Kids

Ava's excited to say goodbye to el Año Viejo--but will her shyness keep her from joining in the celebration?

Ava Gabriela is visiting her extended family in Colombia for the holidays. She's excited to take part in family traditions such as making bunuelos, but being around all her loud relatives in an unfamiliar place makes Ava shy and quiet. How will Ava find her voice before she misses out on all the New Year's fun?

This captivating picture book introduces the customs and traditions of an important Chinese holiday in a story that bursts with color and light to warm even the darkest days of winter.

It's Dongzhì, the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Weiwei's family has moved to a new place, where instead of hummingbirds, palm trees, and chrysanthemum bushes, all she sees is a blanket of snow. This frozen place feels nothing like home.

But Dongzhì is all about finding warmth through togetherness, even in the depths of winter. With her family by her side, maybe Weiwei can do more than just endure the cold. 

Like the chickadees that sing and the méihua that bloom, can she open her heart and embrace the season? 

Informational back matter provides further context about the holiday and its history, along with a recipe for tang yuan, a traditional Dongzhì treat.

Experience the enchanting and timeless tale of expectation, anticipation, and wonder crafted by renowned children's book author Bernette Ford. The Magical Snowflake captures the heartwarming essence of a young girl amid the frosty snow, making it more than just a children's Christmas book; it's an inclusive holiday read-aloud book that celebrates the winter season, community, family, and friendship.

Set in the midst of winter's chill, with an absence of snow, Ori and her friends yearn to play outdoors. Ori makes a heartfelt wish, and soon, a special snowflake brings joy to the entire town. Guided by the confidence of a young girl and the assured storytelling voice of author Bernette Ford, The Magical Snowflake leads readers through moments of pure delight, filled with song, dance, and seasonal cheer.

For those seeking winter books or the perfect toddler books this holiday season, The Magical Snowflake promises to be the surprise of the year. Destined to become a classic among Christmas books for kids, this story's enchanting protagonist, Ori, will inspire both children and adults to partake in the merriment and sing along to "We wish you a merry winter." The vibrant illustrations by Erin K. Robinson bring these unforgettable scenes to life, ensuring that this story will be etched in your heart forever.

In this seasonal treasure, Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper’s beloved poem heralds the winter solstice, illuminated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis’s strikingly resonant illustrations.

So the shortest day came,
and the year died . . .

As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper’s poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before — and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. Richly illustrated by Carson Ellis with a universality that spans the centuries, this beautiful book evokes the joy and community found in the ongoing mystery of life when we celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule!

Deck the halls and mix up the eggnog! It's Christmas Eve for little Danielle and Francesco—a time for family, presents, music, and most importantly . . . food!

The siblings are very excited to celebrate at Aunt Babe's house, where there are too many aunties, uncles, and cousins to count. And all is peaceful and bright—until they realize that someone forgot to bring the dessert! Francesco and Danielle know they can save Christmas, but only if they can remember their mother's cheesecake recipe before it's too late.
This festive tribute to food and family will get young readers in the holiday spirit and make them very hungry for a Christmas feast—Italian style!

Start your own holiday tradition inspired by this bestselling Yuletide story. Based on a real Icelandic tradition where people gift books to their family and friends on Christmas Eve, The Christmas Book Flood brings all the sparkle and anticipation of the winter season―and of the joys of reading―to the page.

As northern lights dance and snow blankets the ground, a young girl searches for the perfect book to give her loved ones for their annual book exchange on Christmas Eve. When December 24th finally arrives, they gather together to share magical stories, curl up by the fire, and read all night long—so the Book Flood begins!

With gorgeous artwork, a lyrical text, and a diverse cast of characters, Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss’s heartwarming picture book is a surefire holiday classic best enjoyed with a mug of hot cocoa.

Includes an author’s note explaining the book’s inspiration and the historical origins of the Icelandic tradition.

In this reinvention of the classic holiday carol "The 12 Days of Christmas," five golden rings become five Nana hugs, eight maids a-milking become eight mugs of cocoa, and much more, as a family comes together to celebrate the holidays.

In the first hour of Christmas Santa left for me...a kitten underneath the Christmas tree!

It's December 25th, and one big family isn't wasting a minute of this special day! Grandparents arrive, cousins build snowmen, Uncle Lee tells jokes, Auntie takes pictures, and the whole family shares a holiday feast before it's finally time to say goodbye and good night. This fun-filled, modern take on the classic song celebrates the most important part of Christmas Day: being together.

In this sweet and humorous picture book, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas, a multi-cultural family (Mom's Indian; Dad's Jewish) celebrate Hanukkah while incorporating traditional Indian food. 

Instead of latkes, this family celebrates Hanukkah with tasty Indian dosas. To her brother's chagrin, little Sadie won't stop climbing on everything both at home and at the Indian grocery store, even while preparing the dosas. As the family puts the finishing touches on their holiday preparations, they accidentally get locked out of the house. Sadie and her climbing skills just may be exactly what is needed to save the day.

International Latino Book Award Honorable Mention

In this story about Día de los Reyes, or Three Kings’ Day, a girl and her family discover new ways to celebrate their Puerto Rican heritage in Ohio.

It’s eleven days after Christmas and Lucía yearns to be in lush Puerto Rico celebrating Día de los Reyes with family and friends. But this year, instead of dancing and singing in the parrandas of her Puerto Rican neighborhood, she is surrounded by cold and silence in snow-blanketed Ohio. How will she ever be able to guide the Three Kings to her new home in the frosty Midwest? This picture book is a celebration of Puerto Rican culture, heartwarming family tradition, and a reminder that we all carry a piece of home with us wherever life may take us.

The beloved characters from Sydney Taylor's All-of-a-Kind Family return in this heartwarming picture book from the acclaimed author and Caldecott Award-winning artist. A Kirkus Reviews best book of the year that is perfect for Hanukkah gift-giving!

"Share this joyous holiday tale of a Jewish immigrant family all year long." -- Kirkus Review, starred review 

The beloved All-of-a-Kind Family comes to life in a new format perfect for younger readers. Join the five sisters back in 1912, on the Lower East Side of NYC, and watch as preparations for Hanukkah are made. When Gertie, the youngest, is not allowed to help prepare latkes, she throws a tantrum. Banished to the girls' bedroom, she can still hear the sounds and smell the smells of a family getting ready to celebrate. But when Papa comes home she is given the best job of all: lighting the first candle on the menorah.
First published in 1951, Taylor's chapter books have become time-honored favorites, selling over a million copies and touching generations of readers. In this time when immigrants often do not feel accepted, the All-of-a-Kind Family gives a heartwarming glimpse of a Jewish immigrant family and their customs that is as relevant--and necessary--today as when it was first written. Jenkins and Zelinsky's charming compliment to Taylor's series perfectly captures the warmth and family values that made the original titles classics.

Inspired by a true story, this is a tale of a community that banded together to spread light.

It's a holiday season that both Isaac, whose family is Jewish, and Teresa, whose family is Christian, have looked forward to for months! They've been counting the days, playing in the snow, making cookies, drawing (Teresa) and writing poems (Isaac). They enjoy all the things they share, as well as the things that make them different.

But when Isaac's window is smashed in the middle of the night, it seems like maybe not everyone appreciates "difference."

Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith team up for an unforgettable celebration of Christmas.

We all know that Santa makes everyone’s dreams come true every Christmas, but it turns out that he needs a little help getting into the holiday spirit himself. Instead of letting Santa get right back to work after he returns home to the North Pole on Christmas morning, his loyal elves want to make sure he experiences the same Christmas cheer he provides for others. With the perfect tree, lots of delicious treats, and, of course, presents, Santa experiences the magic of Christmas for the very first time.

Beloved children’s book creators Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith have unveiled Santa unlike ever seen before, and as a result, created a merry new Christmas classic.