Holiday Books for Children 2011

If you would like to share the celebration of the holiday season with your children, there are some really great holiday-themed books out there right now that children of all ages and reading abilities will enjoy. Reading a book to your child is a wonderful way to create lasting memories, while celebrating the holidays and promoting literacy.

We've put together a list of our favorite picks for the holiday season and we hope you'll consider picking one (or more!) of these books for the children in your life.
These books were featured on Sunday Morning Magazine, which airs on Sundays at 7 a.m. on the radio stations Q102, B-105, Rewind 94.9 and 97.3 The Wolf. Check out Sunday Morning Magazine on Facebook by clicking here! 

Our friends at cincysavers.com are giving each of these featured books away to one lucky family! Click here to enter the contest! 

Oh, What a Christmas!

Written & Illustrated by Michael Garland

Ages 4–8

New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Michael Garland encourages giggles and laughter when Santa unknowingly embarks on one wild, Christmas Eve sleigh ride in Oh, What a Christmas! When the harness to Santa’s sleigh breaks mid-flight, Dasher, Dancer, and the rest of the reindeer gang fly off into the night leaving Santa and all of his presents stranded! What is Santa to do and who will guide his sleigh and save Christmas now? Luckily, Santa lands near a tiny barn filled with sleepy animals that just might be able to help. With a twinkle in his eye, and a nod of his head Santa enlists the help of his new barn friends, with the hope that they can fly—oh, my! Oh, What a Christmas! is an upbeat and humorously sweet holiday story about Santa's soon-to-be-classic wild and crazy sleigh ride one special Christmas Eve.

Making a Friend

Written by Alison McGhee

Ages 4 and up

Bestselling author, Alison McGhee reminds us all that nothing that has been cared for can ever disappear for good, as she reminds us, “What you love will always be with you.” This tender story about the power of friendship will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

Hanukkah Hop

Written by Erica Silverman & Illustrated by Steven D’Amico

Ages 3-6

Erica Silverman's lively, rollicking text and Steven D'Amico's delightfully vibrant illustrations are sure to inspire every member of the family in celebrating the Festival of Lights! 

Song of the Stars

Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones & Illustrated by Alison Jay

Ages 4 and up

The skies shouted it to the seas that thundered it to the waves that roared it to the great white whales that sang it to the starfish in the deep. And tiny sandpipers danced it on shining sands… “It’s time! It’s time!” On one quiet night, creation whispered a secret. Grass and bees, robins and trees all spread the word. Sheep told their young while angels sang the song to the shepherds. Hushed news of a miracle echoed to the ends of the earth. The moment had come. The long-awaited child had arrived! Creation cried out in celebration, but only a few people heard. Only a few joined nature’s chorus, a song in praise of the newborn King.

Jingle Bells

Written by John Harris & Illustrated by Adam Gustavson

Ages 4 and up

We all know how the song “Jingle Bells” starts, but what about how it began? Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be(October 2011) tells the surprising tale of how the snowy classic originated during a heat wave in Savannah, Georgia, of all places.

When James Lord Pierpont is tasked with writing a new song for his church’s holiday concert, he worries that he won’t be able to compose anything. Rising conflict over the church’s anti-slavery stance and a miserable heat wave make it hard to believe that Christmas is only a month away. While lamenting that his daughter has never seen snow—a staple of his own childhood spent in Boston but a rarity for the children of Savannah—Pierpont finds his inspiration for the song that would eventually become a beloved holiday classic. John Harris’s charming fictional account of the true story behind the song “Jingle Bells” harmonizes perfectly with Adam Gustavson’s lively illustrations.

LISTEN TO THE SILENT NIGHT 

Written by Dandi Daley Mackall and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

Ages 3 & up  

It was not such a silent night when Baby Jesus was born. From the baa, baa, baa of sheep to the flut-flut-flutter of angel wings, it was actually quite noisy! Here, from CBA bestseller Dandi Daley Mackall, is the story of the first Christmas, using the sounds of that miraculous night to really bring the story to life. With rich, gorgeous paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, this reverent retelling of the nativity is sure to become an essential part of every Christmas collection.

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 

by Laurel Long

Ages 3-5

On the first day of Christmas, it begins.  The astounding talent of Laurel Long brings this beloved carol to life with breathtaking style.  Set against a Renaissance countryside, nine ladies dance in the glowing moonlight among bird-shaped topiaries.  Each day brings a new gift, and like each verse of the song, the previous gifts are repeated in every illustration, culminating in a staggering spread featuring them all.