December is a month of holidays and celebrations. Reading and looking at books with your child is a beautiful way to help them find connection and meaning in these traditions. Learning how and why our families do what we do is important for small children to develop roots in their family system.
These books are also wonderful stories for teaching your children about other families and their traditions. I think it's important for our children to begin to understand that not all families look and act like theirs. Normalizing differences and learning about them, creates understanding and acceptance. Just opening the door for questions and learning together can be such an enriching experience.
A Diverse and Merry Christmas
I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison
Yoon and the Christmas Mitten by Helen Recorvits
Grandma's Gift by Eric Velasquez
An Angel Just Like Me by Mary Hoffman
A World of Cookies for Santa by M.E. Furman
Sounding Joy by Ellie Holcomb
'Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Tree of Cranes by Allen Say
Pinata in a Pine Tree by Pat Mora
Happy Hanukkah
Hanukkah Bear by Eric Kimmel
The Story of Hanukkah by David A. Adler
Little Red Ruthie - A Hanukkah Story by Gloria Koster
Eight Candles and a Tree by Simone Bloom Nathan
Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe
Happy Hanukkah Little Dreidel by Brick Puffinton
Hanukkah, the festival of Lights by Bonnie Bader
Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg
Hanukkah Hamster by Michelle Markel
Happy Kwanzaa
My Family Celebrates Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard
My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
I Spy with my Little Eye: Kwanzaa by Rhyanna DeTuathana
The Story of Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington
Soulful Holidays: An Inclusive Rhyming Story Celebrating the Joys of Christmas and Kwanzaa by Ciara Hill
Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington
Seven Spools of Thread by Angela Shelf Medearis
Seven Candles for Kwanzaa by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G Ford
Joyous Winter Solstice
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson
Luke & the Longest Night by Kathleen Converse
Sun Bread by Elisa Kleven
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
Solstice Badger by Robin McFadden
Iliana: A Winter Solstice Tale by Walter Fordham
One Short Day In December by Lilith Rogers
The Return of the Light: 12 Tales from around the world for the Winter Solstice by Carolyn McVickar Edwards (children over 6 yrs)
Happy All-Idays by Wendy Jin
There are so many wonderful books out there! If you have a favorite for this season or your holiday - let us know in the comments below.
