Heartwarming Tales for the Holidays

Christmas   -   Hanukkah   -   Kwanzaa   -   Winter Solstice

Christmas

	Bond, Rebecca A City Christmas Tree Maggie visits the Christmas tree man on Liberty Street, then brings her brothers, sister, and finally her parents, as they each dream their own dreams of what it means to have a Christmas tree in the city.
	Brown, Marc Arthur's Perfect Christmas Even without snow, turkey dinner and a perfect tree, Arthur and his family and friends have a wonderful Christmas--and Hanukkah--celebration.
	Carlson, Nancy Harriet and George's Christmas Treat While getting ready for Christmas, Harriet and her friend George try to avoid Ms. Hoozit and her fruitcake, only to miss out on a yummy treat.
	Cowley, Joy Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas When Mrs. Wishy-Washy asks her farm animals to take a bath for Christmas, they need to find a way to take one without freezing.
	Falconer, Ian Olivia Helps with Christmas Bursting with personality and big ideas as always, Olivia the pig tries to help with the preparations on the day before Christmas.
	Falwell, Cathryn Christmas for 10 Rhyming text presents a traditional Christmas celebration in which various objects and people are counted.
	Feliciano, Jose Feliz Navidad: Two Stories Celebrating Christmas Beautiful illustrations of the Puerto Rican holiday tradition, la parranda, accompany the words to Jose Feliciano's well-known song.
	Hapka, Cathy Merry Christmas, Curious George Separated from the man in the yellow hat while at a Christmas tree farm, Curious George ends up at a hospital where he delights the child patients with his own brand of tree trimming.
	Heiligman, Deborah Celebrate Christmas: With Carols, Presents, and Peace One of a series from National Geographic, this informative book features appealing photographs of celebrations around the world.
	Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane Las Posadas: An Hispanic Christmas Celebration Follows a Hispanic American family in a small New Mexican community as they prepare for and celebrate the nine-day religious festival which occurs just before Christmas.
	Johnson, David A. Snow Sounds: An Onomatopeic Story A nearly-wordless book in which a young boy, eager to reach a much-anticipated holiday party on time, listens to the sounds of the shovels, snow plow, and other equipment used to clear his way.
	Joy to the World: a Family Christmas Treasury Ed. Ann Keay Beneduce A collection of stories, poems, songs, and plays about Christmas, both sacred and secular, arranged in the categories of "The Star," "The Manger," "The Gift Givers," "The Tree," and "Christmas Everywhere."
	Katz, Karen Counting Christmas Perfect for the very youngest listeners, this board book combines the everyday skill of counting and with the anticipation of Christmas to create a charming story.
	McDonald, Megan Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Spending holidays with friends is always fun, so be sure to pick up this latest story featuring Judy Moody and her little brother Stink.
	McKissack, Patricia The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll Learning to share can be a challenge, but sometimes it's a necessity as in this tender tale of a cherished toy.
	Oppenheim, Joanne The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: a Mexican Christmas Story (2003) A retelling of a Mexican legend that describes the origin of the poinsettia plant. In this version, a young girl has nothing to give the Christ child, but when the weeds she carries in her hands miraculously transform into red flowers, she now has the perfect gift.
	Polacco, Patricia Welcome Comfort Welcome Comfort, a lonely foster child, is assured by his friend the school custodian that there is a Santa Claus, but he does not discover the truth until one wondrous and surprising Christmas Eve.
	Stiegemeyer, Julie Merry Christmas, Cheeps! Illustrated by Carol Baicker-Mckee Those cute and fluffy chicks are back-and this time they are busy celebrating.
	Stoeke, Janet Morgan Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve Minerva Louise the confused but charming chicken stars in another hilarious tale, this time focusing on the antics of a mysterious "farmer" in a red hat.
	Tafuri, Nancy The Donkey's Christmas Song Various animals welcome a new baby born in a stable with their special sounds, but the donkey is afraid that his braying will be too harsh.
	Wells, Rosemary Max & Ruby's Christmas Tree Fans of the irrepressible Max and Ruby will welcome their appearance in this holiday tale.
	Wilson, Karma Bear Stays Up For Christmas Illustrated by Jane Chapman Bear interrupts his winter slumbers to celebrate with his friends.
	Yin Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor A magical look at the holidays in an inner city high rise is captured, when Willy and Carlos, who is in a wheelchair, receive a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, even though they live on the nineteenth floor of their building.

Hanukkah

	Baum, Maxie I have a Little Dreidel An illustrated retelling of the classic Hannukah song, with directions for playing the dreidel game and a recipe for making latkes.
	Ben-Zvi, Rebecca Tova Four Sides, Eight Nights Provides young readers with an informative guide to the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah through a review of its food, games, and many traditions. The children's game of dreidel, jokes, history, customs, trivia, and science facts come to life with wacky and informative illustrations throughout.
	Bloom, Daniel Halevi Bubbie and Zadie Come to My House: A Story of Hanukkah Illustrated by Alex Meilichison Joy and magic combine to illuminate the spirit of Hanukkah.
	Cohen, Santiago It's Hanukkah! Introduces the traditions and celebration of Hanukkah through preparations made by various family members as the candles are lit one by one.
	Hanukkah Lights: Holiday Poetry Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins A collection of poems that celebrate the activities and experiences of Hanukkah.
	Kimmel, Eric The Chanukkah Guest On the first night of Chanukkah, Old Bear wanders into Bubba Brayna's house and receives a delicious helping of potato latkes when she mistakes him for the rabbi.
	Kimmel, Eric A. ZigaZak! A Magical Hanukkah Night Two evil spirits wreak havoc on the town of Brisk's Hanukkah celebration, until the town's wise rabbi puts a stop to their mischief.
	Spinner, Stephanie It's A Miracle!: a Hanukkah Storybook Illustrated by Jill McElmurry Stories for each night of Hanukkah explain the events behind the celebration.

Kwanzaa

	Cooper, Melrose The Seven Days of Kwanzaa Illustrated by Jeremy Tugeau An adaptation of the popular holiday song, this version celebrates the traditions of Kwanzaa.
	Ford, Juwanda G. K is for Kwanzaa: a Kwanzaa Alphabet Book (1997) Celebrates the African-American holiday Kwanzaa by introducing related words from A to Z, including "Africa," "bendera," "dashiki," and "yams."
	Perry, Rex It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Kwanzaa! A family celebrates Kwanzaa.
	Saint James, Synthia The Gifts of Kwanzaa Explanation of the seven principles of Kwanzaa and what they mean for daily living for African Americans.

Winter Solstice

	Jackson, Ellen The Winter Solstice Presents facts and folklore about the shortest day of the year, a day that has been filled with magic since ancient times.
	Pfeffer, Wendy The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice Illustrated by Jesse Reisch A straight-forward description of how and why daylight grows shorter as winter approaches, this informative book includes activities.
	Shragg, Karen Solstice Tree for Jenny Jenny feels left out when her parents, unlike the neighbors, do not observe any of the holidays in December, and so she and her family decide to create a celebration of the winter solstice that reflects their own beliefs.

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