Enjoy the coziness of old traditions with the excitement of learning about new ones in these December holiday books about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

A Very Fuddles Christmas by Frans Vischer
Twas the holiday season of treasures and treats. but Fuddles the cat only wanted to eat….and open his presents, then sit down and play but that’s not what happened on one Christmas day.

Christmas for 10 by Cathryn Falwell
Rhyming text presents a traditional Christmas celebration in which various objects and people are counted.

I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison
As she and her mother enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season, a young girl feels the Christmas spirit in every jingle, yum, and ho ho ho.

Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland
In an old Russian village, Sadie and her brothers are poor and hungry until an old woman gives Sadie a frying pan that will make potato pancakes until it hears the magic words that make it stop.

Little Red Ruthie: a Hanukkah tale by Gloria Koster
This clever spin on the classic LIttle Red Riding Hood tale introduces Hanukkah traditions in a humorous and unexpected way.

Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson
Unhappy in his cramped, cold hole, Mortimer Mouse moves into a nativity scene thinking it is the perfect home for him, until he discovers who truly belongs there.

Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht
A holiday read-aloud evokes the rituals of decorating a Christmas tree, from picking out just the right tree and digging out boxes of decorations to stringing tinsel and turning on the twinkling lights.

Presents Through the Window by Taro Gomi
When busy Santa selects the presents by peering through the windows of each house and guessing what animal lives there, the results are often unexpected. Features die-cut illustrations.

Santa’s Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene
When Santa becomes stuck in the chimney of a house on Christmas Eve, the dog, the cat, the reindeer, and a mouse try to free him.

The Christmas Baby by Marion Dane Bauer
A simple retelling of the Nativity story that celebrates the timeless joy of welcoming a new baby into the world. 

The Legend of Old Befana: an Italian Christmas story by Tomie dePaola
Because Befana’s household chores kept her from finding the Baby King, she searches to this day, leaving gifts for children on the Feast of the Three Kings.

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola
A retelling of the traditional Mexican tale of how the poinsettia became the beautiful plant associated with Christmas.

The Longest Christmas List Ever by Gregg Spiridellis
While creating his Christmas list Little Trevor tries to include everything, from night-vision binoculars to an invisible robot that is easy to hide, but he ends up learning that there is more to the holiday than just the gifts. 

Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford
While celebrating Kwanzaa and its many traditions with her parents, Kayla hopes that her big brother Khari will get home from college before the holiday is over.

‘Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Thong
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”.

Uncles and Antlers by Lisa Wheeler
Once a year, every year, the seven uncles gather. Shaggy coats/ scarves of red/ Two tall antlers/ on each head. Is it their niece they’ve come to see? Surely, yes. Is it their job they’ve come to do? Most definitely. And is she eager to join in the fun? Absolutely!