Light up December's long dark days with holiday stories for family sharing.
An Angel Came to Nazareth: A Story of the First Christmas by Anthony Knott (Chronicle, $15.95, ages 3-6)
Maggie Kneen's gold-accented illustrations and Knott's rhymes tell the story of animals who choose among four travelers (one of which is Mary) to carry "the greatest of them all". The donkey, choosing last, brings the greatest gift.
My First Hannukah Board Book (Dorling Kindersley, $5.99, ages 2-4)
Die-cut pages in the shape of a menorah and bright illustrations introduce the holiday to young listeners.
The Wee Christmas Cabin of Carn-na-ween by Ruth Sawyer (Candlewick, $14.99, ages 7-10) is the perfect longer picture book for a family share. The classic gains new warmth with illustrations by Max Grafe. The Hegartys take in a babe left at their door, knowing their Irish neighbors won't care for a deserted "tinker's child". And as she grows, beautiful, gentle Oona can find no one who will marry or provide her a home. After a life of helping young, old, sick and weak, caring Oona is cast out on a cold winter's night. Magical beings provide her with her a cabin which appears for those in need. The Irish voice is strong, but readable.
A Doll for Navidades by Esmeralda Santiago, (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 5-8)
This true story from the author early life in Puerto Rico is threaded with Spanish feelings. Esmeralda grows up fast when her wish that the Three Magi bring her a special doll goes unfulfilled. Her sister, Delsa, receives the doll and makes Esmeralda a madrina (godmother) which is "almost as good".
Dear Santa Claus by Alan Durant (Candlewick, $14.99, ages 5-9)
Do you struggle with answering the questions that plague young children who are beginning to have Christmas doubts? In a series of letters to Santa, Holly questions everything from the mall Santas to how he gets down the chimney, Santa returns warm answers as well as a few surprises tucked into the book's envelopes.
Singing is such a great way to relieve stress. Here are three books to help! John Neale's Good King Wenceslas (Eerdmans, $16.00) illustrates and tells the story of the classic carol. Alan Katz's Where Did They Hide My Presents (Simon and Schuster, $15.95) pairs familiar holiday songs with silly words. David Schiller's Christmas Sing-Along Car-i-oke (Workman, $15.95) couples a board book with a CD so you can sing your way to holiday destinations.
The Three Bears' Christmas by Kathy Duval (Holiday House, 16.95, ages 3-6) First fairy tale meets familiar holiday icons when the three bears go out for a walk and an unexpected guest visits. A lost red mitten and coat provide clues and good cheer as young listeners guess identity of the jolly gift-leaving, sleigh-driver.
Hanukkah, Shmanukkah! by Esme Raji Codell (Hyperion, $16.99, ages 6-10)
A Christmas Carol is rewritten with the voice and humor of Jewish tradition. Woven into this long read-aloud story are elements and history of the holiday.
Four Sides, Eight Nights: A New Spin on Hanukkah by Rebecca Tova Ben-Zvi (Roaring Book Press, $16.95, ages 5-9)
The author's playful writing gives a child-friendly view of the holiday as she weaves together stories, customs, trivia and symbols.
Novel readers will welcome Barbara Parks' latest Junie B. Jones, Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! P.S. So does May (Random, $11.95, 5-8) in which the funny heroine struggles with holiday giving.