Chocolate Storytime: Celebrating Holiday Traditions Across Cultures
The La Pintoresca Tree Lighting Ceremony was held on Friday, November 30, 2018, coinciding with our regularly scheduled monthly Chocolate Storytime. Rather than holding the program separately, Chocolate Storytime was thoughtfully incorporated into the evening’s festivities, creating a seamless experience of storytelling, crafts, food, and celebration for families gathered at the library.
The event took place in front of the library and began with open activities, including holiday crafts provided by the Armory Center for the Arts, face painting, and a cookie-decorating craft. As families arrived and children gathered, Chocolate Storytime became a central moment of the program, leading into the arrival of Santa and the lighting of the tree.
For Chocolate Storytime, I read two books, each selected intentionally to reflect cultural heritage, rhythm, language, and joy.
The first book was ’Twas the Night B’Fore Christmas: An African-American Version, retold and illustrated by Melodye Rosales. This beautifully crafted retelling reimagines the classic holiday poem through an African American and Gullah cultural lens. The book features African American characters, including St. Nick, and incorporates dialect and expressive language written in rhyme that feels warm, familiar, and alive.
Melodye Rosales does far more than translate the original poem into African American vernacular. She adapts the rhymes, imagery, and pacing in a way that makes the story more accessible and engaging for young readers.
Her illustrations are rich and expressive, and many may recognize her work from the Addy American Girl books. One especially endearing touch is the inclusion of not only the father narrator, but also a little toddler who tags along in the Christmas joy, adding warmth and authenticity to the story.
The second book was Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada! by Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Loretta Lopez. This story introduces children to the tradition of a posada, an important Latino holiday celebration that takes place on each of the nine nights before Christmas.
In the story, a young girl guides readers through the many steps leading up to the celebration, from putting out poinsettias to hanging the piñata, while counting to ten in both English and Spanish. As the story was read aloud, the children followed along enthusiastically, counting each item together and engaging fully with the rhythm and repetition.
At the end of the book, the author explains the origins of the posada. I shared my own experiences attending posadas over the years, beginning in 2013, when my daughter was a member of Folklórico Sol y Luna. They invited our family to a Community Christmas Posada at Avalon Funeral Home on Orange Grove, and it became something we participated in year after year.
Later, when my daughter joined the Carol Children’s Choir at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, the Spanish Language Ministry hosted a posada each season, and we attended those as well. When I started my Girl Scout Troop, posadas became part of our Girl Scout activity list, offering girls a meaningful way to learn about cultural traditions through participation, service, and community.
Following Chocolate Storytime, families enjoyed tamales and champurrado, a beloved part of the La Pintoresca Tree Lighting tradition. Alicia, my 6th grader was right alongside me, helping with Chocolate Storytime and later participating in the arts and crafts activity that followed the reading. Her friend, Emma came along, too.
Another highlight of the evening took place outdoors, where families boarded a small holiday train that circled around the library. Both adults and kids had a good time laughing, talking, and waving as the train made its rounds, adding an extra layer of joy and playfulness to the celebration. it was also nice to look around
The evening’s hallmark activity was the tree lighting, led by our wonderful Councilmember Tyron Hampton, who was joined by his wife and daughter. It was a warm and meaningful moment that brought the entire gathering together, marking the beginning of the holiday season with light, joy, and community.
Special thanks to Ms. Lupita and Rosa Cesarati, our lovely librarians at La Pintoresca, for their ongoing support with book selection, coordination, and care that evening; Mr. Perez for his behind-the-scenes help during our monthly Chocolate Storytimes; the Head Librarian Melvin Racelis for leadership and coordination in making the event possible; and my mother for providing the chocolate treats that have long been part of the Chocolate Storytime tradition.
Chocolate Storytime was honored to be part of the 2018 La Pintoresca Tree Lighting Ceremony, a night that celebrated storytelling, cultural traditions, and the joy of coming together as a community.
Chocolate Storytime 