11 Books in Celebration of Winter Holidays

Published on 4 January 2024 at 14:18

Winter months in the northern hemisphere is filled with holidays celebrated by people of many cultures and religions. Christmas tends to get the most attention in the United States and arguments have frequently arisen pertaining to holiday greetings like Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy Holidays. In this article, we share a book for as many winter holidays as we could find. It's probably not comprehensive, but it's a start at recognizing how many different holidays exist around this time of year. If you know of another holiday that isn't represented on this list, let us know so that we can add it to a future article.

Image Description: A red-orange sun sets against a snowy, mountainous horizon. Snow-covered houses sit on the left and right sides of the photo. Evergreen trees dot the mountainsides. A pale fog rolls in the distance.

Credit: Michael Niessl / Unsplash via Webador

11 Books in Celebration of Winter Holidays

  1. Carlos, Light the Farolito (Jean Ciavonne, illustrated by Donna Clair): This children's book introduces the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, the reenactment of Mary and Joseph's journey from door-to-door in search of a place to stay. Carlos sees the procession approach his house and must play the role of the innkeeper since he is the only one home. This is the only book by Ciavonne. It was published after her death. Borrow this book for free from OpenLibrary, or buy it from Amazon.
  2. The Christmas Story (Robert Sabuda): A pop-up book with beautiful illustrations, this book tells the story of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus. The 3-D imagery brings the story to life for young readers encountering this story for the first time. You can buy this book from Barnes & Noble. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  3. Kwanzaa: Living on Principle (Venus Jones): This nonfiction book is a collection of essays, poems, and reflections on the author's relationship with this holiday. Learn more about this book, its author, and how to buy it by visiting the author's website. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  4. Lights of Winter (Heather Conrad with illustration by DeForest Walker): This children's book briefly introduces 11 holidays from around the world. They include better-known holidays like Christmas, Hanukah, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Kwanza as well as lesser-known holidays like Solstice, Yule, Soyal, Zagmuk, Las Posadas, and Saturnalia. This book is meant for children ages 3-9 and is available for purchase through Lightport Books or can be read for free through InternetArchive or OpenLibrary. To use these resources, all you need to do is set up your account.
  5. Mouse Celebrates the Winter Solstice (Terri Mack, illustrated by Bill Helin): This children's book is written in the form of a lyrical poem and reflects the celebrations of First Nations people in Canada. It was created by a Kwakwaka’wakw author and Tsimshian illustrator. Learn more about this book and buy it from the Strong Nations website. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  6. My Diwali Light (Raakhee Mirchandani with illustration by Supriya Kelkar): A joy-filled story about a girl who loves to celebrate Diwali with her family, this picture book highlights several Diwali customs. Visit Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers here to learn more about this book and where to buy it. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  7. Playing with Lanterns (Wang Yage, illustrated by Zhu Chengliang, translated by Helen Wang): A playful book that teaches children about paper lanterns and their use in Chinese New Year, this book was originally published in China. This book is available for purchase on Amazon. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  8. Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas (Pamela Ehrenberg, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar): Written for ages 5-6, this book tells the story of Sadie, a girl whose family has both Jewish and Indian heritage. When celebrating Hanukkah, Sadie's family enjoys eating the Indian pancake, dosa. Learn more about the author, this book, and where to buy it from the author's website. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  9. Solstice Celebrations (Amy Virginia Evans): This nonfiction book dives into many of the European solstice celebrations that have developed and changed over many generations. This book is available for purchase on Amazon. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  10. Tết Together (Alice Trinh): This book teaches young readers about the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tết, and guides readers through each tradition and their significance. Learn more about the author, this book, and where to buy it from the author's website. Search WorldCat or LibraryLink to find this book at a library near you.
  11. The Tomten (Astrid Lindgren, illustration by Harald Wiberg): This picture book tells a story about the Swedish gnome that inhabits the homes of farmers and watches over the family and livestock. This book is based on a poem by Viktor Rydberg. Learn more about this book on the Astrid Lindgren Company website, buy it from Ingebretsen's Nordic Marketplace here, or borrow it from OpenLibrary.

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