Winter & Winter Holiday Books

The age classifications (from various sources) are a guide to get you started, with the earliest age we think a child will generally enjoy the story. However, parents know their children best and should use their judgment.

Other Seasonal/Holiday books: Spring, Summer, Fall
Check out more general suggestions from NJ parents & children, top picks from ParenthoodNJ and library picks
On this page (click to jump to specific section) Valentine's Day, Groundhog Day, St. Patrick's Day, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa

Winter

Sandra K. Lee's reviews of great winter books: 2009

Infants & Older

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert (ages 3-8)
Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals (baby-toddler)
One Mitten by Kristine O'Connell George (Pre-K to Gr 1)
Penguins, Penguins Everywhere! by Bob Barnker (PreK & older)

Sleepy Bear by Lydia Dabcovich (infant & older)
The Snow Bear by Miriam Moss (ages 4 to 8)
Oh! by Kevin Henkes (infant & older)

Toddlers & Preschoolers

Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft & Richard G. Van Gelder (Pre-K to Gr 1)
The Snow Day by Komako Sakai (pre-K & older)
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming (pre-K & older)
Snow Family by Daniel Kird (Pre K & older)
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London (ages 2-6)
The Jacket I wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel (ages 4-8)
If You Were a Penguin by Florence Minor (ages 4-8)
Playful Little Penguins by Tony Mitton (ages 4-8)
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming (2 yrs & older)
Is That You, Winter? by Stephen Gammell (ages 3 to 6 yrs)
Snow Day by Lynn Plourde (ages 3 to 6)
Winter Trees by Carole Gerber (Pre-K to Gr 2)
Snip, Snip...Snow! by Nancy Poydar (Pre-K to Gr 2)
Time to Sleep (An Owlet Book) by Denise Fleming (ages 3 to 6)
The Biggest Snowball Ever! by John Rogan (ages 3 & up)
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson (ages 3 to 7)
Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee (Pre-K to Gr 2)

Elementary School

The Biggest Snowball Fight (Rhyme Time Readers) by Angela Shelf Medearis (pre-K to 1st gr)
The Snowball (Step-Into-Reading, Step 1) by Jennifer Armstrong (ages 4 to 8)
Snow (Ready-to-Read. Level 1) by Marion Dane Bauer (Pre-K to Gr 2)

Groundhog Day

Toddlers & Preschoolers

Go to Sleep, Groundhog by Judy Cox (Pre-K to Gr 2)
Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub (ages 4-8)
Ten Grouchy Groundhogs by Kathryn Heling (ages 4-8)

Elementary School

A Garden for a Groundhog by Lorna Balian (K-Gr 3)
The Groundhog Day Book of Facts & Fun by Wendie C. Old (Gr 2-5)
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller (K to Gr 3)

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Book Reivew

Infant & Older

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (infant & up)
Mommy Loves Me by John & Wendy (infant & up)
Tucker's Valentine by Leslie McGuirk (baby-preschool)

Toddlers & Preschoolers

The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll (ages 4-8)
Hugless Douglas by David Melling (ages 2-6)
If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant (ages 4-8)
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen (ages 2-5)
Valentine Mice! by Bethany Roberts (ages 2-6)
Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond (ages 3-6)
Porcupining: A Prickly Love Story by Lisa Wheeler (Pre-K to Gr 2)
Sweet Hearts by Jan Carr (ages 2-6)

Elementary School

Dinosaur Valentine (Read With Me) by Liza Donnelly (ages 4-8)
Too Many Valentines by Margaret McNamara (Pre-K-Gr 2)
The Best Thing About Valentines by Eleanor Hudson (ages 4-8)

President's Day

Presidents' Day by Anne Rockwell (ages 4-8)

St. Patrick's Day

To learn more about St. Patrick's Day: History of St. Patrick's Day; St. Patrick's Day traditions

Toddlers & Preschoolers

The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever! by Teddy Slater (ages 4-8)
Leprechaun Gold by Teresa Bateman (ages 4 & up)
St. Patrick's Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting (ages 4 & up)
Jack and the Leprechaun by Ivan Robertson (ages 4-8)
Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman (ages 4-8)
Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill by Tomie De Paola (ages 3 & up)

Elementary School

Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk by Gerald McDermott (K to Gr 3)
O'Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott (Gr 1-5)
A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski (K to Gr 2)
Too Many Leprechauns: Or How That Pot o' Gold Got to the End of the Rainbow by Stephen Krensky (K to Gr 4)
The Leprechaun Who Lost His Rainbow by Sean Callahan (ages 4-8)
St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons (Kindergarten to Gr 2)
St. Patrick's Day by Anne Rockwell (Kindergarten to Gr 2)

Hanukkah

To learn more about Hanukkah (or Chanukkah): The History of Hanukkah, All About Hanukkah, Judaism 101
Review of winter holiday books

Infants & Older

Dinosaur on Hanukkah by Diane Levin Rauchwerger (infant & up)
Light the Candles: A Hanukkah Lift the Flap Book by Joan Holub
My First Menorah by Salina Yoon
D is for Dreidel by Tanya Lee Stone
A Chanukah Present For Me! by Scholastic (baby-preschool)

Toddlers & Preschoolers (2 to 4 yrs)

Hanukkah Moon by Deborah Da Costa (ages 4-8)
Dinosaur on Hanukkah by Diane Levin Rauchwerger
Eight Candles to Light: A Chanukah Story by Jonny Zucker (pre-k to 5 yrs)
Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah by Sylvia A. Rouss
Light the Lights! (A story about celebrating Christmas & Hanukkah) by Margaret Moorman (ages 4-7)
Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser (pre-K to Gr 2)
The Runaway Dreidel by Leslea Newman (Pre-K to Gr 2)
Zigazak! A Magical Hanukkah Night by Eric A. Kimmel (ages 4-8)
Letter on the Wind: A Chanukah Tale by Sarah Marwil Lamstein (ages 4-8)
Eight Winter Nights: A Family Hanukkah Book by Laura Krauss Melmed (Pre-K to Gr 1)
The Eight Nights of Chanukah by Leslea Newman (ages 2 & up)
The Hanukkah Trike by Michelle Edwards (ages 4 to 8)

School Age (5-8 yrs)

Hanukkah Moon by Deborah Da Costa (ages 4-8)
Light the Lights! (A story about celebrating Christmas & Hanukkah) by Margaret Moorman (ages 4-7)
Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser (pre-K to Gr 2)
How I Saved Hanukkah by Amy Goldman Koss (Gr 3-6)
Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story by Laura Krauss Melmed (ages 5-8)
Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story by Naomi Howland (ages 5-8)
Fireside Stories by Caitlin Matthews - stories from around the world including those of Jewish & Christian traditions (ages 4-8)
The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes by Linda Glaser (K to Gr 3)

School Age & Pre-Teen (9-12 yrs)

The Magic Menorah: A Modern Chanukah Tale by Jane Breskin Zalben (ages 7 to 10)

Christmas

To learn more about Christmas: Christmasday.org, History of Christmas
Review on holiday books

Infants & Older

What is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams
Rudolph's Bright Christmas by Don Williams
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (board book; baby-preschool)
Little People Christmastime is Here! by Fisher Price
Santa's Busy Day - a lift-the-flap book by Julie Sykes
Santa Paws by Rachael Hale
Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck
The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman (ages 2-4)
Christmas Eve (Usborne Touchy Feely) by Fiona Watt (baby-preschool)
My Peekaboo Christmas Fun (baby-preschool)

Toddlers & Preschoolers

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Santa's Busy Day! by Julie Sykes (a lift-the-flap book)
The Mouse Before Christmas by Michael Garland (preschool-Gr 2)
My Treasury of Christmas Stories by Gaby Goldsack
The Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson (Pre-K to Gr 2)
Merry Christmas Curious George by Cathy Hapka (Pre-K to Gr 1)
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner (Pre-K)
A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
Light the Lights! (A story about celebrating Christmas & Hanukkah) by Margaret Moorman (ages 4-7)
A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe (preschool & older)
A Present for Santa Claus by David Wood (ages 4-6)
Tyrannoclaus by Janet Lawler (ages 4-8)
Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini (ages 3 to 6)
The Great Reindeer Rebellion by Lisa Trumbauer (Pre-K to Gr 3)
What Santa Can't Do by Douglas Wood (Pre-K to Gr 2)
The Christmas Baby by Marion Dane Bauer (ages 4 to 8)
The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll (ages 4 to 8)
Have You Been Naughty or Nice? by Ethan Long (ages 2 & up)
Oh, What a Christmas! by Michael Garland (ages 3 & up)
Christmas Magic by Sue Stainton (ages 3 & up)

School Age (5 to 8 yrs)

The Mouse Before Christmas by Michael Garland (preschool-Gr 2)
A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
Light the Lights! (A story about celebrating Christmas & Hanukkah) by Margaret Moorman (ages 4-7)
Fireside Stories by Caitlin Matthews - stories from around the world including those of Jewish & Christian traditions (ages 4-8)
The True Gift: A Christmas Story by Patricia MacLachlan (ages 5 & older)
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (Gr 1 to 3)
Grumpy Badger's Christmas by Paul Bright (K to Gr 2)
One Enchanted Christmas by Sally Onopa (kindergarten & older)

Pre-Teen (9-12 yrs)

The Joy of a Peanuts Christmas: 50 Years of Holiday Comics by Charles M. Schulz
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Gr 5 & up)
A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck (ages 9-12)
The Return of the Light: A Christmas Tale by Dia Calhoun (aes 9 to 12)

Kwanzaa

To learn more about Kwanzaa: History of Kwanzaa
Review on holiday books

Infants & Older

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Kwanzaa illustrated by Rex Perry (a Jump at the Sun Holiday Classic for ages Pre-K to Gr 2)

Toddlers & Preschoolers (2 to 4 yrs)

Seven Days of Kwanzaa (a Holiday Step Book) by Ella Grier (pre-K to Gr 2)
My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz (Pre-K to Gr 2)
My First Kwanzaa Book by Deborah M. Newton Chocolate (ages 4-8)

School Age (5 to 8 yrs)

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis (ages 5-8)
My First Kwanzaa Book by Deborah M. Newton Chocolate (ages 4-8)
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