To me, part of being a good citizen of the earth is respecting and understanding the diversity of cultures that co-habitate this planet. So when December holiday season rolls around, I actively seek out ways to broaden my children’s understanding of “the reason for the season” beyond Christmas. 

 

This is not to say that we don’t love and celebrate Christmas ourselves.

We do. But, pretty much everywhere we go during this month, we are surrounded by Christmas lights, decorations, trees, “ugly” sweaters, and any other symbol of this holiday that you can imagine. Finding symbols of other religious traditions that are also celebrated around this time is much harder. 

 

Growing up half Jewish in New York City, it was very common to see a menorah in every apartment building lobby, store window, and in many friends’ homes. But where I live now doesn’t have that same level of diversity, and so I find myself having to work harder to create these learning opportunities for my children.

 

Something we love to do as a family is read books.

And so children’s books about diverse holidays and cultural traditions are a natural way for us to educate our kids (and ourselves) on the different ways that people all over the world celebrate this time of year. 

 

I combed local libraries and bookstores to find this highly curated selection, and thought my Eco Friendly Mama audience would appreciate the recommendations. Please note that the following includes some Amazon affiliate links, which cost you nothing to click on, but could earn me a very small commission. Please see my Privacy Policy for more info!

Here are 8 fantastic children’s books for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, mixed celebrations, and more!

 

Hanukkah Holiday Books For Kids:

These three books about Hanukkah are timeless favorites in our home. They’re all board books and are written in a way that even my 2-year-old can enjoy them. 

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel! – a cute little book that basically sets the classic song to a picture book. It’s published by Scholastic, so if your kid’s school using their monthly book order forms, you can probably buy it that way, or click on the book title above to buy directly from Amazon. 

 

Happy Hanukkah, Curious George – takes readers through all the fun traditions related to this holiday (you can see they are listed by tabs on the right side). It even includes an easy recipe for latkes (potato pancakes). 

 

My First Menorah by Salina Yoon – this cleverly shaped book, which doubles as a menorah of sorts, goes into depth on the meaning behind each night of Hanukkah and the specific concepts that are celebrated with each candle that is lit (truth, justice, love etc.). Before my now 6-year-old was mature enough to be able to sit through all the text on each page, we’d just go through turning each page (which “lights” another candle on the book’s built-in menorah) and use it as a counting activity.

Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko – If you’d like to know how some families with mixed religions celebrate the holidays, this sweet book provides an entertaining glimpse into how traditions can be blended together to create a new and equally meaningful holiday celebration.

 

Kwanzaa Holiday Books For Kids:

My First Kwanzaa – Karen Katz is a favorite author in our house, especially for the toddler set. We have several of her books already, like Where Is Baby’s Belly Button, A Potty For Me, and Where Is Baby’s Birthday Cake? This one, which explains the basics of the Kwanzaa holiday tradition, doesn’t disappoint! 

 

 

I’m going to admit that I really didn’t know much about the actual teachings of Kwanzaa beyond its candle lighting and roots in African American culture. So I really enjoyed reading this book with my son and learning how each night involves doing good in different ways. Akin to the Jewish concept of mitzvahs and being a mensch.  

As an eco-conscious person who believes in shopping local and supporting small businesses, I especially love that the fourth night of Kwanzaa encourages shopping in neighborhood stores to help family-owned businesses. What a great concept to incorporate into your holiday traditions!

 

Ramadan Holiday Books For Kids:

My First Ramadan – I saw this one on the back of My First Kwanzaa. While I haven’t read it yet, I’m guessing it’s along the same lines, and is likely as charming and sweet as all the other Karen Katz books I’ve seen. 

 

Night Of The Moon by Hena Khan – if you’re looking for a book about Ramadan with a bit more detail for an older child, this is a wonderful one. With lush phrasing and illustrations in the style of classic islamic art, this book tells the stories of Ramadan, Eid, and Chaad Raat. 

 

Feliz Navidad Holiday Book For Kids:

Merry Navidad! by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy – Though this is still technically a book about Christmas, I think it’s worth including here since it celebrates the traditions of Feliz Navidad, which is Spanish for Christmas. Where I live in Southern California for example, Feliz Navidad carves out a unique space of its own within the overall Christmas celebration, and includes its own traditions such as making delicious corn tamales. This book provides an interesting glimpse into Hispanic Christmas traditions and the various ways the holiday is celebrated in the Spanish-speaking world. 

 

One holiday tradition I realize is not included here, but probably should be, is Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. I’d also like to learn more about Bodhi day, which is the Buddhist celebration of enlightenment.

If you have children’s book recommendations for these, or any other diverse holiday celebrated at this season, please let me know in the comments!

• Bodhi Day
• Christmas
• Diwali
• Hanukkah
• Kwanzaa
• Ramadan