Every year we do four gifts for each of our kids. Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. Along with what they get from Santa, stockings, and other family members it is more than enough. I love doing this because it makes it super easy to buy them gifts and helps with our budget. Having four kids starts to get pricey if you buy everything on their wish list. We usually will also do pajamas and a family book or movie on Christmas Eve. Here are a few holiday book ideas to give to your kids this year.
Here are three great holiday book options from Candlewick Press: The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol, Pick a Pine Tree, and Dasher.
Candlewick Press has been around for more than 30 years and is an independent publisher based in Somerville, MA. They have been publishing children’s books for all ages, including books by award-winning authors and illustrators such as Kate DiCamillo, M. T. Anderson, Meg Medina, Jon Klassen, and Laura Amy Schlitz; the widely acclaimed Judy Moody, Mercy Watson, and ’Ology series; and favorites such as Guess How Much I Love You, Maisy, and Where’s Waldo? by Martin Handford. Candlewick is part of the Walker Books Group, together with Walker Books UK in London and Walker Books Australia.
Holiday Book Ideas for Kids
Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol by Arthur A. Levine is perfect for ages 5 to 8. This is a mythical and magical take on the way Jewish families came to give and receive gifts over Hanukkah, thanks to a loving spirit named Nate Gadol with the help of Santa. They work together to help families in need in the 19th century New York. This was a great one to read with our kids and share how other families celebrate in their own ways. I love that the illustrations throughout this book are speckled with gold.
Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht is great for ages 3 to 7. This is a story talking about the tradition of bringing your tree home, then pulling out the boxes of ornaments and tree trimmings, decorating, then at long last turning on the lights and feeling the magic. Throughout the book, there is a lot of rhyming text filled with joy. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and the last page features a pop-up Christmas tree. This is the perfect size for a stocking stuffer.
Dasher by Matt Tavares is a good book for ages 4 to 8. This Holiday children’s reindeer book goes through the story of the adventurous young reindeer named Dasher. She spends her days under the hot sun traveling with her family in the circus. She really wants a different life where there is snow below her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day she gets that opportunity and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. She soon meets Santa and with the help of a powerful Christmas wish nothing will ever be the same again. This would make a great book for a Christmas Eve read-aloud.
Do you have a favorite holiday book you like to read with your kids?
Ever since my twelve-year-old son was a baby I made it a point to read to my kids, because it is so important for them to be read to and for them to read out loud. Children’s holiday books are some of my favorite books to read to my kids. The Pick a Pine Tree book was Prestyn’s favorite book to read.
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