December 1, 2021

Looking to get in the holiday spirit? Grab a cup of cocoa and a warm blanket, and snuggle up with these festive reads.

CHILDREN

In Carla and the Christmas Cornbread, celebrity chef Carla Hall and illustrator Cherise Harris take you back to the 1970s, when a young Carla revels in her favorite time of year at her grandparents’ house. She eats her grandma’s special Christmas cornbread, listens to her grandpa’s stories, and shares quality time with her family. But, when Carla accidentally eats Santa’s sugar cookie, she worries she ruined the holiday and sets out to make things right.

The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi & Loveis Wise is a story of survival, joy, celebration, and the innovation of Black people in America. The debut picture book by award-winning author Ibi Zoboi follows the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

MIDDLE GRADE

If you haven’t already read Matt Haig’s A Boy Called Christmas, this is your year. In this cheeky telling of the origin story of Father Christmas, readers follow 11-year-old Nikolas as he travels to the North Pole to save his missing father. Along the way, he befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. Netflix just released a movie adaptation of the beloved story, so it’s the perfect time to revisit or meet the book that became an instant classic when it was released in 2016.

The Sea in Winter by Christine Day isn’t exactly a holiday story, but it’s sure to bring some warmth into your home this winter. Right now, many of us can probably relate to Maisie Cannon, an aspiring ballerina with a knee injury, struggling to stay positive in the face of difficult times. Despite her anxieties and dark moods, Maisie learns to find joy again, during her Native American family’s midwinter road trip near Makah community where her mother grew up.

TEENS/YOUNG ADULT

When 17-year-old Sophie suffers a Christmastime heartbreak, her family bands together to make her feel better by setting her up on 10 blind dates, organized by 10 different family members, over the course of 10 days. On the surface, Ashley Elston’s 10 Blind Dates is a teen rom-com. But, dive just a little deeper, and what you’ll really find is a sweet story about the power of a supportive family. And, since it’s set in Shreveport, your Louisiana teen can read a holiday book that’s true to their experience–which is sometimes more shrimp boots and mosquitos than mittens and snow days.

Outdoor Storytimes at the Library:

Bundle up to read, sing, talk, write, and play together during the library’s outdoor, in-person storytimes every Wednesday. The weekly, 30-minute storytimes start at 10:30 a.m. at Algiers Regional Library, Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, and East New Orleans Regional Library, and are designed for children from birth to age five and their caregivers.

Kacy Helwick is the youth collection development librarian at the New Orleans Public Library, working in the Acquisitions/Collection Services department. Marie Simoneaux is the marketing associate responsible for the Library’s social media content and impact stories.