As the winter holidays approach it is a perfect time to head to your local library and pick up some holiday books. And if you have kids, there will likely be a treasure-trove of books waiting to be enjoyed. Checking out books from the library will save you hundreds of dollars, and your kids will benefit from being exposed to a greater number of books than you could ever purchase yourself. And, librarians are great about setting up seasonal displays, so it shouldn't be too hard for you to find the rack or book case full of holiday children's books. Here are some great ones:
This is the Stableis a simple retelling of the nativity story with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. I like the simple rhymes, but my daughter and I are most captivated by the lush paintings that illustrate the book. I also appreciate that Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus are depicted with a more olive complexion than you see in many nativity scenes. Not quite olive enough to be a realistic reflection of the historical figures, but it least its heading in the right direction. I also like that the three wise men are Middle Eastern, Asian, and African, as it shows that the illustrator isn't afraid to explore the possibility of a culturally diverse nativity story. This book tells a Christian story, but does so in a manner that is accessible to non-Christians.
The Shortest Dayis a book that explains the origins of Winter Solstice celebrations and explains in scientific terms why the Winter Solstice is "the shortest day."
Every page has color illustrations, which thankfully helps keep young children interested because the text is geared more to ages 10 and up. The book does a great job of briefly touching on Winter Solstice celebrations across history and continents (cave men, ancient Greece, Europe, Mayan civilization, modern culture...). The only cultural gaffe I found was that the Mayans were depicted with peachy skin, which is completely inaccurate and makes me wonder if the illustrator thought he had to lighten the skin in order to appeal to light-skinned readers.
K is for Kwanzaais a fully illustrated book that explains the Kwanzaa tradition.
Kwanzaa is a non-religious celebration of African-American heritage. Even if you don't celebrate Kwanzaa in your family, this book is a nice way to expose your children to a cultural tradition that might be shared by their peers. The illustrations are perfectly interesting to a child, though certainly not great artwork.
Mrs.Greenberg's Messy Hanukkahis a story about a young girl who makes a mess of her neighbor's kitchen when she tries to make latkes (potato fritters) for Hanukkah. It doesn't explain the origins of the Hanukkah tradition- it's just a cute story set during Hanukkah. The illustrations are cute, and the book would likely appeal to ages 8 and under.
Which children's holiday books do you recommend? I'd love to hear.
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My children so loved Santa Mouse that they almost wore it out. In verse, it has adventure, "dress-up", a good Santa Mouse, and a well meaning but inadvertently naughty Marmaduke who eventually sees the light and is rewarded for his change of heart.
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