Celebrating Diverse Holidays and Traditions with 2022-2023 Children’s Books

Holidays and traditions are unique to each person and their family and can shape one’s experiences, beliefs and identities. Children who have an awareness, understanding and appreciation of other cultures are more likely to grow up to be adults who are more compassionate, kind and empathetic. Knowledge about other holidays and traditions creates a well-rounded and realistic view of the world.  

 

Books are great tools to help teach your child about the world through imaginative language and engaging storytelling.   

 

Below is a non-exhaustive list of books (and their descriptions) released in 2022 and 2023 available at the La Porte County Public Library to help introduce children to different holidays, cultures and customs.  

 

Eight Nights of Lights: A Celebration of Hanukkah by Leslie Kimmelman  

Happy Hanukkah! Count down each night with this gorgeous and fun holiday storybook. 

 

Celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah with this interactive, one-of-a-kind menorah and storybook set. The perfect Hanukkah gift for the entire family to enjoy! 

 

Each night, open a candle-shaped book and follow a young Jewish girl and her family as they decorate their home, say blessings, enjoy traditional foods and games, and gather to hear about the brave Maccabees and their victory that brought light to all Jews. 

 

Flip the book over to "light" the candle and place it back in the menorah to commemorate each night of the Festival of Lights! 

 

Celebrate with Us!: Enjoy 20 Celebrations All Around the World by Valerie Wilding  

From a feast for monkeys in Thailand to gifts from Grandfather Frost in Ukraine, twenty children from around the world introduce us to their favorite feasts, festivals and celebrations. 
 

Festivals by Jane Bingham 

An inviting feast of festivals, from well-known celebrations, such as Christmas, Hannukah, Eid and Diwali, to more surprising events such as the Woolly Worm Caterpillar Race and the Hungry Ghosts' Feast. Young children can dip in at any page and feel all the fun of the celebration, while learning about different cultures and traditions. 

 

Celebrating Día de los Muertos: History, Traditions, and Activities: A Holiday Book for Kids by Melanie Stuart-Campbell  

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with this fun introduction for kids ages 6 to 9. 

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday that celebrates loved ones who have passed on. This engaging book for kids explains the history, traditions, and customs of Día de los Muertos. It also includes activities that encourage kids to celebrate at home or in their communities. 

• Celebratory traditions--Kids will learn how Día de los Muertos is celebrated across the world, with parades, storytelling, music, and food. 

• A variety of activities--From baking pan de muerto (or "bread of the dead") to creating paper marigold flowers, kids can get festive in lots of hands-on ways. 

• Fun facts and illustrations--Colorful pictures and thought-provoking facts help kids discover new things about Día de los Muertos. 
   

Inspire kids to explore Día de los Muertos with this vibrant and lighthearted Day of the Dead book. 
 

On the Fourth of July by Maggie Rudd  

Happy birthday, America! This picture book celebrates patriotism, community, and summertime from the dynamic duo that brought you I'll Hold Your Hand. 

 

We lift our flags high above us in pride, waving stars and stripes with red, white, and blue. It's America's birthday, and that means cookouts, parades, and fireworks. When the cookouts are over and the pool gates are closed, families will walk from their houses, parade into town, and look at the stars. Surrounded by neighbors and friends, they will watch the fireworks show in wonder as it glitters and sparkles and paints the sky in celebration of Independence Day! 

 

On the Fourth of July is an energetic picture book from Maggie C. Rudd, with sparkling illustrations by Elisa Chavarri, that serves as a joyous ode to American pride and uplifting traditions in our country. 

 

Feasts and Festivals Around the World: From Lunar New Year to Christmas by Alice B. McGinty  

Explore the celebrations and feasts of twelve countries and cultures from around the world! 

From South Korea to Nigeria to the USA, come celebrate festivals throughout the year! People around the world are celebrating. In Australia, it's Christmas in summer with barbecues on the beach. In Thailand, they're celebrating Songkran, the famous Buddhist water festival. Rhyming text and graphic illustrations pair perfectly and invite young readers to explore the world through mesmerizing festivals. 

 

Giving Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday by Denise Kiernan  

The beautifully illustrated true story of how Thanksgiving became a national holiday in America, of Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who made the holiday happen, and of the role of gratitude the world over. Marvelously brought to life by the New York Times bestselling author Denise Kiernan. 

All across the world, among hundreds of cultures and across centuries, people have come together to give thanks. But Americans didn't have an official Thanksgiving holiday until the 1800s. The holiday Americans know today exists because of a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale, a spirited letter-writing campaign, a sympathetic president, and a civil war. 
 
This beautifully illustrated picture book shares the true story of how Thanksgiving became a national American holiday and offers a look at the timeless and global power of gratitude. 

 

Twelve Dinging Doorbells by Tameka Fryer Brown  

A cumulative all-holiday carol packed to the brim with family, food, love, and Black joy, especially perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, graduations, and all family celebrations. 

 

Every holiday, aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and neighbors come over to eat, sing, and celebrate life. But all our main character can think about is the sweet potato pie Granny makes just for her. As tables fill with baked macaroni and cheese, chitlins, and other sides a-steaming, she and Granny move the pie to keep it intact. The task becomes trickier as the room grows with dancing and card games and pie cravings. Just when all seems lost and there's no more pie, Granny pulls out a sweet surprise. 

 

Written to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," Twelve Dinging Doorbells is exuberant. Author Tameka Fryer Brown's cumulative rhyme is impossible to resist, and the humorous details in Ebony Glenn's cut-paper collage will welcome readers to this party again and again.

 

A Time to Celebrate by Kate Baker

This beautifully illustrated lift-the-flap book explores and celebrates different people, places, cultures and traditions from across the world. Featuring eight festivals, this title provides a glimpse into diverse traditions, customs and beliefs. Find out about New Year in China, Christmas in Germany, the Day of the Dead in Mexico and more. 

 
Celebrate with Me by Laura Gladwin 

Curated from the kitchen tables of people around the world, a joy-filled collection of recipes and crafts that celebrates festivals and special holidays throughout the year. 

 

Celebrate at the tables of artists, designers, and chefs with this book that offers families the chance to share in a world of parties, festivals, and holidays. Each spread features a different holiday and offers a step-by-step recipe, a craft activity, a personal story, and different ways to observe the holiday. With contributions from chefs such as Erin Gleeson and Joanne Chang; artists and authors including Dow Phumiruk and Queenie Chan; and designers such as Marta Veludo and Juliet Sargeant, Celebrate with Me! brings together personal stories and parties from around the world in a unique and engaging way that is sure to delight children and their families. 

 

This list is a condensed version of our hundreds of available options at our seven branches. Search the catalogue for a specific title, author or theme, and use the filters on the lefthand side of the page to refine your search. You may also stop by any of our locations with any questions – we are more than happy to help you find the perfect book for you and your family!