This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Candlewick Press

Reading holiday stories together is one of my favorite traditions of the holiday season. So I am always on the lookout for new children’s holiday books. This year, there are so many amazing options to add to your family’s collection. Today I wanted to share 3 highlighted children’s holiday books from Candlewick Press to bring some holiday spirit to your home!

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Our holiday reading collection takes up a large part of our library. I love introducing Little Bookworm to the symbols and traditions of holidays through beautiful children’s books. As she grows, her tastes and level of understanding grows as well, so I frequently add to our collection to suit her interests. If you are looking to add some new titles to your family’s collection, then I highly recommend these three books!

Dasher

Written by Matt Tavares

This beautifully illustrated Christmas storybook introduce kids to the famous reindeer who pull Santa’s sleigh through a sweet origin story. When the story begins, adventurous, young Dasher and her reindeer family are living together as part of a traveling circus. The little reindeer dreams of roaming under the starry skies, and when the opportunity presents itself, she escapes from their pen. While traveling, she comes across Santa Claus and his sleigh, led by a horse named Sleighbell. The sleigh has become too heavy for Sleighbell to pull alone, so Dasher offers to help. What follows is a sweet story of kindness, family, and Christmas magic which explains how the famous reindeer got their jobs.

The story is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations of the sweet little reindeer and the wintry landscapes that she travels through. As the little deer finds peace under the starry skies, the illustrations highlight the tranquility of the moon lit, snow covered landscape. And the magic of Christmas shines brightly in the images of Santa and his magical sleigh, making this a perfect Christmas Eve read aloud. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this magical story, and the mystery behind Santa’s beloved helpers.

Ages 4 to 8

Pick a Pine Tree

Written by Patricia Toht and illustrated by Jarvis

This poetic story celebrates Christmas trees and the joy that they bring to us around the holidays. The rhyming text provides step by step instructions for picking a pine tree from the lot, bringing it home and decorating it with loved ones. The descriptive text highlights the sights, sounds, and smells of the holidays, reminding the reader of their own tree decorating experiences.

In the colorful retro style illustrations, the reader can follow a family as they go through all the steps in the text, and revel in the holiday fun on each page. The beautiful images show the joy on the children’s faces, as well as the colorful and joyful decorations that fill the holidays. The end of the book features a pop up Christmas tree that is fully decorated, and a wish for a Merry Christmas for everyone. Kids will love the Christmas sights in the book, as well as the celebration of love and family traditions. The smaller size of this version makes it a great stocking stuffer!

Ages 3 to 7

Related Post: Christmas Tree Activities for the Whole Family

Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol

Written by Arthur A. Levine and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

This lovely children’s Jewish holiday book introduces the reader to Nate Gadol, a magical spirit who helps those in need by stretching what they have. Whether he is helping a sick one in bed by extending the life of the flower on their nightstand, or making butter stretch to complete an important recipe, he is always happy to help. He takes a special liking to a family named the Glasers, who are immigrating to America from Europe in the 19th century. Money is tight, and it only gets tighter when they arrive, but they never lose their generous spirits. Nate does what he can to help them, but one Christmas Eve, he struggles to find a way to give the Glaser family a good Hanukkah. When his friend Santa lands on a neighboring roof, they are able to help one another and bring faith and magic to everyone.

The story is paired with large, colorful illustrations that feature tiny gold metallic details throughout. The bits of gold are used in small batches, increasing the feeling of magic in the story. Kids will love the way that Nate and Santa work together to bring some joy to the families they are visiting, and parents will love the celebration of generosity and faith. This fictional origin story explains why American Jewish children receive presents during Hanukkah, and the back of the book includes a note from the author detailing how the tradition came to be in America. This is a great holiday story for both Jewish and Christian families.

Ages 5 to 8

What are your favorite children’s holiday books? Share in the comments below so I can continue adding to our collection!

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