Books for Kids | Holidays and Winter (2016)

Can you feel the winter coming? Featuring caroling, spice cookies, eggnog and warm fires, it’s the festive season! To celebrate this special time of the year, here are 14 books for kids | Holidays and Winter, wonderful books to enjoy with a warm drink, activity books to tackle on your family table or drawing books to keep young ones busy over the holiday season. From babies to toddlers, preschoolers, school-age kids and tweens, this selection covers a wide age range. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

* This post contains affiliate links.

The Brave Little Puppy (A Wish Book)

Written by Lori Evert, illustrated by Per Breiehagen

Set in a wintry forest world, this book follows a little girl’s curious puppy who gets lost in snowy woods. Fortunately, many forest animals help guide the puppy back to the little girl. Illustrated with gorgeous photographs of a real little girl and her puppy in Norwegian landscapes, this wonderful book is a heart-warming Nordic tale.

Ages: 2 – 5 years

Gnorman the Gnorwegian Gnome – Hope for the Gnew Year (Paperback and Kindle)

Written and illustrated by Jim Prock

Gnorman the Gnorwegian Gnome lives pretty up Gnorth in Svalbard, Gnorway and he’s got a problem. As he’s at the end of Santa’s route, he hardly ever gets anything on Christmas. Barely a few Gnicks and Gnacks. This year, Gnorman has a plan. Made to be read out loud to a young and old audience, this book will tickle you funny with its tongue-in-cheek humor.

Ages: 3 to 5 years

Snow Bear

Written by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Alison Brown

This lovely story of a small lonely bear who just wants to find a home during an icy blizzard will melt more than one heart this winter. Both the fox’s den and the owl’s nest up a tree already have inhabitants. What about a small farmhouse? Inside the farmhouse is a little girl and the pair snuggle together by the fire. This is a perfect bedtime book, to be read while snuggling of course.

Ages: 3 to 5 years

Christmas for Greta and Gracie

Written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Greta and Gracie are two bunny sisters. While Greta is chatty, Gracie loves listening to her sister. However sometimes, being the youngest and the shortest is intimidating. In the bustle of days leading to Christmas, Greta acts as the overbearing big sister and knows everything about every topic or activity. On Christmas Eve, though, it’s little Gracie who hears a noise in the little room and tiptoes downstairs. Children with siblings will recognize the dynamics of sisters or brothers as well as the excitement of the holidays.

Ages: 3 to 7 years

Gingerbread Christmas

Written and illustrated by Jan Brett

Jan Brett’s beloved character the Gingerbread Baby returns in this seasonal story, featuring Gingerbread Baby’s singing performance in the Gingerbread Band at the Christmas festival. When the audience realizes that Gingerbread Baby and his friend Matti are cookies, they chase the pair who desperately need to hide in a great spot. Your kids will have to open the festive Christmas tree pop-up to find where they’re hiding and they will love the luscious gingerbread and icing decorations on every page. Not quite edible but almost.

Ages: 3 to 5 years

Poles Apart

Written by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Jarvis

As everybody knows, penguins are found at the South Pole. What would happen if a penguin family took the wrong turn during a picnic at the snowman and drifted so far that they reached the North Pole and an adventurous polar bear? Maybe they would travel together around the world and see wonderful places, despite the young penguins’ constant plea to have their picnic “now.” With cute pastel illustrations, this book will delight preschoolers and probably settle, once and for all, the South Pole/North Pole wildlife debate.

Ages: 3 to 7 years

The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Christmas

By Nosy Crow, illustrated by Rebecca Jones

Including 24 festive designs, this coloring book will inspire kids to get their best pencils and markers to decorate adorable pages filled with woodland animals, gingerbread men, Christmas trees and festive decorations. Parents might even be tempted to give it a go, as this book is truly charming and full of festive spirit. Detach the cards from the book, fold the envelopes and send your personalized greetings to family and friends.

Ages: 4 years +

Potatoes at Turtle Rock

Written by Susan Schur, illustrated by Alex Steele-Morgan

Young Annie leads her family on a nighttime adventure around their snowy farm to celebrate Hanukkah. Stopping at various places to create new traditions or honor old ones, Annie explains the story of Hanukkah through lanterns (to emphasize the darkness) or makeshift potato menorahs. Finally at Turtle Rock, Annie cuts the remaining potatoes and her family eats them with butter, salt and fresh snow drizzled with maple syrup. This book will inspire families to stay together to celebrate the holidays.

Ages: 4 to 8 years

Hannukah Bear

Written by Eric Kimmel

Bubba Brayna makes the best latkes in the village but as she can’t see or hear well, she doesn’t know that the wonderful smells of her cooking have attracted a bear to her house. Mistaking the bear for her rabbi, she starts playing dreidel, lighting the menorah and eating latkes. This lovely story about Hanukkah ends with a latkes recipe and is just perfect for young children.

Ages: 4 to 8 years

Moonminland Midwinter

Written by Tove Jansson, illustrated by Thomas Warburton

Moonmins usually sleep through the winter but when Moonmintroll wakes up early, he finds strange white stuff around their home. Who is this Winter? The descriptions of Moonmintroll finding new friends and learning to enjoy winter activities are a wonderful read for all ages. This classic children’s book from New Zealand has a timeless feel to it and will delight the whole family.

Ages: 8 – 12 years

The Storm Whale in Winter

By Benji Davies

Noi, who once rescued a baby whale, lives by the sea with his fisherman father and six. One winter, the sea freezes over and Noi finds his father abandoned. Little Noi hopes that the baby whale can help save his father. With bitingly cold illustrations, this friendship story is a wonderful bedtime read.

Ages: 4 to 8 years

The Poet’s Dog

Written by Deckle Edge

Two children are caught in a blizzard, stranded in a car as their mother is gone for help. When a dog rescues them, they head to the dog’s cabin to override the blizzard and learn about his life and Sylvan, the recently departed poet who rescued him. This beautiful read discusses loss and love in simple words and beautiful language.

Ages: 6 – 12 years

The LEGO Christmas Ornaments Book : 15 Designs to Spread Holiday Cheer

By Chris McVeigh

If you have boxes of LEGOs at home, this illustrated activity book will keep the whole family busy in the run-up to the holidays. Whether you go for a burger (yes, you can), a Gingerbread House or a present, this book with LEGOs lists (like in the instructions manuals) and step-by-step ideas will inspire every young builder at heart.

Ages: 8+ years