The Best Holiday Books For Kids
For little kids, the holidays are a magical time filled with treats and decorations, family traditions and presents.
Reading is one of the best holiday activities for kids, and there’s no shortage of holiday books to choose from! From beloved classics to modern masterpieces, these stories will instill feelings of excitement, awe, and faith in your children.
The Grinch
The Grinch is one of the beloved holiday books for children. His story demonstrates that even those with hearts “two sizes too small” can come to appreciate Christmas.
During the holiday season in Whoville, residents are filled with joy and anticipation. Unfortunately, the grinch – a gruff, cantankerous green-furred character – has other plans for ruining their celebration.
In addition to taking away their decorations, the Grinch also wants to take away their Christmas presents! But when Cindy Lou Who (Cameron Seely) tells him she only wants a gift from Santa in order to make her single mom happy, the Grinch is forced to reconsider his actions.
In our increasingly lonely online world, the Grinch’s bravery in venturing out of his cave to meet the Whos is both heartwarming and inspiring. It’s a sentiment that resonates with many of us.
Dream Snow
Dream Snow, one of my all-time favorite books, is an ideal choice for children to read during a Christmas or winter theme. It follows the tale of a farmer who falls asleep on December 24th and dreams of an incredible snowstorm that blankets his animals like blankets!
This book is an invaluable tool for building vocabulary related to farm animals, weather conditions and clothes. It also helps reinforce counting and number concepts while reinforcing the concept of making things unique!
This board book is an engaging way for parents and toddlers to introduce them to Christmas traditions. With 26 illustrations depicting various aspects of the holiday, it will stir memories and delight in both adults and children!
The Berenstain Bears
The Berenstain Bears is a beloved children’s book series that has been adapted into five television specials, a video game and feature film. The stories tackle topics like chores, bedtime and money management that kids face daily.
In this story, Brother and Sister Bear decide to cut their own Christmas tree instead of buying one from the store. But Pop Bear has an outrageous idea to try to destroy all the trees in their neighborhood; they come up with a creative solution in order to save them all.
The Berenstain Bears books offer kids the chance to learn the significance of Christmas and other holidays. Through this collection, they’ll come to understand that Christmas is about giving and sharing. A timeless classic perfect for any family looking to add extra meaning to the festive season.
The Night Before Christmas
The beloved Christmas poem, “The Night Before Christmas,” has been reprinted numerous times throughout the years and continues to motivate generations of children with its inspiring words.
Clement Clarke Moore wrote Twas the Night Before Christmas (1823), which has become commonly known as Twas the Night Before Christmas or A Visit from St. Nicholas.
Initially published as a short poem to be read aloud by parents to their children, the book has evolved over time into something popular for kids to read on their own with larger type and vibrant illustrations.
The story takes place in Halloween Town, where Jack Skellington, a bored resident, decides to kidnap Santa and take over Christmas. However, things go awry, with Jack ultimately saving Santa and Sally from Oogie Boogie.
The Three Wise Men
For generations, the story of the Three Wise Men (known as Magi) has captivated hearts around the world. After following a star to Bethlehem and offering gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus, they became beloved figures in Christian faith.
Matthew’s Gospel only mentions the wise men as coming from “the east,” though scholars believe they were most likely originally from Persia, Arabia or India. Regardless of where they came from, they followed a star until it brought them to baby Jesus – an amazing feat considering all that happened during their journey!
They recognized Jesus as the promised king and sought to worship Him. Their mission was a success, leading them to be honored as saints in Western Christianity.
The Night Before Hanukkah
The holidays are the ideal time to celebrate and share stories with your little ones. From sugar plum fairies and chocolate gelt to Jewish superheroes and golden spools of thread, there are plenty of festive books you and your children can enjoy this season.
One of the best holiday books for kids is The Night Before Hanukkah, which introduces them to all of the traditions associated with this Jewish festival. From latkes and menorahs, kids will learn about its story and value of family.
It also emphasizes the significance of helping those less fortunate than ourselves. This story serves to teach children about Hanukkah’s mitzvot (commandments), and how each individual can make a difference in someone’s life.
The Christmas Tree
Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of year and there are so many ways to celebrate. You can decorate your home, watch a movie, or even try your hand at baking some cookies! Christmas truly brings out the magic!
Starting off the holiday season right is by reading an enjoyable, festive book! Thankfully, there are plenty of wonderful choices that are ideal for this festive time!
This story follows a lonely fir tree as it searches for its home in the forest. Eventually, it meets up with some bear family members and begins its new life!
This book is an ideal way to instill the true meaning of Christmas in children, while also showing them that a little kindness goes a long way.
The Night Before Epiphany
If you’re searching for a holiday book that takes place around the world, The Night Before Epiphany is one of the best choices. This story takes an upbeat look at how people around the globe celebrate this festive holiday.
Western churches celebrate Epiphanytide as the celebration of Jesus’ visit from the Magi (or Three Kings) and marks the start of Epiphanytide, while Orthodox churches observe Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan as a memorial.
In many cultures and countries, ‘Three Kings Day’ (or Epiphany) is celebrated for days or weeks. In places like Poland, you can find processions, nativity plays and even carnivals on this day.
The Night Before New Year’s
Are you searching for an engaging holiday book to read to your children this year? The Night Before New Year’s is an ideal pick. This rhyming picture book shows kids all of the unique ways people around the world celebrate the New Year.
Shante Keys, for instance, learns about eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day to bring about good luck. She also discovers other holidays such as Chinese New Year and Nowruz for Iranians.
This lively board book is the ideal way to introduce babies and toddlers to the celebration of Hanukkah. With bright images and straightforward labels, it’s simple for little ones to understand its fundamental principles.
The Three Kings
The Three Kings is an exquisitely illustrated children’s book celebrating the traditional holiday of Epiphany. Filled with captivating rhyming verses, it will surely enchant young readers.
This documentary follows a family as they celebrate Three Kings’ Day, otherwise known as the Feast of Epiphany. This holiday is observed by Hispanic communities worldwide to commemorate the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus at his birth.
This rhyming verse recounts the story of the Three Kings and how they brought gifts to baby Jesus. It also delves into the traditions and delicacies associated with this holiday.
Though this film offers a somewhat cynical perspective of the Gulf War, it still makes some insightful points about modern warfare. With great timing and plenty of action scenes, this is an enjoyable movie to watch.