Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Each year, Frayser Elementary hosts the Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Reading Extravaganza for Kindergarten students. They invite people in the community to share a story with a student and present the child with the book as a gift afterward.

When I first read the invitation and confirmed my attendance with the school, I imagined myself simply reading one of my childhood favorites, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (by Loura Joffe Numeroff), to a student in a small, quiet space, presenting the book to him or her and then going on my merry little way. Well, that’s not at all how it happened. Boy was I in for a treat!

I was so surprised when I entered the school’s gymnasium, which was filled with chairs around a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments made from the students’ pictures. Chorus students were patiently sitting Indian style behind xylophones awaiting the program’s start. I was so excited at the opportunity to hear the children sing and play instruments. After a welcome and overview of how the program would go, I paired with my Kindergarten friend to share one of the greatest books ever. After the story, he and I sang along with the choir while dancing in our seats. It was the best time ever!

I would like to take this opportunity to applaud Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. Stewart-Price and the Frayser staff that helped make this event a success. It was a day I’ll never forget and the children received a gift that will last a lifetime.