Skip to main content

Five Faves: December Holidays

By

December has a magical quality about it. The abundance of holidays celebrated this month have much to do with the enchanting ambience of the season. I would love to visit Japan in December to experience the celebrations behind the Buddhist holiday, Bodhi Day. Or visit a Jewish home to participate in the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah. Going to the UK to shop until I drop on Boxing Day would be a dream! And I'd love to witness the joy of friends and family at a Karamu Feast at the tail end of Kwanzaa. There are so many holidays, meaningful traditions, and joyful celebrations that occur all over the world in December and I wish I could be a part of them all. Luckily, we have a wealth of knowledge and vicarious experience at our fingertips through the library! Below are books about three December holidays, but you can find more books in our catalog and information about other December holidays in Provo Library's databases.

Christmas

Santa in the City
Written by Tiffany D. Jackson
Illustrated by Reggie Brown
Dial Books, 2021. Picture Book.

As a city kid, Deja is worried that Santa might not be able to visit her.  Her apartment doesn't have a chimney for him to come down and none of the parking spots on her block could fit a sleigh, let alone eight reindeer. But with a little help from her family, community, and Santa himself, Deja discovers that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in her city.

Joy to the World!: Christmas Around the Globe
Written by Kate DePalma
Illustrated by Sophi Fatus
Barefoot Books, 2021. Informational.

Learn about Christmas traditions from thirteen different countries!

Hanukkah

Ava's Homemade Hanukkah
Written by Geraldine Woberg
Illustrated by Julia Seal
Albert Whitman & Company, 2022. Picture Book.

Ava is old enough to make a personalized menorah to bring to her family's celebration on the eighth night, but she's not sure what represents her.  Will she find inspiration as she learns about her family's history?

Light The Menorah
Written by Jacqueline Jules
Illustrated by Kristina Swarner
Kar-Ben Publishing, 2018. Informational.

In this Hanukkah handbook, holiday history, rituals, activities, songs, and recipes provide tools for creating meaningful family moments in the light of the menorah. 

Kwanzaa

My First Kwanzaa
By Karen Katz
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2003. Picture Book.

A girl describes how she and her family celebrate the seven days of Kwanzaa.

The People Remember
Written by Ibi Zoboi
Illustrated by Loveis Wise
Balzer & Bray, 2021. Informational.

Recounts the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Mixed-Up Owl

By
The Mixed-Up Owl  Written by Marzena Sowa Illustrated by Joanna Lorno New York : Hippo Park, 2025. Picture Book. When Owl can't sleep at night, he heads off to see if any forest animals can help him understand why, and even more so, how to fix it!  Unfortunately, all the animals Owl runs into at night are asleep and all the animals he meets during the day are too rude or too busy to answer him.  Will Owl give up or will a chance meeting with a grumpy hedgehog provide all the solutions Owl was looking for? The premise of an owl trying to stay awake during the day because all the other animals around him do is very fun. Kids who know that owls are nocturnal will get a kick out of Owl's confusion and be quick to try to tell him what's going on.  Readers who don't know many facts about owls (or nocturnal animals in general) will get a brief introduction to the different ways animals sleep. The illustrations are charming, especially cute Owl and his expressive body langua...
Post a Comment
Read more

Display: Be A World Traveller

By Suzanne
Real Castles Around the World Written by Kaitlyn Duling Vero Beach, Florida : Rourke Educational Media, 2025. Informational. 48 pages Take a trip around the world as you read about the most impressive castles ever built! Explore fierce fortresses, castles that have inspired stories, uniquely colorful castles, and the history behind them all as you Travel to Real Castles Around the World! Part of the Travel to Children s Book Series, this 48-page nonfiction book explores castles both past and present, the kings that inhabited them, and knights that fought to protect them! Lower the drawbridge, cross the moat, and travel to real castles from all around the world as you learn about our magical history with fun-filled facts and vibrant photos. History Book Features: Before- and after-reading activities. Extension activity. Glossary About Rourke Educational Media: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Grounded for All Eternity

By
Grounded for All Eternity By Darcy Marks New York : Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2022. Fiction. 375 pgs. Malachi, Crowley, and Lilith are just your average, normal, middle-school kids. That is, if you consider living in the suburbs of Hell and having black feathered wings normal. They want to enjoy their school free vacation, but Hell is on lock down after the soul of Reverend Samuel Paris, leader of the 1693 Salem witch trials, escapes. Malachi and his friends travel to Earth, looking for some fun, but accidentally bring the Reverend's soul with them to modern day Salem, Massachusetts. Chaos ensues, and Malachi meets many new types of characters, such as witches, angels, and humans. Malachi and his friends must work together to return Reverend Sam's soul to Hell, or else all of Salem will be destroyed. Or worse, be grounded for all eternity.  Read this book for the ultimate Halloween experience, and if you want to revisit the ...
Post a Comment
Read more