There’s something particularly special about reading a holiday story aloud together as a family. And it’s one of the easiest ways to get into the holiday spirit! So grab some hot cocoa, snuggle up by the fire and enjoy one of these newly released children’s Christmas and Hanukkah books.
AGES INFANT-2
“D is for Dreidel: A Hanukkah Alphabet” by Greg Paprocki
Introduce your young one to the Festival of Lights in this fun collection of 26 illustrations featuring Hanukkah-themed concepts, such as latkes, gelt, the menorah and dreidels.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas in Virginia” by Sue Corbett
With a fun take on the classic Christmas song, this new board book celebrates the holidays in Virginia with some special local gifts—including 12 plovers looping, 11 ponies racing, three tall ships and a cardinal in a dogwood tree!
AGES 3-5
“A Unicorn Named Sparkle’s First Christmas” by Amy Young
It’s Sparkle’s first Christmas, and Lucy is showing him how to celebrate. They make a unicorn snowman, hang stockings, bake holiday cookies and buy presents—but in typical Sparkle fashion, nothing goes as planned! Yet Lucy ends up learning that love, not presents, is what Christmas is all about.
“If Animals Celebrated Christmas” by Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker
If animals said “Merry Christmas,” how would they say it? Beaver would gnaw down trees with his teeth, Koala would decorate with Mama and Papa and, of course, Polar Bear Santa would fly through the night! Following the success of “If Animals Kissed Good Night,” this new installment is a celebration of the Christmas season.
“Meet the Latkes” by Alan Silberberg
Lucy Latke’s family is just like any other family, except that they’re potato pancakes. And they are completely clueless. After lighting the menorah and gobbling the gelt, Grandpa Latke tells everyone the Hanukkah story, complete with mighty “Mega Bees” who use a giant dreidel to fight against the evil alien potatoes from Planet Chhh. It’s up to the Latke family dog to set the record straight … starting first with letting them know that they were “Maccabees,” not “Mega Bees.”
AGES 6-8
“Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story” by Edward Hemingway
Once upon a time, while Fox was visiting the land of Holiday Treats, a freshly baked little cookie burst out the front door looking sweet and ready to be devoured. But, Cookie is not as fast as he thinks. When Fox finally catches him, they’re both in for a big surprise: Sugar Cookie does not taste delicious—and he’s certainly not fit to be eaten. What’s an unsavory cookie to do? This story celebrates the joy of being accepted for who we are.
“Pippa’s Passover Plate” by Vivian Kirkfield
An enchanting mouse scours her cozy, miniature home for her Passover Seder plate with no luck. Sundown is near and the Passover celebration will begin soon. Pippa Mouse must venture out and be brave to ask a cat, a snake and an owl for help. To her surprise, not only are the animals helpful in tracing her plate to the pond, they become her Passover Seder guests.
“Merry Christmas, Little Elliot” by Mike Curato
Elliot isn’t quite sure what Christmas spirit is, but he suspects he doesn’t have it. Not even a visit with Santa Claus can put Elliot in the right mood. But when chance blows a letter for Santa into Elliot and Mouse’s path, the two friends discover what Christmas is all about—and make a new friend, too.
“The Best Four Questions” by Rachelle Burk
Marcy is finally old enough to ask The Four Questions at her family’s Passover Seder. She’s sure when it’s her time to shine, her questions will be the best ever. Though her four (funny) questions are not the ones in Haggadah, her family gently humors her with the answers before she and her brother go on to read the real Four Questions.
AGES 9-12
“The Christmasaurus” by Tom Fletcher
Back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, an egg rolled away from its mother and landed in the ocean, where it froze solid and stayed peacefully for thousands of years. But then, one day, Santa and his elves discover the frozen egg. After getting it to hatch, they are shocked to discover it’s a dinosaur! Meanwhile, a young boy named William has only ever wished for one thing for Christmas: a dinosaur, of course. So when Santa accidentally gives William the real Christmasaurus instead of a stuffed replica, it’s the best Christmas ever … until an evil man known as Hunter wants the dinosaur for himself.
“Bah! Humbug!” by Michael Rosen
Harry Gruber gets to play the role of Scrooge in his school’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” but he is extra nervous about tonight’s performance because his smartphone-obsessed father is in the audience—not away for business, as usual. Will the story’s message of Christmas cheer and the redemptive power of love reach his father’s distracted Scrooge heart?
“Race Up Mount Ram: A Hanukkah Story” by Melissa Berg
Meet Rimon, the most popular and confident boy in school. Then meet Chaim, a small and lonely boy with few friends and even less confidence. At Hanukkah, these two unlikely competitors must face off in a race up the cliffs of Mount Ram for the title of Champion of the Maccabees, and everyone is certain of the outcome. But the contestants soon learn this is no standard race! The boys are confronted by extreme obstacles that end up testing more than their speed—but the strength of their inner character.
