This activity works well with these resources:
It’s the hap-happiest time of the year. What books will you be reading aloud to celebrate the winter holidays?
The holiday season has a way of bringing out the best in everyone, and it presents a unique opportunity to promote appreciation for people of all cultural backgrounds and there is no better way to do it than with a good Christmas Around the World unit.
To help with your planning, we rounded up a GIANT list of books to encourage children to take pride in their own traditions, learn to respect other points of view, and “see” the world through new eyes than by inviting them into the pages of a picture book? These amazing holiday books for kids that celebrate diverse experiences.
Dig in and be sure to share your favorites in the comments. Affiliate links are provided for you to see the book descriptions, more inside the book, and reviews from others.
Books About Christmas
Carl the Christmas Carp
by Ian Krykorka, Vladyana Krykorka
Miracle on 133rd Street
by Sonia Manzano, Marjorie Priceman
Night Tree
by Eve Bunting, Ted Rand
The Legend of Old Befana
by Tomie dePaola
The Legend of Papa Noel: A Cajun Christmas Story
by Terri Hoover Dunham, Laura Knorr
The Legend of the Poinsettia
by Tomie dePaola
Too Many Tamales
by Gary Soto, Ed Martinez
Tree of Cranes
by Allen Say
Book About Hanukkah
Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama
by Selina Alko
Hanukkah Bear
by Eric A. Kimmel, Mike Wohnoutka
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
by Eric A. Kimmel, Trina Schart Hyman
Oskar and the Eight Blessings
by Tanya Simon, Richard Simon, Mark Siegel
Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf
by Greg Wolfe, Howard McWilliam
Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale
by Eric A. Kimmel, Matthew Trueman
The Story of Hanukkah
by David A. Adler, Jill Weber
The Trees of the Dancing Goats
by Patricia Polacco
Books About the Winter Solstice
Lucia Morning in Sweden
by Ewa Rydåker
The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice
by Carolyn McVickar Edwards
The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice
by Wendy Pfeffer, Jesse Reisch
Books About Lunar New Year
Bringing In the New Year
by Grace Lin
Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book
by Joan Holub, Benrei Huang
Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes
by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz, Meilo So
Sam and the Lucky Money
by Karen Chinn, Cornelius Van Wright, Ying-Hwa Hu
Books About New Year’s Eve
Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas
by Gail Piernas-Davenport, Marion Eldridge
Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution
by Pat Miller, Kathi Ember
The Night Before New Year’s
by Natasha Wing, Amy Wummer
Books About Kwanzaa
My First Kwanzaa
by Karen Katz
Together for Kwanzaa
by Juwanda G. Ford, Shelly Hehenberger
Multicultural Holiday Compilations
A Year Full of Stories: 52 classic stories from all around the world
by Angela McAllister, Christopher Corr
Lights of Winter: Winter Celebrations around the World
by Heather Conrad, DeForest Walker