In this blog post: Searching for a list of the best Christmas or Holidays Around the World books for Kindergarten or early elementary students? These picture books will be the perfect addition to any Holidays Around the World Unit!
It’s no secret that we love our Holidays Around the World unit in Kindergarten. Students are completely fascinated with learning about other countries and their cultures and traditions!
As we learn about each holiday, we also like to read picture books that feature that holiday.
We use these holiday around the world books as our interactive read alouds, in social studies as we learn about each country and holiday, and as just-for-fun teacher reads! This is an easy way to build students’ comprehension and vocabulary (and they LOVE it)!
That’s why i’ve gathered together the ULTIMATE list of Christmas and holidays around the world picture books for you (110 in all)!
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Table of Contents
Christmas Around the World Books
Christmas is often the de facto holiday that we read about this time of year, but did you know that Christmas looks different in how it’s celebrated around the world? Students love to learn about how different countries celebrate Christmas, from La Befana coming to visit in Italy to a surfing Santa in Australia!
Here are the very best all-in-one Christmas Around the World books:
- A World of Cookies for Santa by M.E. Furman
- Christmas Around the World by Mary Lankford
- Christmas Is Coming: Traditions From Around the World by Monika Utnik
- Where Would Santa Go? by Julia Inserro
Want to read about specific countries and how they celebrate? Here is one Christmas Around the World book for each country, and then you can find more extensive lists further down in this post:
- Tree of Cranes by Allen Say (Christmas in Japan)
- The Christmas Book Flood by Emily Kilgore (Christmas in Iceland)
- King Island Christmas by Jean Rogers (Christmas in Alaska)
- Katie’s London Christmas by James Mayhew (Christmas in England)
- The 12 Days of Yule by Susan Rennie (Christmas in Scotland)
- Bambinelli Sunday by Amy Welborn (Christmas in Rome)
- Christmas in Lagos by Sharon Abimbola Salu (Christmas in Nigeria)
- Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong (Christmas in Mexico)
- An Aboriginal Carol by David Bouchard (Christmas in Canada)
- Christmas in Australia by John Williamson (Christmas in Australia)
- The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie DePaola (Christmas in Italy)
- Tomten Saves Christmas by Linda Liebrand (Christmas in Sweden)
- Babushka A Christmas Tale by Dawn Casey (Christmas in Russia)
- The Legend of Papa Noel by Terri Hoover Dunham (Cajun Christmas in Louisiana)
- Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo (Christmas in Germany)
Religious Christmas Books
Maybe you’re looking for the best Christian Christmas picture books that relate to Jesus’ birth and the nativity story. Here are the best Christian religious Christmas books:
- All the Colors of Christmas by Matthew Paul Turner
- Who Is Coming To Our House? by Joseph Slate
- The Mismatched Nativity by Merrilee Boyack
- The Christmas Blessing by Erin Guendelsberger
- Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck
- God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
- Room For a Little One by Martin Waddell
- The Animal’s Christmas Eve by Gale Wiersum
Christmas in Canada
Are you traveling to Canada in your Holidays Around the World unit? Here are the best children’s books about Christmas in Cananda:
- The 12 Days of Christmas in Canada by Ellen Warwick
- Baseball Bats for Christmas by Kusugak
- Deck the Halls by Helaine Becker
- A Porcupine in a Tree by Helaine Becker
- Twas the Night Before Christmas in Canada by Jo Perry
Christmas in Australia Books
It’s time to fly to the land down under to learn how people on the whole other side of the world celebrate this holiday. Since it’s summer in Australia, children will be fascinated to learn that Santa surfs and has kangaroos instead of reindeer!
Here are the best Christmas in Australia picture books for kids:
- Christmas Wombat by Jackie French
- Christmas in Kangaroo Land by Adla Hannon
- Kangaroo for Christmas by James Flora
- Wombat Divine by Mem Fox
- Christmas in Australia by John Williamson
Christmas in Russia
Make sure that you add Christmas in Russia to your holidays around the world travel plans! The tale of Babushka is one that is sure to stand out to your students. Here is a list of the best Christmas in Russia books:
- Babushka A Christmas Tale by Dawn Casey
- The Tale of Babushka by Elana Pasquali
- Uncle Vova’s Tree by Patricia Polacco
Epiphany Books
Epiphany can be a difficult holiday to find picture books for. Here are the best Epiphany picture books for children:
- The Last Straw by Frederick Thury
- Celebrate Christmas and Three King’s Day with Pablo and Carlitos by Alma Ada
- The Last Straw by Paula Palangi McDonald
- The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie DePaola
- Humphreys First Christmas by Carol Heyer
- Uncle Vova’s Tree by Patricia Polacco
St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6. Here are the best St. Nicholas picture books:
- The Legend of St. Nicholas by Dandi Daley Mackall
- Saint Nicholas the Giver by Ned Bustard
- Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins by Jim Forest
- The Baker’s Dozen by Aaron Shepard
- Just Nicholas by Annia Kratzsch
St. Lucia Day Books
We always learn about St. Lucia Day in Sweden as a part of our holidays around the world unit. Students love learning about how children dress up to celebrate this holiday! Here are the best St. Lucia Day picture books:
- Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydaker
- Who Are You, St. Lucia? by Glenda Cedarleaf
- The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren
- The Tomten and the Fox by Astrid Lindgren
- Lucia Saint of Light by Katherine Bolger Hyde
Las Posadas Books
It’s time to jet off to Mexico to learn about Las Posadas! Here are the best picture books to celebrate Christmas in Mexica:
- The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie DePaola
- The Night of Las Posadas by Tommie DePaola
- Celebrate Las Posadas by Marisa Boan
- Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada by Virginia Kroll
- Zetta the Poinsettia by Alma Hammond
- A Pinata in a Pine Tree by Pat Mora
- Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
Hanukkah Books
Since Hanukkah happens in December, this is also the perfect time of year to learn about this Jewish holiday. Here are the best Hanukkah picture books:
- The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica Perl
- Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko
- The Story of Hanukkah by David Adler
- The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes by Linda Glaser
- Eight Candles to Light by Jonny Zucker
- Latkes and Applesauce by Fran Manushkin
- Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah by Silvia Rouss
- Caleb’s Hanukkah by Lisa Bullard
- Latke the Lucky Dog by Ellen Fischer
- Hanukkah Bear by Eric Kimmel
- Runaway Dreidel by Leslea Newman
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Books
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. These are important holidays for our Jewish students, and would be a great alternative (or better yet, addition) to Hanukkah to learn about.
Here are the best Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur picture books for kids:
- Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by Deborah Heiligman
- Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah by Silvia Rouss
- Sammy Spider’s First Yom Kippur by Silvia Rouss
- Rosh Hashanah Is Coming! by Tracy Newman
- What Is Rosh Hashanah? by Shari Last
- Once Upon An Apple Cake by Elana Rubinstein
- Is It Rosh Hashanah Yet? by Chris Barash
- Talia and the Very YUM Kippur by Linda Elovitz Marshall
Kwanzaa Books
If you’re looking for an American holiday to learn about that isn’t Christmas, Kwanzaa may be a good choice. Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday that began in America and is a celebration of thankfulness and giving back.
Here is a list of the best Kwanzaa picture books:
- Together For Kwanzaa by Juwanda Ford
- Seven Spools of Thread by Angela Shelf Medearis
- My Family Celebrates Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard
- Lil Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
- Celebrate Kwanzaa by Caroline Otto
- Kevin’s Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard
Diwali Books
Diwali actually happens in October or November, but we make it a part of our holidays around the world unit. No matter when you learn about Diwali, these picture books are sure to be a hit. Here are the best Diwali children’s books:
- Diwali by Hannah Elliot
- Binny’s Diwali by Thrity Umrigar
- It’s Diwali by Richard Sebra
- Shubh Diwali by Chitra Soundar
- Amma, Tell Me About Diwali by Bhakti Mathur
- Let’s Celebrate the 5 Days of Diwali by Ajanta Chakraborty
Ramadan
We learn about Ramadan, which is a Muslim holiday, during our holidays around the world unit. Here are the best Ramadan picture books for kids:
- Ramadan by Hannah Eliot
- Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr by Lisa Bullard
- Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman
- Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi
- Tell Me More About Ramadan by Bachar Karroum
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, sometimes called Chinese New Year, is a holiday celebrated in many Asian countries. Here are the best Lunar New Year books for children:
- Lunar New Year by Hannah Eliot
- Dragon Dance by Joan Holub
- Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
- Celebrate Chinese New Year by Caroline Otto
- Ruby’s Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee
- Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin
Winter Solstice Books
Winter Solstice isn’t a holiday that is often included in holidays around the world units, but maybe it should be! This is a winter holiday that has long been celebrated around the world. Here are the best Winter Solstice picture books:
- The Shortest Day by Wendy Pfeffer
- The Return of the Light by Carolyn McVickar Edwards
- The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson
- The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
- The Solstice Badger by Robin McFadden
Planning For Your HOTW Unit
Now that you have the ULTIMATE list of Christmas and holidays around the world books, you’re ready to begin planning your holidays around the world unit! You can read more about what this holidays around the world unit looks like in our classroom here.
You can also find everything you need to plan here:
- Holidays Around the World Unit
- Holidays Around the World Math and Literacy Centers
- Holidays Around the World Writing Center
HOTW Interactive Read Alouds
Want some help planning meaningful, engaging interactive read aloud activities to celebrate holidays around the world throughout the year? The Holidays and Celebrations Around My World unit in the Pre-K Literacy Curriculum gives you a week of ready-to-go lesson plans for over 20 holidays!
While this unit is a part of the Pre-K Literacy Curriculum, it will absolutely work for Kindergarten and even First Grade students. You can choose to use the holiday plans for the entire week or just a day as you read about the holidays!
