There are so many holidays and activities associated with the winter season that it’s hard to keep track of them all. Children’s books are a great way to introduce kids to new winter fun ideas and to the many religious holidays that happen in the winter months. Here’s a great starter list of children’s books that cover a lot of interesting topics and ideas that parents and kids will both enjoy.
Hanukkah
There are many children, and parents, who aren’t very familiar with Hanukkah. Light The Lights! A Story About Celebrating Hanukkah And Christmas by Margaret Moorman (Cartwheel, 1999, ISBN 0590483838) is a beautiful book that shows a family that celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas. This is a great secular introduction to Hanukkah for families who with to show how these holidays are celebrated.
Festival of Lights: The Story of Hanukkah by Maida Silverman (Aladdin, 1999, ISBN 0689830831) teaches children about the first Hanukkah. This is a beautiful, simple retelling of the religious story of Hanukkah and the book includes instructions for making a dreidel and lighting the menorah.
The Winter Solstice
The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter and it is also a holiday for Pagans. The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer (Dutton Juvenile, 2003, ISBN 0525469680) is a great introduction to what the winter solstice is and how cultures around the world have celebrated this special time.
For Pagan families, Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for Parents and Children by Cait Johnson (Destiny Books, 1995, ISBN 0892815507) is a great book that includes activities for the winter season.
Christmas
There are a great number of Christmas books for children. God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa T. Bergren (WaterBrook Press, 2006, ISBN1400071755) is a beautiful story about the love of God for Christian families and it is all about the search for the true meaning of the Christmas season.
Christmas Around the World by Mary D. Lankford (HarperCollins, 1998, ISBN 0688163238) takes a look at how this special holiday is celebrated in other parts of the world. This book focuses on the customs and crafts associated with the Christmas celebrations.
A classic Christmas read is The Night Before Christmas: The Heirloom Edition by Christian Birmingham (Running Press Kids, 2001, ISBN 0762410698). This beautiful book is a beautiful addition to any family library.
Kwanzaa
The day after Christmas, December 26, is Kwanzaa. The Story of Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington (HarperCollins, 1997, ISBN 0064462005) teaches children about the history and evolution of this beautiful holiday. For small children, there is the Seven Days Of Kwanzaa by Melrose Cooper. This is a cheerful rhyming book celebrating Kwanzaa.
Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis (Albert Whitman & Company, 2004, ISBN 0807573167) is a striking children’s book that teaches about cooperation. This is a great book to read out loud to small children and lends itself well to discussion groups.
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