Looking for some wintery books to get into the holiday spirit? Check out these festive reads from the New Orleans Public Library.
Young Readers
Before the first Christmas light is strung, Grandma is already busy in Tamales for Christmas by Stephen Briseño and Sonia Sánchez. This true story shares the irresistible magic of tamales, while Grandma makes thousands of them to sell so she can buy gifts for her loved ones.
We Celebrate the Light by Jane Yolen, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, and Jieting Chen introduces children to a variety of winter celebrations, including Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year and the traditions that link them together.
In A City Full of Santas by Joanna Ho and Thai My Phuong, one little girl has always hoped to stay awake long enough to meet Santa, and she knows this is her year. When Mama takes her on a special journey to the city, they discover Santas everywhere, making it so much harder to find the real one. The little girl is sure she knows just what she’s looking for, but will she find Santa in time for Christmas?
Middle Grade
For the aspiring chefs in your family, The Disney Christmas Cookbook: 50 Delicious Recipes! Is a perfect winter read. Featuring 50 beginner-friendly recipes inspired by fan-favorite Disney and Pixar films, this cookbook invites readers to make delicious holiday-themed treats, such as Stitch’s Hawaiian Eggnog, Encanto-inspired Arepas de Queso, and more.
Middle-grade readers can discover the smells, tastes, sights, and unforgettable traditions of festivals from every season in Let’s Get Festive! Celebrations Around the World by Joanna Konczak and Ewa Poklewska-Koziello. This illustrated collection of 36 celebrations is filled with interesting facts and bold, bright illustrations that are bound to captivate readers of all ages.
The Festival of Lights: 16 Hanukkah Stories is the perfect way to celebrate and learn about Hanukkah this year through a diverse collection of poems and stories filled with history, humor, and hope.
Teen
No Rules Tonight by Hyun Sook Kim and Ryan Estrada brings readers to South Korea’s Anjeon University during a weekend winter camp in the 1980s. But, this is no ordinary getaway in the mountains–the police are always watching, and even the slightest bit of self-expression can lead to arrest. Luckily, it’s the only night of the year when generations of Koreans had no curfew, no obligations, and no rules: Christmas Eve.
Told in alternating voices, Make My Wish Come True by Racheal Lippincott and Alyson Derrick
follows teen actress Arden James as she heads home for the holidays to improve her reckless reputation. Along the way, she surprises her ex-best friend and aspiring journalist, Caroline, with a fake dating proposition.
Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello is a heartwarming story about one London teen’s quest to save his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland, before the Christmas Eve deadline. Trey and his co-worker, Ariel, team up and embark on a journey that changes their lives forever.