That’s right – we’re posting this list in October so that you can get ready for December! Simply use this list to quickly pull together displays, featured reads or anything else you need.
Hanukkah Begins December 2
Glowing candles, silver stars, and blue ribbons—Hanukkah is full of light and color! Learn about the culture and customs of this eight-day celebration through vibrant photos and engaging text. Crayola ® colors and a reproducible coloring page inspire readers to notice and celebrate the colors of their world.
The Count’s Hanukkah Countdown
At a Hanukkah party on Sesame Street, Grover and the Count welcome visiting Israeli Muppet friends Brosh and Avigail, tell the story of Hanukkah, feast on latkes, and learn that EIGHT is the perfect Hanukkah number.
A sweet and playful cat encourages the reader to count to eight to celebrate Hanukkah. Can you spot the hidden objects? Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the brave Maccabees over the mighty armies of Syrian King Antiochus, and the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem. Celebrate Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights, with Dreidel Day!
Whimsical bunnies celebrate Hanukkah in this charming rhyming board book describing all the Hanukkah rituals beloved by Jewish kids.
Rescued from an animal shelter on the first night of Hanukkah, Latke has trouble learning the house rules. Despite a series of mishaps, he is one Lucky Dog!
Light the Menorah!: A Hanukkah Handbook
In this Hanukkah manual for the contemporary Jewish family, holiday history, rituals, activities, songs, and recipes provide tools for creating meaningful family moments in the light of the menorah. The book includes brief reflections to read aloud before reciting the candle-lighting blessings on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.
Sammy Spider watches longingly as Josh Shapiro lights another candle and receives another brightly-colored dreidel each night of Hanukkah.
Hour of Code
For a non-religious event in early December, consider an Hour of Code. The 2018 Computer Science Education Week will be December 3-9, but you can host an Hour of Code all year-round.
Once students in grades 3 to 4 are ready to start drag and drop or block coding programs, a perfect next step is Coding with Anna and Elsa: A Frozen Guide to Blockly. Activities featuring the cast of Disney’s Frozen and step-by-step visual instructions guide readers through exercises that teach sequencing, debugging, and more. Readers can try out the skills they learn at a companion sandbox site in partnership with Code.org, or a whole class can do the related Hour of Code project.
An updated, searchable list of our coding books is available here.
Christmas is December 25
Harriet and George’s Christmas Treat
Christmas is coming, and for Harriet and George that can only mean one thing: Ms. Hoozit is making fruitcake! Terrible memories of last year’s treat flash before their eyes. They just can’t face it again. Can Harriet and George survive the Chrsitmas treat?
Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Power of Giving A Christmas Story
Howard liked owning but not sharing. At Christmastime, he learned the joy of giving and valuing real things instead of stuff. Tips/lessons included. Reviews/support resources: http://www.wedolisten.org.
Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas
Every year, the Christmas family puts up the biggest Christmas tree. They hang up the most lights. And their dog, Rudy, barks “Jingle Bells” for the entire neighborhood to hear. The Christmas family LOVES Christmas!
That is, all except for seven-year-old Mary Christmas. Mary wants to love it. But how do you make a Christmas celebration better when it’s already as big as can be? With some help from her family—and Rudy—Mary just may find a way to make this year’s celebration the merriest yet.
With oversized humor and heart, this story of spreading Christmas cheer is sure to become a holiday classic.
The Nutcracker Comes to America
Every December, The Nutcracker comes to life in theaters all across the United States. But how did this 19th-century Russian ballet become such a big part of the holidays in 21st-century America?
Meet Willam, Harold, and Lew Christensen, three small-town Utah boys who caught the ballet bug in the early 1900s. They performed on vaudeville and took part in the New York City dance scene. Russian immigrants shared the story of The Nutcracker with them, and during World War II, they staged their own Christmastime production in San Francisco. It was America’s first full-length version and the beginning of a delightful holiday tradition.
“December 1: White envelopes float / from my overfilled mailbox— / December’s first storm.” You know that Santa can fly a sleigh, squeeze down chimneys, and circle the globe in a night. But did you know that another of his talents is writing haiku? These twenty-five short poems—composed by Santa himself—give you a peek into life at the North Pole as the December days tick down to Christmas. See the hustle and bustle of the elves’ workshop, feel the serenity of moonlight on fresh snow, and find out how Santa and Mrs. Claus keep busy as Santa’s big night draws near.
Have yourself a merry Dino-Christmas! Dinos big and small deck the halls and enjoy snowball fights, hot cocoa, a parade, and more. Share in the dinosaurs’ delight as they eagerly await the arrival of everyone’s favorite . . . Santa Claws!
Green, silver, white, and red—Christmas is full of color and cheer! In this book, young readers discover the many colors and symbols that fill Christmas with cheer. Vibrant, colorful photos and lively text highlight the colors, symbols, and customs of Christmas. Crayola ® colors and a reproducible coloring page inspire readers to notice and celebrate the colors of their world.
Want More?
For a blast from Christmas past (ok, from 2010), check out I’m Dreaming of a Blue Sunset.