Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, and Kwanzaa— this picture book list has you covered with our favorite new Diverse Books for the Holidays.
• Diverse Books for the Holidays •
TWELVE DINGING DOORBELLS
A cumulative all-holiday carol packed to the brim with family, food, love, and Black joy, especially perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, graduations, and all family celebrations.
Every holiday, aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and neighbors come over to eat, sing, and celebrate life. But all our main character can think about is the sweet potato pie Granny makes just for her. As tables fill with baked macaroni and cheese, chitlins, and other sides a-steaming, she and Granny move the pie to keep it intact. The task becomes tricker as the room grows with dancing and card games and pie cravings. Just when all seems lost and there’s no more pie, Granny pulls out a sweet surprise.
TWELVE DINGING DOORBELLS
Written by Tameka Fryer Brown and Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Published by Kokila Books
A PINATA IN A PINE TREE:
A Latino 12 Days of Christmas
An award-winning author and a rising star artist have put a festive Latino twist on The Twelve Days of Christmas, populating it with piñatas in place of partridges, plus burritos bailando (dancing donkeys), lunitas cantando (singing moons), and much more, all displayed in the most vivid colors imaginable.
In this version a little girl receives gifts from a secret amiga, whose identity is a sweet surprise at the book’s conclusion. There are things to find and count in Spanish on every page, with pronunciations provided right in the pictures and a glossary and music following the story. This joyous fiesta will warm even the coldest of hearts.
A PINATA IN A PINE TREE: A Latino 12 Days of Christmas
Written by Pat Mora and Illustrated by Magaly Morales
Published by Clarion Books
DADDY CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH MAMA
A perfect gift for the holiday season, no matter what you celebrate!I am a mix of two traditions.
From Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama.
How lucky am I?
Holiday time at Sadie’s house means golden gelt sparkling under the Christmas tree, candy canes hanging on eight menorah branches, voices uniting to sing carols about Macabees and the manger, and latkes on the mantel awaiting Santa’s arrival.
Selina Alko’s joyous celebration of blended families will make the perfect holiday gift for the many Americans who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.
DADDY CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH MAMA
Written and Illustrated by Selina Alko
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
THE SOUND OF KWANZAA
Hear the words, sing the songs, dance to the beat, and shout “Harambee!” as you jump into this joyful celebration of the sounds of Kwanzaa!
The sound is Umoja–bringing us together.
The sound is Kuumba–the songs of our ancestors.
The sound is Kwanzaa!Lively verse and colorful illustrations guide you through the seven principles of this festive holiday. All you have to do is come close, gather round, and discover what Kwanzaa is all about!
THE TRUTH ABOUT MRS. CLAUS
An empowering holiday picture book by Meena Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ambitious Girl.
Amalia the Elf loves everything about making teddy bears . . .
Watching Grandma and Mama sew!
Feeling the soft, velvety fur!
Imagining the bears in their new homes!
. . . except the bear-making part.Worried about disappointing her family, Amalia goes straight to Santa for advice. But it’s Mrs. Claus who knows how to solve Amalia’s problem–and who needs help with a secret of her own.
Written by Meena Harris and Illustrated by Keisha Morris
LATKES AND APPLESAUCE: A HANUKKAH STORY
A cat and dog create a Hanukkah miracle, just in the nick of time in this updated reissue of the beloved holiday classic.
The Menashes love latkes and applesauce during Hanukkah. But a blizzard begins and erases any hope that they’ll harvest potatoes and apples in time. When a stray cat and dog show up, there’s not a lot of food to offer them, but kindness prevails, and they’re invited in. It turns out that the dog–Latke–and the cat–Applesauce–save the day.
CARLA AND THE CHRISTMAS CORNBREAD
In this heartwarming tale inspired by her childhood, superstar chef and TV host Carla Hall shares the story of young Carla, who eats a sugar cookie meant for Santa on the night before Christmas and tries to make things right.
Christmas is Carla’s favorite holiday of the year. She goes to her grandparents’ house and eats grandma’s special recipe–a perfectly delicious cornbread. She listens to her grandpa Doc’s marvelous stories about traveling the world. And, best of all, she spends lots of time with her family.
But when Carla accidentally takes a bite out of Santa’s sugar cookie, she thinks she’s ruined Christmas. How will Santa know to stop at their house if they don’t leave him a midnight snack? With her grandmother’s help, Carla comes up with a plan, but will it be enough to save Christmas?
Published by Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
CHARLOTTE AND THE NUTCRACKER:
THE TRUE STORY OF A GIRL WHO MADE BALLET HISTORY
A reimagined and modern take on the holiday favorite, this picture book weaves together the classic Christmas tale of The Nutcracker and the true-life story of 12-year-old ballerina Charlotte Nebres, the first Black girl to play Marie in the New York City Ballet’s production.
The only thing Charlotte loves as much as ballet is Christmas. So, when she gets the opportunity to play Marie in the New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker, she leaps at the chance.
Dancing takes practice-hours of adjusting her arms and perfecting her jumps. With the help of her Trinidadian and Filipino families, encouragement from her sister, and a view of her mom and dad in the audience, Charlotte finds the strength to never give up.
In this spectacular debut full of fluid, dynamic illustrations, Charlotte provides youngsters with a multicultural tale of family, dance, and holiday cheer.
Written by Charlotte Nebres and Illustrated by Alea Marley
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Bethany Edwards is an elementary educator as well as a reading and literacy
specialist. On Biracial Bookworms, she focuses on multiracial and multicultural resources for teaching literacy skills using reading, travel, and learning multiple languages. Additionally, she offers online and self-paced courses for parents and caregivers on Biracial Bookworms Academy.
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