With shortening days and chillier weather, the year-end holiday season is a great time to snuggle up on the couch and read. Whether it's Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas or even Winter Solstice that you are celebrating, these holiday themed children's novels and chapter books will put you in the spirit of the season.
If holiday read alouds are not yet part of your family tradition, I hope this book list will encourage you to start!
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Note: recommended ages are listening ages.
Holiday Books Table of Contents
Thanksgiving
HOBOKEN CHICKEN EMERGENCY by Daniel Pinkwater
With a knowing nod to my neighbors in New Jersey, you have to admit that any book which couples "Hoboken" with "Chicken" in the title has got to be hilarious. When there are no turkeys to be found anywhere in Hoboken for Thanksgiving dinner, Arthur returns home with a chicken. The problem? The chicken is 266 pounds. Hijinks ensue. I read this aloud to my sons and they loved it. Ages 7 and up.
AN OLD FASHIONED THANKSGIVING by Louisa May Alcott
Read it: Your Library | Online (free) at Project Gutenberg
This is actually a short story from Alcott's book, Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag. It is a nice selection for families who are looking for a traditional, classic tale. The March girls from Little Women make a Thanksgiving dinner when their parents are called away. All ages.
CHILDREN OF THE LONGHOUSE by Joseph Bruchac
This is not a Thanksgiving book, but November is Native American Heritage Month, and it's important to recognize the first inhabitants of the land. This historical novel is narrated in alternating viewpoints between Ohkwa'ri and his twin sister Otsi:stia. The siblings are Mohawks living in the 15th century in what is commonly known as upstate New York. Ohkwa'ri tells the elders he heard another boy planning activity that would break a peace accord with a neighboring tribe. His resentful new enemy plans to get his revenge during a game of what we might call lacrosse. There is so much wonderful information about Native American life, culture and traditions in this book. Ages 7 and up.
MORE: Thanksgiving Audiobooks for the Whole Family
Winter Solstice
THE RETURN OF THE LIGHT: TWELVE TALES FROM AROUND THE WORD FOR WINTER SOLSTICE by Carolyn McVcikar Edwards
This is a collection of traditional stories and folktales from every corner of the globe. The stories are organized in three sections, "The Theft," "The Surrender," and "The Grace." Twelve tales are centered around the theme of transitioning from darkness into light and feature such characters as a trickster raven from the Inuit, Loki from the old Norse, Maui from Polynesia and La Befana from Italy. The author includes informative introductions to each section. Families can read one story, a small selection, or all of them, depending on their stamina. Generally suitable to read to children 7 and up, but some stories may be okay for younger or older kids.
Christmas
THE TOYMAKER'S APPRENTICE by Sherri L. Smith
Find it: Your Library | Amazon
This a fun, page-turning adventure fantasy based on Hoffmann's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Stefan Drosselmeyer is apprentice to his father, but when his father goes missing, he and his cousin embark on a magical journey to find him. Ages 9 and up.
MORE: Nutcracker picture books, middle grade and graphic novels
GREENGLASS HOUSE (series) by Kate Milford
Milo lives with his adoptive parents in a strange and mysterious smugglers' inn. During the holiday break, a series of guests arrive, all with a secret connection to the inn. The adventure begins when Milo finds a curious map and things begin to go missing. He and his friend, Maddy, are determined to find the culprit behind the thefts and start to unravel the mystery tied to the house and its guests. Ages 9 and up.
THE TALE OF RESCUE by Michael J. Rosen
Find it: Your Library | Amazon
So I admit that stories about dogs (and horses) are not generally my thing, but this is a compelling story and the illustrations are gorgeous. A 10-year-old boy and his parents caught in a blizzard are rescued by a brave and determined dog. The narration sounds very much like an old-fashioned tale and perfect for a cozy holiday family read aloud, especially because younger children will love looking at the illustrations. Ages 6 and up.
MORE: Winter Read Alouds the Whole Family Will Love
WINTERFROST by Michelle Houts
A nisse is the Danish version of tomte, a small creature in Scandinavian folklore who looks after the farm. Families are supposed to leave the nisse a traditional bowl of Christmas pudding on the eve of the holiday, but this year, Bettina's family is beset by troubles and they forget the pudding. In a fit of mischief, the local nisse, Klakke, steals the family baby! Bettina sets out into the woods to find her sister and encounters more mythological creatures and adventure in this tale of magic and kindness. Break out the pepparkakor because you will love this story.
MORE: Books about Tomten
THE TRUE GIFT by Patricia MacLachlan
This is a short, lovely novel. Siblings Lily and Liam go to spend Christmas with their grandparents. Liam thinks his grandparents' cow, "White Cow" looks lonely and he sets out to raise money to buy it a companion. He even sells his beloved collection of books. The community comes together to create a wonderful Christmas surprise for both the cow and the children. If you are looking for a heartwarming story that could be made into a Hallmark movie, this is it. Ages 6 and up.
THE NANNY PIGGINS GUIDE TO CONQUERING CHRISTMAS (series) by R.A. Spratt
Find it: Your Library | Amazon
In the past, I've made no secret of our love for Spratt's looney Nanny Piggins series. If you want series holiday reads, move past this one. But if you want to laugh your Christmas socks off, this is the book for your family. Interspersed with Nanny Piggins' advice on how to conquer the holiday season are recipes, Boris the bear's letters to Santa, Christmas games and holiday fashion advice (that you probably shouldn't take). Ages 7 and up.
MORE: Christmas Novels to Read Aloud
THE CHILDREN OF NOISY VILLAGE by Astrid Lindgren
I debated about putting this book on the list because it takes place over the course of a year, instead of being centered on the late fall/early winter period, but then decided since it's my book list, I could do what I wanted. Ha ha ha. Astrid Lindgren's charming and wonderful book about a group of neighbors is a snuggle-down book. The middle chapters are devoted to snow, Christmas and New Year, so head straight for those chapters if you must. Ages 5 and up.
THE LOTTERYS MORE OR LESS by Emma Donoghue
The Lottery family is a large, multicultural, blended, adoptive and homeschooling family. This December, their visitor from Brazil gets injured and has to remain with the family over the holidays. His addition to the festivities–and the Lotterys celebrate everything–from Holi to Christmas to Hogmany, as well as power outages across the city, adds a humorous layer to the already crazy antics of the family. Great fun to read aloud to the whole family. Ages 8 and up.
THE CLOCKWORK CROW (series) by Catherine Fisher
If you like a bit of gothic mystery with your holiday reading, this book is just the thing. While 12 year old orphan, Seren Rhyswaits waits for the train to her new home, a man leaves a mysterious box with her for safekeeping. He also gives her a warning: don't assemble the contents. (You know she obviously will!) Seren's new home in Wales does not the inviting Christmas spirit she hoped for. It's a rambling manor, abandoned by the family after the mysterious disappearance of their son. Despite the housekeeper's sharp admonitions, Seren is determined to find the missing boy, along with the help of the newly assembled Clockwork Crow. Ages 8 and up.
Hanukkah
MORE: Best Hanukkah Picture Books
THE GOLDEN DREIDEL by Ellen Kusner
It's Hanukkah and Tante Miriam gives Sara a large golden dreidel with a warning. Spinning the dreidel will bring miracles. Of course, Sara spins the dreidel! When she does, the dreidel transports her to another world and Sara must figure out a way to return home. Ages 7 and up.
ZLATEH THE GOAT AND OTHER STORIES by Isaac Bashevis Singer
This is a long time favorite book of mine, and is one that many families pass by. Don't be so foolish! If you are not familiar with Chelm, Singer's book of short stories is the best introduction. In Jewish folklore, Chelm came into being when an angel, tasked with distributing a sack of fools around the world, tripped and spilled them all in one place! Chelm is a village of fools and the seven Elders are the most foolish of all. There are seven stories in all, each with a little lesson to be gleaned, but read them for the light-hearted humor and a few giggles. Ages 5 and up.
A DREIDEL IN TIME by Marcia Berneger
This time traveling short novel is best for listeners ages 8 and under. Siblings Devorah and Benjamin can't wait to open their Hanukkah presents. But when Bubbe and Zayde finally arrive for the festivities, the pair are disappointed to find that what they got was an odd, old dreidel. But when they spin the dreidel it transports them to the land of the ancient Maccabees. Devorah and Benjamin help their new Maccabee friends battle against Antiochus. A fun and imaginative tale. Ages 5 (and maybe younger) and up.
ALL OF A KIND FAMILY (series) by Sydney Taylor
All-of-a-Kind Family is the first title in a classic series about a Jewish family with five girls growing up on the Lower East Side of New York City in the early 20th century. The old-school adventures of the family are heart-warming and entertaining. Ages 7 and up.
HOW I SAVED HANUKKAH by Amy Goldman Koss
Find it: Your Library | Amazon
Marla is the only Jewish kid in her fourth grade class. Her parents aren't very interested in Hanukkah celebrations and Marla envies her classmate's excitement over the holidays. However, this year Marla decides that she will make a go of it and introduce Hanukkah traditions to her family, starting with the dreidel game. In the end, they light the candles, eat latkes and even dance the hora with the neighbors. This is a fun, light-hearted read. Ages 6 and up.
Melissa@Julia's Bookbag says
FUN Erica!! I have Nancu and Plum, just been waiting for this yr to read it with J!!!
The Little Tourist says
Great book selections!
Jenna says
Thanks for this great list. I just requested, well, almost all of these from our library!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Happy reading!