Best Holiday Books for Babies and Toddlers

A city is blanketed in snow, and everything is peaceful and quiet. Only the crunch, crunch, crunch of snowy footsteps can be heard.

When a child’s mitten gets lost in the snow, a group of animals squeezes inside to keep warm. But what happens when a bear tries to squeeze in too?

Written to the rhythm of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” the story of this adorable little snowman’s sledding adventure is sure to keep your spirits up during the chilly winter season.

Cultures throughout history have celebrated the shortest day of the year in their own unique ways, but for everyone, it marks the same thing: the beginning of the winter season. This book’s simplistic explanations of ancient and modern traditions make this a great winter starter for toddlers and preschoolers, while the scientific facts and astrological charts in the back of the book are fun for older children.

Everyone’s favorite preschool friend is here to teach even the littlest readers about the traditions of Hanukkah, from the lighting of the menorah and singing of songs to playing with a dreidel and exchanging gifts.

As Hanukkah approaches in the winter of 1912, the youngest of five sisters wants to help prepare for the holiday. After her sisters reject her help and send her to her bedroom, Papa comes home and gives her the best job of all: lighting the first candle on the menorah.

With all the excitement through the eight nights of the holiday, some little ones may be tempted to misbehave. But do dinosaurs misbehave during prayer time and rituals? Your kiddo may be shocked to learn a lesson from some well-mannered dinosaurs.

This sturdy lift-the-flap book will lead baby on an exciting search for presents, and it’s perfect for getting even your smallest family member involved in the festivities.

At nearly 200 years old, this classic holiday poem is still read every Christmas Eve by countless parents to their wide-eyed little ones as they await Santa’s arrival.

When Maria thinks she’s lost her mother’s diamond ring in the bowl of masa, she and her cousins eat their way through a mountain of tamales to get the ring back. But a surprise awaits Maria once the tamal plate is empty.

The seven days of Kwanzaa are filled with family and festivities to embrace community and heritage. Get your little one ready to celebrate their first Kwanzaa with this holiday and vocabulary primer.

Granna Rabbit is sick, and Li’l Rabbit is afraid that means no Karamu feast this Kwanzaa. To help his Granna feel better, he goes on a quest to find a special treat for her, but he might need a little help along the way.

Black-eyed peas are a cherished New Year’s tradition for many American families, so when Shanté’s grandma forgets to cook them, she’ll have to rely on help from her neighbors to bring the good luck food for the new year.

As a family prepares for the Lunar New Year, they clean and decorate their house, make dumplings, put on special clothes and go to see the exciting parade with fireworks, lanterns, lions and—of course—a dragon!