of the Fourth and explains its associations with liberty and democracy. The text also looks at how people from other nations celebrate their independence days, and includes an expert consultant's note.


Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur examines how these Jewish High Holy Days are celebrated worldwide. Rosh Hashanah, known as the Jewish New Year, is a time for reflection and resolution. On Yom Kippur, also called the Day of Atonement, Jews fast, pray, and ask God's forgiveness for their sins. Deborah Heiligman's lively first-person text introduces readers to the sounding of the shofar, the holidays' greeting cards, prayers, and special foods. Rabbi Shira Stern's informative note puts the High Holy Days into wider historical and cultural context for parents and teachers.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the fast's end, are sacred times for millions throughout the world.

Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr examines the reasons for the month-long dawn-to-dusk fast and observes some of the wide variety of celebrations at the end of the fast worldwide.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.


Celebrate Rosh Hashanah

by Deborah Heiligman

Published 28 February 2009

"Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" examines how these Jewish High Holy Days are celebrated worldwide

Rosh Hashanah, known as the Jewish New Year, is a time for reflection and resolution. On Yom Kippur, also called the Day of Atonement, Jews fast, pray, and ask God's forgiveness for their sins. Deborah Heiligman's lively first-person text introduces readers to the sounding of the shofar, the holidays' greeting cards, prayers, and special foods. Rabbi Shira Stern's informative note puts the High Holy Days into wider historical and cultural context for parents and teachers.


Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur examines how these Jewish High Holy Days are celebrated worldwide. Rosh Hashanah, known as the Jewish New Year, is a time for reflection and resolution. On Yom Kippur, also called the Day of Atonement, Jews fast, pray, and ask God's forgiveness for their sins. Deborah Heiligman's lively first-person text introduces readers to the sounding of the shofar, the holidays' greeting cards, prayers, and special foods. Rabbi Shira Stern's informative note puts the High Holy Days into wider historical and cultural context for parents and teachers.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.