Holidays Around The World is one of my very favorite units to teach all year! It’s a wonderful way to introduce your students to holiday traditions and unique customs during different holidays around the world. In this post, I’ll share 16 Holidays Around The World picture books I use that are a great way to help bring these holiday traditions to life.
You’ll find books about Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and more. Add them to your December read-alouds and your winter holiday activities!
16 of the Best Holidays Around the World Children’s Books
The Night Before Hanukkah
by Natasha Wing
“The Night Before Hanukkah” reads as a playful spin on the traditional “The Night Before Christmas” poem. Your students will love the fun rhymes and colorful illustrations as they learn how a family prepares for Hanukkah.
Christmas in France
by Jack Manning
“The Christmas Around the World” book series is a wonderful supplement when teaching about different holiday traditions. Jack Manning does a great job detailing each tradition with the help of real photographs. This specific book, “Christmas in France” shows the gifts, food, and traditions that are important to the people in France.
The Tale of Baboushka: A Traditional Christmas Story
by Elena Pasquali
This is a heartwarming story that follows Baboushka (or grandmother in Russian) as she welcomes 3 unexpected visitors to her home. It’s a great way to introduce students to a classic Russian Christmas legend.
Tony’s Bread
by Tomie dePaola
Fans of Tomie dePaola’s work will fall in love with the characters and narrative of “Tony’s Bread”. This book not only showcases the importance of family, heritage, and the love of sharing food but also teaches children about the rich cultural tapestry of Italian holiday traditions.
It would be especially fun to bring in a loaf of panettone bread to serve while reading this story!
Christmas in Germany
by Jack Manning
Another Jack Manning gem, “Christmas in Germany” follows a similar structure as “Christmas in France”. Readers will get to see real photos while reading short descriptions of each tradition.
The Christmas Pine
by Julia Donaldson
Through the use of a fun rhyming poem, Julia Donaldson outlines the journey of the annual Christmas Tree that is gifted from Oslo, Norway as a symbol of support and friendship. It’s a short read, but your students will love the colorful illustrations and the fun traditions throughout.
Celebrate Chinese New Year (National Geographic)
by Carolyn Otto
A great addition to National Geographic’s, “Holidays Around the World” collection, “Celebrate Chinese New Year” helps children understand Chinese culture and values. As always, National Geographic does a great job of providing real and helpful images used in unison with its simple, yet educational text.
It’s Diwali!
by Richard Sebra
Although simple, “It’s Diwali” introduces children to India’s most important holiday. Through the use of real photographs and age-appropriate text, it’s a great book to introduce the holiday. There are even questions included to help you and your class dive deeper into the holiday!
The Legend of the Poinsettia
by Tomie dePaola
Although it was published almost 20 years ago, “The Legend of the Poinsettia” does a great job of explaining the significance of the poinsettia to Mexican culture. The beautiful and vibrant colors of the illustrations also pay tribute the Mexico’s love of art.
The Tomten
by Astrid Lindgren
In this classic story, the Tomten is a small gnome-like creature who takes care of a farm in Sweden during the long winter nights. In Sweden, the Tomten is the one who brings children gifts on December 24th. Through the charming illustrations and the magical aspect of “The Tomten”, this book is a must-read during any Holidays Around the World Unit.
The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada
by Ellen Warwick
This is such a fun book that follows the main character, Juliette, on a holiday road trip through Canada. In addition to receiving traditional Canadian gifts along the way, Juliette also learns the importance of each item and activity.
The Story of Hanukkah
by David Adler
When teaching about Hanukkah, this book is a must. It does a great job of outlining the history in kid-friendly ways and dives into how Hanukkah is celebrated in the present day.
Binny’s Diwali
by Thrity Umrigar
A realistic, yet engaging story that explores the Hindu holiday of Diwali from a child’s perspective. “Binny’s Diwali” does an excellent job of showing the true meaning of Diwali through its storyline and vibrant illustrations.
Seven Spools of Thread
by Angela Shelf Medearis
“Seven Spools of Thread” is a heartwarming story of the challenges seven brothers face as they try to work together. With the help of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the brothers are eventually able to solve the problem and they learn the value of family and collaboration.
Happy Eid al-Fitr
by Joyce Bentley
“Happy Eid al-Fitr” is a part of the “Let’s Celebrate” children’s book series that explains different holiday traditions in an easy-to-understand fashion. This book dives into the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr or the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan fasting.
The Legend of the Old Befana
by Tomie dePaola
Another dePaola favorite, “The Legend of the Old Befana” is a great supplement when discussing Italian Christmas traditions. Much like the title suggests, the story does a great job of retelling the legend of the Old Befana in a kid-friendly and understandable way.
More Holiday Around The World Resources!
Find ready to use lesson plans, PowerPoint, suitcase folder, passports and more in this beautifully created Holidays Around the World Unit. Your students will learn the cultures and traditions of 18 different countries.
Looking for more teaching resources to add to your Holidays Around the World collection? You can check out my book list on Amazon here! (paid link)
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