Happy Kwanzaa from Enslow Publishers!

WISHING EVERYONE, WHO CELEBRATES, A HAPPY KWANZAA!

Kwanzaa Craft

Kwanzaa is a family holiday that lasts from December 26 to January 1. Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor, and his friends created Kwanzaa in 1966. They wanted African Americans to have a special holiday to celebrate family and community.

Mkeka Craft 

The mkeka (m-KAY-kah) is the woven mat that decorates the Kwanzaa table. It is usually woven from straw or other natural fibers. Kwanzaa symbols such as the kinara, the seven candles, the unity cup, the ears of corn, and the basket of fruits and vegetables are placed on a mkeka.

What You Will Need

ruler
pencil
scissors
yellow construction paper
light-brown construction paper

What to Do

1. Use a ruler and pencil to draw lines that are 2 inches apart and 18 inches long on yellow construction
    paper. Use a ruler and pencil to draw lines that are 2 inches apart and 18 inches long on the light-brown
    construction paper.

2. Cut along the lines on both sheets of paper.

3. Weave all the strips of light-brown paper and all the strips of yellow paper together.

4. Glue all loose ends. Let dry.

Enslow's "Kwanzaa: Revised and Updated" Among Perma-Bound's "Common Core Recommended" Titles

The November edition of "Perma-Gram," an e-mail newsletter from Perma-Bound, offers book suggestions for building or adding to holiday book collections. The lists, curated by Perma-Bound's collection development pros, include a number of Enslow products. We were especially satisfied that Perma-Bound designated our Kwanzaa: Revised and Updated as a "Common Core Recommended" title.

Co-authored by Dorothy Rhodes Freeman and Dianne M. MacMillan, this 48-page, AR 3.5-level book introduces elementary readers to this year-end holiday. The writers explore Kwanzaa's origin, show how the holiday is celebrated, and provide the backmatter, illustrations, and photographs to enable young readers to find multiple approaches to grasp and utilize the age-appropriate, informational text.

Kwanzaa: Revised and Updated (978-0-7660-3042-8) is available from Perma-Bound or directly from Enslow Publishers.

Joyous Kwanzaa

Enslow Publishers would like to wish those who celebrate Kwanzaa, a Joyous Kwanzaa!