Librarian
Amanda Mosley
she/her
Contact:
Y-229 (Library)
amanda.mosley@sfcollege.edu
amanda.mosley@sfcollege.edu
352-395-5436
Subjects: Education
Children's Books about Holidays
This list is an introduction to items in the Youth Collection related to holidays. All titles in this guide can be found in the second floor Youth Collection. Books with PICTURE, CHAPTER, or YOUNG ADULT in their call number are shelved in their respective sections within the Youth Collection; look for these stickers on the side of the item:
Titles with JUV in their call number are in the Juvenile Nonfiction section of the Youth Collection.
Christmas
'Twas Nochebuena by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / THONG, R. / 'TWAS NOCHE.Explores Latin American traditions for celebrating Christmas Eve in a text that combines English and Spanish words and follows the rhythm of Clement Moore's "The Night Before Christmas".
Celebrate Christmas by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE CH.Discusses the meaning of and traditions surrounding the celebration of Christmas.
Christmas For 10 by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / FALWELL, C. / CHRISTMAS FORRhyming text presents a traditional Christmas celebration in which various objects and people are counted.
Christmas Magic by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / STAINTON, S. / CHRISTMAS MA.Santa helps the reindeer find their missing magical bells.
Dewey's Christmas at the Library by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / MYRON, V. / DEWEY'S CHRIS.After finding a red ball of yarn, Dewey the cat, who lives in the Spencer, Iowa, public library, finds a way to help decorate the Christmas tree.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Call Number: PICTURE FAVORITES / DR. SEUSS / HOW THE GRINCHThe Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway.
The Night Before Christmas by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / MOORE, C. / NIGHT BEFORESince Clement Clarke Moore penned this Christmas classic in 1825, it has been beloved by children around the world. Now Rachel Isadora sets the poem in Africa, capturing the anticipation and excitement of Christmas in her stunning collages.
Olivia Helps with Christmas by Call Number: PICTURE FAVORITES / FALCONER, I. / OLIVIA HELPSAs she impatiently waits for Santa's arrival, Olivia the pig tries to help with family preparations on the day before Christmas.
The Polar Express by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / VAN ALLSBURG / POLAR EXPRESSA magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.
Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / FRAZEE, M. / SANTA CLAUSSanta Claus has his own ways of knowing more about children and toys than anyone else in the world.
Easter
Celebrate Easter by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE EAS.This joyous celebration of Easter is seen through a global perspective in this National Geographic volume featuring over 25 vibrant photographs.
Chicken Sunday by Call Number: PICTURE ALL/FAMILIES / POLACCO, P. / CHICKENTo thank Miss Eula for her wonderful Sunday chicken dinners, three children sell decorated eggs to buy her a beautiful Easter hat.
The Easter Egg by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / BRETT, J. / EASTER EGGHoppi the bunny wants to win the egg-decorating contest so the Easter Bunny will choose him to help distribute Easter eggs, but instead, while everyone else is working on their decorations, he finds himself guarding an egg that has fallen from a robin's nest.
The Egg Tree by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / MILHOUS, K. / EGG TREEKaty's Easter morning discovery renews the tradition of the Easter egg tree.
Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / KANN, V. / PINKALICIOUSWhen Pinkalicious wakes up on Easter morning, she finds a note from Edgar Easter Bunny that sends the Pinkerton family on an eggciting Easter scavenger hunt!
Fourth of July
Americana Adventure by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / GARLAND, M. / AMERICANATommy awakes on July Fourth to find a note from his eccentric Aunt Jeanne, promising a spectacular surprise if he unravels clues she has hidden for him.
Celebrate Independence Day by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE IN.Strike up the band, pack a picnic, and enjoy the fireworks. Celebrate Independence Day takes a nationwide perspective on the joy of America's biggest party.
The Fourth of July Story by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / DALGLIESH, A. / FOURTH OF JULYTwo-time Newbery Honor author Alice Dalgliesh makes history come alive in this accessible story of America's birthday
Halloween
And Then Comes Halloween by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / BRENNER, T. / AND THEN COMESWhen nighttime creeps closer to suppertime and the sky is that certain deep blue, then it's time to get ready for Halloween!
Carl's Halloween by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / DAY, A. / CARL'S HALLOW.Carl and Madeleine dress up in costume and go out on a Halloween adventure.
Celebrate Halloween by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE HA.Describes the origins of Halloween and how various countries celebrate it.
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / MONTES, M. / LOS GATOS BLA.Easy to read, rhyming text about Halloween night incorporates Spanish words, from las brujas riding their broomsticks to los monstruos whose monstrous ball is interrupted by a true horror.
The Story of the Jack O'Lantern by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / TEGEN, K. / STORY OF THEOn Halloween night, Jack--a stingy and mean man--makes a deal with the devil for a free dinner, only to regret his choice many years later when the devil comes to collect.
Hanukkah
Celebrate Hanukkah by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE HAN.The joyous celebrations of Jewish people around the world, including Ghana, Uganda, India, Israel, Peru, the United States and Poland, as they light menorahs, spin dreidels, and make latkes.
The Eighth Menorah by Call Number: ICTURE HOLIDAYS / WOHL, L. / EIGHTH MENO.Sam is reluctant to make a menorah in Sunday School because his family already owns seven, but after a conversation with his grandmother, he figures out how to make a perfect Hanukkah gift.
Eight Winter Nights by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / MELMED, L. / EIGHT WINTERShort verses describe symbols, foods, and family fun associated with the festival of Hanukkah. Includes facts about the history and traditions.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Call Number: PICTURE FAVORITES / YOLEN, J. / SAY HAPPY CH.Illustrations and rhyming text present some of the different ways a well-behaved dinosaur can celebrate the eight days and nights of Chanukah.
My Family Celebrates Hanukkah by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / BULLARD, L. / MY FAMILY CEL.Spin the dreidel! Eat some latkes! Learn all about why people celebrate Hanukkah through bright illustrations, recall questions, and charming text.
Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / SIMON, R. / OSKAR AND THEA young Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany arrives in New York City on the seventh night of Hanukkah and receives small acts of kindness while exploring the city.
Juneteenth
Free at Last by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / ROLLE, S. / FREE AT LASTFree verse by poet and activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle traces the solemnity and celebration of Juneteenth from its 1865 origins in Galveston, Texas, to contemporary observances all over the United States. This is an ode to the strength of Black Americans and a call to remember and honor a holiday whose importance reverberates far beyond the borders of Texas.
Juneteenth by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / GARRETT, V. / JUNETEENTHAn African American family attends a modern-day Juneteenth parade in Galveston, Texas (the birthplace of the holiday). Text includes lines from "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
Juneteenth for Mazie by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / COOPER, F. / JUNETEENTHLittle Mazie wants the freedom to stay up late, but her father explains what freedom really means in the story of Juneteenth, and how her ancestors celebrated their true freedom.
Kwanzaa
Celebrate Kwanzaa by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / OTTO, C. / CELEBRATE KW.Presents the African-American holiday, which falls during the festive, gift-giving season and is celebrated by families, communities, and schools throughout America.Habari Gani? What's the News? A Kwanzaa Story by
Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / MORNINGHOUSE / HABARI GANIA family celebrates each day of Kwanzaa.
My Family Celebrates Kwanzaa by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / BULLARD, L. / MY FAMILY CEL.Kwanzaa traces its origins to the American Civil Rights era. Critical thinking questions and fast facts prompt young readers to engage with this fun narrative and learn all about Kwanzaa.
The People Remember by Call Number: PICTURE HISTORY / ZOBOI, I. / PEOPLE REMEM.From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi comes her debut picture book--a tour de force that uses the principles of Kwanzaa to talk about the history of African Americans.
The Seven Days of Kwanzaa by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / GRIER, E. / SEVEN DAYS OFGives the principle and symbol for each day of Kwanzaa, with accompanying poems, songs, activities, and recipes.
The Sound of Kwanzaa by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / TOKUNBO, D. / SOUND OF KWA.Describes the seven principles of the festive Kwanzaa holiday.
Ramadan
Celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE RA.Presents the history of the Islamic holiday month of Ramadan and its ending celebration Eid al-fitr and describes the activities associated with them.
Hamza and Aliya Share the Ramadan Cheer by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / ABBAS, M. / HAMZA ANDThe Month of Ramadan is coming! Hamza and Aliya are excited to decorate their home, make new resolutions and bake scrumptious, nutritious recipes with their Mama and Baba. One afternoon, Mama falls asleep after preparing food to share with the neighbors, but she forgets to make dessert! Can Hamza and Aliya surprise their Mama with a delicious and nutritious dessert before she wakes up?
Hannah and the Ramadan Gift by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / RASHID, Q. / HANNAH ANDIt's the first day of Ramadan and Hannah wants to be a part of this important month every way she can. But if she's too young to fast, how can she observe Ramadan?
Lailah's Lunchbox by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / FARUQI, R. / LAILAH'SNow that she is ten, Lailah is delighted that she can fast during the month of Ramadan like her family and her friends in Abu Dhabi, but finding a way to explain to her teacher and classmates in Atlanta is a challenge until she gets some good advice from the librarian, Mrs. Carman.
The Night Before Eid by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / KHALIL, A. / NIGHT BEFOREThree generations of Egyptian Americans share special memories and a precious recipe in preparation for Eid al-Fitr, the feast that marks the end of Ramadan.
The Night of the Moon by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / KHAN, H. / NIGHT OF THEYasmeen has a wonderful time celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with her family and friends.
Thanksgiving
Giving Thanks by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / KIERNAN, D. / GIVING THANKSAll across the world, among hundreds of cultures, over centuries, people have come together to give thanks. But in America, we 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.
Keepunumuk by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / GREENDEER, D. / KEEPUNUMUKIn this Wampanoag story told in a Native tradition, two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Rules by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / FRIEDMAN, L. / THANKSGIVINGYoung Percy Isaac Gifford provides a list of ten rules for getting the most out of Thanksgiving Day, especially how best to enjoy the buffet.
Other Holidays
Celebrate Chinese New Year by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / OTTO, C. / CELEBRATE CHI.For two joyous weeks red is all around. The color represents luck and happiness. Children receive money wrapped in red paper, and friends and loved ones exchange poems written on red paper. The Chinese New Year is also an opportunity to remember ancestors, and to wish peace and happiness to friends and family.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / OTTO, C. / CELEBRATE CIN.An introduction to the history and traditions surrounding the Cinco de Mayo holiday.
My Family Celebrates Day of the Dead by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / BULLARD, L. / MY FAMILY CEL.Day of the Dead is a holiday when families celebrate their loved ones who have died. Learn all about the customs of this holiday with text feature questions.
Dia de Los Muertos by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / THONG, R. / DÍA DE LOS MUE.El Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead, is here--a holiday for celebrating the lives of departed family and friends. Altars are decorated with sugar skulls and marigolds. Tamales and sweets are ready to eat. Soon it will be time for picnics, music, and a costume parade!
Celebrate Diwali by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE DI.Beautiful, dynamic photographs and brief, lively text introduce readers to the joyous holiday of Diwali, evoking the celebrations of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world.
Shubh Diwali! by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / SOUNDAR, C. / SHUBH DIWALIThe festival of lights is here--time to celebrate the New Year! Diwali has arrived!
Flag Day by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / DEAN, S. / FLAG DAYEvery year, North Americans fly the American flag on June 14th. This show of patriotism isn't in anticipation of Independence Day; its a different holiday entirely. Flag Day is a celebration of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag. The book helps beginning readers learn about our flag, how we take care of it, and how we honor it as a national symbol.
Go to Sleep, Groundhog by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / COX, J. / GO TO SLEEPWhen Groundhog is unable to sleep, he experiences autumn and winter holidays he never knew about, and then he finally falls asleep before Groundhog Day.
Labor Day by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / SCHUH, M. / LABOR DAYSimple text and photographs describe the history of Labor Day and how this holiday, which honors people who work, is celebrated in the United States.
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Call Number: PICTURE HISTORY / RAPPAPORT, D. / MARTIN'S BIGIn this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., author Doreen Rappaport combines her spare, lyrical text with King's own words for an effective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the world's greatest civil rights leaders.
Mooncakes by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / SETO, L. / MOONCAKESA little girl celebrates the Chinese Moon Festival with her parents, who tell her three legends about the moon while they eat mooncakes and drink tea.
A Persian Passover by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / BASSERI, E. / PERSIAN PASS.Ezra and Roza are helping to prepare for their Passover celebration. Join the siblings as they experience the sights, smells, and sounds of a seder in Iran of the 1950's.
Max Makes a Cake by Call Number: PICTURE FOOD / EDWARDS, M. / MAX MAKESMax finds the perfect way to make a unique Passover surprise birthday cake for his mother.
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / HEILIGMAN, D. / CELEBRATE RO.Describes how the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are celebrated around the world.
Ten Mice for Tet by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / SHEA, P. / TEN MICE FORA village of mice prepares for Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, as different numbers of mice give gifts, cook food, and celebrate in other traditional ways.
Celebrate Valentine's Day by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / OTTO, C. / CELEBRATE VAL.Discusses the history and traditions of Valentine's Day on February 14th as a celebration of friendship, affection, sweethearts, and love. Includes information on how the holiday is celebrated in various places around the world.
Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / PARISH, H. / AMELIA BEDELIALiteral-minded even as a child, Amelia Bedelia muddles through Valentine's Day with her heart on her sleeve, trying to make sense of strange greetings at school and home, and ever on the look-out for the arrows of Cupid.
Veterans Day by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / SCHUH, M. / VETERANS DAYAn introduction to the history, purpose, and observance of Veterans Day, when we honor men and women who have served in the United States military.
Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood by Call Number: PICTURE HOLIDAYS / PFUNDSTEIN, V. / VETERANS: HER.A boy asks his father for help after his teacher asks each of her pupils to name a veteran whom he or she knows. The boy soon discovers that many of the familiar people who work in his neighborhood are heroes who have served in the country's military.
