Our Favorite Books to Read With Your Kids This Holiday Season

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

Published in 2019, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story has already won several awards and is well on its way to becoming a classic. Highlighting the story of a modern-day family preparing bread that is rooted in Native American history, this book helps kids understand more about the relationship between food and tradition. It’s also a great book to read around Thanksgiving to help introduce your kids to Native American culture.

The Night Before Thanksgiving

Written in a rhyming format similar to The Night Before Christmas, this book tells the story of a family preparing an unforgettable holiday feast. They even get to watch a parade and enjoy three kinds of pie! This book is sure to be a favorite for kids who love poetry and will become a new family tradition to read on before Thanksgiving.

The Story of Chanukah

There’s no better way to introduce your kids to Hanukkah than by reading them The Story of Hanukkah, which celebrates an ancient miracle in a simple yet striking way. Reimagined as a parody of one of America’s favorite bedtime stories, Goodnight Bubbala is a story about a little Jewish bunny that prepares for bed. There’s dancing, kvelling, and noshing…all the steps necessary to celebrate Jewish traditions with your kids. The book even includes a latke recipe you can try making together.

Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama

If your family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah (or if you just want to introduce your kids to the beauty of both traditions), Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama is a must-read book. The book provides an informative yet engaging look at a young girl who gets to experience the joy of a blended celebration, from candy canes hanging on menorah branches to latkes on the mantel.

Christmas Around the World

From palm trees to snow, Christmas can look a lot of different ways depending on where you live. Help your kids envision what a tropical holiday would be like by reading Hawaiian Christmas Day, where the day includes a beach trip, hula dance, and Santa in a red canoe. The Hawaiian Snowman is another heartwarming island story. Your kids will love the story about how the heroic snowman helps others. Christmas in Lagos is a great way to show your kids how people celebrate on the other side of the globe, from concerts to Christmas carols.

The Nutcracker

The New York City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is regarded as one of the top productions in the world, so why not read your kids the accompanying book? Based on George Balanchine’s classic production, The Nutcracker picture book is modeled after the choreography of the actual ballet. It might just inspire your kids to try some Pirouettes of their own. If you want to introduce your little one to the music and the story, we also love this musical book from Story Orchestra that features snippets of the most famous parts of Tchaikovsky’s score.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

It just wouldn’t quite seem like Christmas without the classic Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Your child’s heart will no doubt grow three sizes bigger as he or she listens to a lively retelling about how a grumpy Grinch discovered the real meaning of Christmas.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Your kids are no doubt familiar with the classic TV show, so now it’s time to introduce them to the book version. This 50th-anniversary edition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sports a bright red hardcover that will double as a cherished family heirloom.  

Kwanzaa

If you are looking to teach your little ones about the holiday of Kwanzaa, My First Kwanzaa is a simple picture book that younger children will love. The book describes the seven day holiday holiday and how it celebrates the importance of family, friends and community.

Diwali

Although Diwali has almost ended for this year, it’s still a good time to teach your little ones about this colorful holiday. Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil and light over dark. Binny’s Diwali is the sweet story of a little girl who wants to share her favorite holiday with her class. Learn about the Hindu Festival of Lights and the wonderful holiday traditions that are a part of it including fireworks, lanterns, clay lamps and rangoli. Little ones will enjoy this Diwali board book from Celebrate the World. We also love this Diwali Activity Book that features stories, recipes, coloring and crafts.