Holiday Books for Kids Children and books are inextricably linked at Christmas. Toys will break, candy will be eaten, but books can be read year after year. You don’t have to worry if your friend’s children have read The Polar Express, or if your niece has already read her way through Nancy Drew -- there are so many good books you’re sure to find something that’s new to them. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is observed all over the world. It is an eight-day family and religious holiday commemorating the 165 B.C.E. victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the Hellenist Syrians. After the battle, the Maccabees wanted to rededicate their temple in Jerusalem, but they had run out of oil. They found one small container with just enough oil for to keep a flame burning for one evening. The flame lasted for eight days! It is this miracle that is remembered and celebrated today. Kwanzaa ("first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili) was founded in 1966 to pay tribute to the oneness and goodness of life. It is a seven-day secular celebration (Dec. 26 – Jan. 1) honoring the differences between -- and unity among -- the many African-American communities. It is not affiliated with any one religion but spirituality and faith are important parts of the observance. Kwanzaa ends with a feast on either Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, when family and friends get together and exchange gifts. Why not add to your celebration by sharing some of these holiday books with your children?

	Snowflake Bentley by Martin, Jacqueline Briggs, Azarian, Mary Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $17.00 Published: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), 1998 Inventory Status: Usually Ships in 1-5 days   See all editions of this title. In among all the Christmas tales and stories, how about a little nonfiction? This beautifully illustrated 1999 Caldecott Medal winner tells the true story of Wilson Bentley of Vermont. Bentley was fascinated by snow from a young age. After years of trial and error he discovered a method of photographing snowflakes, and it was he who discovered the immense variety of snowflake shapes and patterns. Children and adults alike will love this book: Bentley’s enthusiasm and curiosity, dedication, and eventual triumph in such an ephemeral field gives hope to everyone.
	Red Ranger Came Calling by Breathed, Berkeley Format:  Trade Paperback Price:  $7.99 Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1997 Inventory Status: Usually Ships in 1-5 days   See all editions of this title. A truly magical experience with a real surprise at the end. This is one of my favorite children’s books, Christmas-themed and otherwise. Red (based on the author’s father) doesn’t believe in adults, never mind Santa Claus, but when he meets a grumpy old man who claims to be the infamous Father Christmas, Red can’t help but place the tiniest bit of faith in the old man -- just in case! Huge, bright pictures throughout will have you laughing and wondering just how far Red will go in pursuit of the one thing he wants in life, a new Buck Tweed bicycle.
	The Snowman by Briggs, Raymond Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $17.00 Published: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1978 Inventory Status: Usually Ships in 1-5 days   See all editions of this title. Raymond Briggs does a great job with this story without any words. One of the best books to reverse the usual roles and ask your child to tell you the story. A boy wakes up and sees it has been snowing, so he runs out and makes a snowman, and, that night, when he can’t sleep, he finds the snowman has come alive! A magical tale.
	Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story by Melmed, Laura Krauss, Slonim, David Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $15.95 Published: HarperCollins Publishers, 2000 Inventory Status: Special Order - Subject to Availability   See all editions of this title. Moishe has been overgenerous and his wife is moaning that they might go hungry this Hanukkah but Moishe -- and his wife! -- will be rewarded. Of course in a story like this nothing is simple. What will happen when Moishe’s wife meddles? This is a fresh take on the magic cooking pot fairy tale and the author’s have fun with it. After reading this you might want to have the cookbook ready! (Ages 5-10)
	Chanukah Lights Everywhere by Rosen, Michael J., Iwai, Melissa Format:  Trade Paperback Price:  $7.00 Published: Voyager Paperbacks, 2006 Inventory Status: Usually Ships in 1-5 days   See all editions of this title. One crescent moon glows in the sky. Two headlights shine through the window. . . . On each magical night of Chanukah, a young boy and his sister count more lights shining all around them! Join them as they discover what it means to celebrate Chanukah in a world filled with so many other lights.
	Eight Candles for Lighting: A Chanukah Story (Festival Time) by Zucker, Jonny, Cohen, Jan Barger Format:  Trade Paperback Price:  $6.95 Published: Barron's Educational Series, 2002 Inventory Status: Usually Ships in 1-5 days This charming picture book for younger children describes a typical family's celebration of the Jewish Festival of Light. After Dad reads the kids a story from Jewish history, the family sings and lights the candles. The kids spin their dreidels, and all exchange gifts. At last the family sits at the dinner table, where they eat, drink, talk, and laugh. This delightful picture book depicts a typical Jewish family as they celebrate one of the year's most important holidays. The traditional warmth of the Jewish holidays are reflected in cheerful and attractive little stories that speak not only to Jewish children but to boys and girls of all faiths. On the last two pages of each book, the traditions and meanings of the holiday are summarized for parents to relate to their children. There are attractive color illustrations on every page.
	My First Chanukah by dePaola, Tomie, dePaola, Tomie Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $5.99 Published: Grosset & Dunlap, 2008 Inventory Status: Usually Ships in 1-5 days   See all editions of this title. Ideal for toddlers and young children who are beginning to discover the joy of the eight days of Chanukah, this board book not only shows children the wonder of Chanukah, but also stresses the meaning of this special time of year.
	Celebrate Kwanzaa (Holidays Around the World (Hardcover)) by Otto, Carolyn Format:  Hardcover (Cloth) Price:  $15.95 Published: National Geographic Society, 2008 Inventory Status: Special Order - Subject to Availability   See all editions of this title. "Celebrate Kwanzaa" continues the spectacular Holidays Around the World series by focusing on this African-American holiday, which falls during the festive, gift-giving season and is celebrated by families, communities, and schools throughout America. With succinct, lively text and beautiful photographs, the book celebrates African-American culture and helps us to understand and appreciate this special holiday. Over the course of seven days, African Americans, families and friends, come together to light the candles that symbolize their past and future--and their unity. They gather as a community to make music and to dance; to feast on harvest foods and the good things of the earth; and to exchange simple, often homemade, gifts. Readers are introduced to the symbols of the holiday, such as the "mkeka" (a special placemat), "kinara" (candleholder), and "kikombe cha umoja" (unity cup). Important concepts, like the seven principles, are explained. In addition, a note from the book's consultant, aimed at parents and teachers, puts the holiday in its full cultural and historical perspective.
	The Children's Book of Kwanzaa: A Guide to Celebrating the Holiday by Johnson, Dolores M., Dragonwagon Crescent Format:  Trade Paperback Price:  $12.99 Published: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1997 Inventory Status: Usually Ships in 1-5 days   See all editions of this title. Each year on December 26, the African American holiday of Kwanzaa begins. What is the purpose of Kwanzaa? How did it get its start? Dolores Johnson's easy-to-follow guide gives detailed descriptions of Kwanzaa's principles and symbols. This comprehensive resource also includes recipes and craft and gift ideas, as well as suggestions to help young readers and their families create their own special Kwanzaa celebration.
	Kwanzaa Fun: Great Things to Make and Do (Holiday Fun) by Robertson, Linda Format:  Trade Paperback Price:  $4.95 Published: Kingfisher, 2003 Inventory Status: Special Order - Subject to Availability   See all editions of this title. The simple and clear step-by-step instructions will make it easy for children to build a kinara and mishuma saba, paint a family tree, construct unity dolls, weave a mkeka, and make a unity cup. They'll also learn the history and the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
The Christmas Story (Little Golden Book) by Werner, Jane, Wilkin, Eloise Burns