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Thanksgiving Day [“Over the river and through the wood”]
By Lydia Maria Child
Over the river and through the wood,
    To grandfather's house we go;
         The horse knows the way
         To carry the sleigh
    Through the white and drifted snow....
Our Grandma Kissed a Pumpkin
By Darren Sardelli
Our grandma kissed a pumpkin
on a Friday afternoon.
She also kissed a crayon
and a giant red balloon.
I saw her kiss a chipmunk
eating cookies with a queen.
She kissed us in these costumes
at our house on Halloween!
The Day After Labor Day
By Joan Bransfield Graham
September breeze, an island chill,
the streets so quiet . . . still,
seem wider now
but soon they fill
with gulls

that stride and squawk
and boldly...
First Saturday in June
By Eileen Spinelli
Fifty-nine days to go.

I can't find my purple beach towel.
I can't even get to my closet
without walking across
a sea of dirty socks.

Mom pokes her head into my doorway,
says:
“Time to clean your room, Sophie.”
And I have to admit
she's right.

And it's not...
- Fun & Games
- Holidays
Help Wanted
By Timothy Tocher
Santa needs new reindeer.
The first bunch has grown old.
Dasher has arthritis;
Comet hates the cold.
Prancer’s sick of staring
at Dancer’s big behind.
Cupid married Blitzen
and Donder lost his mind.
Dancer’s mad at Vixen
for stepping on his toes.
Vixen’s being thrown out—
she laughed at Rudolph’s nose.
If...
- Christmas
- Holidays
A Visit from St. Nicholas
By Clement Clarke Moore
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in...
The Oxen
By Thomas Hardy
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
“Now they are all on their knees,”
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur...
- Nature
- Winter
- Animals
- Religion
- Christianity
- Christmas
- Optimism
- Animals
- Holidays
- + 2 more
The Fourth of July Parade
By Fran Haraway
Stripes and stars,
Antique cars,
Pretty girls,
Baton twirls,
Spangled gowns,
Friendly clowns,
Smiling folks,
Papered spokes,
Marching feet,
Endless heat,
Clapping hands,
High school bands,
Town traditions,
Politicians,
Perspiration,
Celebration!
- Independence Day
- Holidays
On Mother's Day
By Bruce Lansky
On Mother's Day it isn't smart
To give your mom a broken heart.

So here are thing you shouldn't say
To dear old mom on Mother's Day:

Don't tell her that you'll never eat
A carrot, celery, bean, or beet.

Don't tell her you think smoking's...
Lunchbox Love Note
By Kenn Nesbitt
Inside my lunch
to my surprise
a perfect heart-shaped
love note lies.

The outside says,
“Will you be mine?”
and, “Will you be
my valentine?”

I take it out
and wonder who
would want to tell me
“I love you.”

Perhaps a girl
who’s much too shy
to hand it to me
eye to eye.

Or...
December Substitute
By Kenn Nesbitt
Our substitute is strange because
he looks a lot like Santa Claus.
In fact, the moment he walked in
we thought that he was Santa’s twin.

We wouldn’t think it quite so weird,
if it were just his snowy beard.
But also he has big black...
Good Morning, Dear Students
By Kenn Nesbitt
“Good morning, dear students,” the principal said.
“Please put down your pencils and go back to bed.
Today we will spend the day playing outside,
then take the whole school on a carnival ride.

“We’ll learn to eat candy while watching TV,
then listen to...
Halloween Party
By Kenn Nesbitt
We’re having a Halloween party at school.
I’m dressed up like Dracula. Man, I look cool!
I dyed my hair black, and I cut off my bangs.
I’m wearing a cape and some fake plastic fangs.

I put on some makeup to paint my...
December 26
By Kenn Nesbitt
A BB gun.
A model plane.
A basketball.
A ’lectric train.
A bicycle.
A cowboy hat.
A comic book.
A baseball bat.
A deck of cards.
A science kit.
A racing car.
A catcher’s mitt.
So that’s my list
of everything
that Santa Claus
forgot to bring.
April Fool
By Myra Cohn Livingston
The maple syrup's full of ants.
A mouse is creeping on the shelf.
...
Autumn's Way
By Charles Ghigna
In their yellow-most goings,
leaves of maple
ride breezes to the ground.
You can hear their sound
each autumn afternoon
as the crisp air cuts
through the trees
and hurries us along
the golden sidewalks
home.
- Holidays
The Giant Water Bug
By Douglas Florian
The giant water bug can lug
His eggs upon his back.
He gives them extra care up there
And guards them from attack.
The mother glues them to the dad,
And on his way they stay.
But does he ever get a card
Or gift on Father's...
Christmas Trees
By Robert Frost
The city had withdrawn into itself
And left at last the country to the country;
When between whirls of snow not come to lie
And whirls of foliage not yet laid, there drove
A stranger to our yard, who looked the city,
Yet did in...
The Twelve Days of Christmas
By Anonymous
The first day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

The second day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
...
Good King Wenceslas
By John Mason Neale
Good King Wenceslas look’d out,
    On the Feast of Stephen;
When the snow lay round about,
    Deep, and crisp, and even:
Brightly shone the moon that night,
    Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came...

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