![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/images.helpteaching.com\/Winter-Holidays-Reading-List.jpg\")
The holidays are the perfect time to curl up with the kids or gather all of your students on the rug and read a good book. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or just want a nice winter read, we\u2019ve got something for you. Our holiday reading list includes classic tales, read-alouds, and even some more recent stories that may become new holiday traditions. Here’s our winter holiday reading list for kids!<\/p>\n
From classics like \u201cHow the Grinch Stole Christmas\u201d and \u201cThe Polar Express\u201d to more recent additions such as \u201cThe Elf on the Shelf\u201d there are plenty of Christmas stories for kids to enjoy around the holidays. While these stories are listed by age, many of them will be enjoyed by the whole family.<\/p>\n
The Sweet Smell of Christmas <\/strong>by Patricia M. Scarry (Worksheet<\/a>) A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree<\/strong>\u00a0by Colleen Monroe (Worksheet<\/a>) Merry Christmas, Mouse!<\/strong> by Laura Numeroff (Worksheet<\/a>) The Elf on the Shelf<\/strong> by Carol V. Aebersold (Worksheet<\/a>) The Gingerbread Man<\/strong> by the Brothers Grimm (Read-Aloud<\/a>) The Snowman<\/strong> by Raymond Briggs (Worksheet<\/a>) The Polar Express<\/strong> by Chris Van Allsburg (Worksheet<\/a>) How the Grinch Stole Christmas<\/strong>\u00a0by Dr. Seuss (Worksheet<\/a>) \u2018Twas the Night Before Christmas\u00a0<\/strong>by Clement Clarke Moore (Read-Aloud<\/a>) The Elves and the Shoemaker<\/strong> by The\u00a0Brothers Grimm (Read-Aloud<\/a>) The Gift of the Magi<\/strong> by O. Henry (Worksheet<\/a>) A Christmas Carol<\/strong> by Charles Dickens \n Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or simply want to teach children more about these Jewish holidays, these books will introduce kids to the history and principles of The Festival of Lights.<\/p>\n The Latke Who Couldn\u2019t Stop Screaming<\/strong> by Lemony Snicket (Worksheet<\/a>) How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?<\/strong> by Jane Yolen (Worksheet<\/a>) Latkes and Applesauce<\/strong> by Fran Manushkin (Worksheet<\/a>) The Story of Hanukkah<\/strong> (Read-Aloud<\/a>) The Purse of Gold<\/strong> (Read-Aloud<\/a>) Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins<\/strong> by Eric Kimmel (Worksheet<\/a>) Hanukkah Haiku<\/strong> by Harriet Ziefert (Worksheet<\/a>) Hanukkah Mad Libs\u00a0<\/strong>by Roger Price and Leonard Stern (Worksheet<\/a>) \n There aren’t as many stories written about Kwanzaa as their are for other winter holidays, but we’ve found a few to help kids learn about the holiday. All of the books promote the holiday’s theme of celebrating black heritage and living life in a positive way.<\/p>\n Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa<\/strong> by Donna L. Washington (Worksheet<\/a>) Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story<\/strong> by Angela Shelf Medearis (Worksheet<\/a>) Seven Days of Kwanzaa<\/strong> by Angela Shelf Medearis In addition to these stories, Help Teaching’s Kwanzaa Reading Passage<\/a> gives kids a brief overview of the holiday and the seven principles it celebrates and our Lessons page features a read-aloud story to represent each principle of Kwanzaa, including: Anansi Writes a Song<\/a> (Kuumba), Anansi and His Sons<\/a> (Umoja), The Collared Crow<\/a> (Imani), The Feast<\/a> (Ujamaa), The Great Drum<\/a> (Ujima), The Three Tests<\/a> (Kujichagulia), and The Name of the Tree<\/a> (Nia).<\/p>\n For younger students or whole group activities, you might enjoy Elementary Librarian’s favorite Christmas read-alouds<\/a>.<\/p>\n We know there are many other great holiday books for kids. What are some of your favorites?<\/p>\n
Pine trees, gingerbread men, and hot cocoa are all traditional Christmas smells kids can experience as they sniff their way through this scratch & sniff Christmas story.<\/p>\n
For years, the old pine tree has sat in the field, wishing to be a Christmas tree. Seeing him so sad gives the animals an idea to help him get his wish.<\/p>\n
Mouse, from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie<\/em>, decorates his Christmas tree in this simple counting book for young children.<\/p>\n
The Elf on the Shelf<\/em> has become a tradition for many families. Even if you\u2019re not a fan of the elf, you can read this fun story with kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t catch me, I\u2019m the gingerbread man!\u201d This classic tale about a popular Christmas cookie is a great read during the holidays. Read it to kids or let them enjoy this read-aloud version<\/a> on their own.<\/p>\n3-5<\/h3>\n
A boy builds a snowman who ends up taking him on an adventure in this classic Christmas story.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll aboard!\u201d The Polar Express takes young boys and girls to the North Pole. After reading the book, watch the movie version with kids and compare the difference.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard not to love this Christmas classic from Dr. Seuss about a Grinch whose heart grew two sizes that day.<\/p>\n
\u2018Twas the Night Before Christmas<\/em> has been retold many times. Listen to the original version of the story, called \u201cA Visit From St. Nicholas,\u201d in this read-aloud version<\/a>.<\/p>\n
A poor shoemaker wakes up one morning to find his day\u2019s work has already been done in this classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The read-aloud version<\/a> is fun to listen to with kids.<\/p>\n6-8<\/h3>\n
\u201cOne dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all.\u201d Those lines begin the classic story about a young couple in love and the sacrifices they make for Christmas.<\/p>\n
Chances are you know a few Scrooges of your own. Read about the original Scrooge in this classic Christmas story. You can also find worksheets covering each stave of A Christmas Carol on Help Teaching’s literature page<\/a>.<\/p>\nWinter Holidays Reading List for Kids: Hanukkah Stories<\/h2>\n
K-2<\/h3>\n
Lemony Snicket\u2019s The Latke Who Couldn\u2019t Stop Screaming<\/em> is a hilarious story about a latke. As kids read the story, they\u2019ll also learn about the importance of Hanukkah.<\/p>\n
The How Do Dinosaurs Say<\/em> series is popular with kids and How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah <\/em>is no exception. This simple story teaches kids about some of the traditions of Hanukkah.<\/p>\n
A lack of money and food won\u2019t stop a family from having a wonderful Hanukkah in this touching story about the holiday.<\/p>\n3-5<\/h3>\n
Give kids a refresher on the story behind Hanukkah. Our short read-aloud<\/a> introduces them to the history of the holiday and explains why the Menorah is lit today.<\/p>\n
This Jewish folktale isn’t necessarily a Hanukkah story, but the moral of the story is a good one to teach kids around the holiday. A beggar finds a purse of gold, but kids have to listen to the read-aloud<\/a> to discover what happens next.<\/p>\n
Every year the goblins come out and try to ruin Hanukkah for the village. This year, however, Hershel shows up to send them packing.<\/p>\n6-8<\/h3>\n
Experience the sights, sounds, and events of Hanukkah through a series of haiku. Once kids have read the haiku in the book, encourage them to write their own to share their experiences and thoughts about Hanukkah.<\/p>\n
A Mad Libs book may not seem like a great choice, but these Mad Libs take Hanukkah events and allow kids to add their own words to create truly hilarious stories. While this book is more about creating than reading it’s a great way to get often disinterested pre-teens and teens involved in the holiday.<\/p>\nWinter Holidays Reading List for Kids: Kwanzaa Stories<\/h2>\n
Inspired by Brer Rabbit stories, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa<\/em> tells the story of a rabbit who wants to make his Kwanzaa better. Throughout the story, he learns some important lessons about the holiday.<\/p>\n
This story tells the tale of seven brothers who are always fighting. When their father dies, he leaves them with a seemingly impossible task. As they complete the task, the brothers learn the importance of working together.<\/p>\n
In this informational book, kids will learn about the key principles of Kwanzaa. They’ll also crafts, recipes, and other activities related to the holiday.<\/p>\n