COMELIBRITOS CORNER Picture Books for the Holidays: Thanksgiving through Tres Reyes
By Li Yun Alvarado
By Li Yun Alvarado
That whirlwind that is the holiday season is upon us!
While the holidays can be stressful, there is one part I really enjoy: displaying our holiday picture books and discovering new ones!
I always think about how books can serve as both mirrors and windows for the little ones in our lives.
We use books as mirrors when we share our family's holiday traditions -- like watching the Macy's Parade, singing aguinaldos, or waiting for gifts from Los Tres Reyes Magos.
We use books as windows when we read together about how other families celebrate during this time of the year.
Holiday books also make great GIFTS! So if you're not sure what to get for your favorite kids this season, consider adding to their holiday book collections (or grab a BOOKSHOP GIFT CARD to gift to their parents).
To get you started, I've included some of our family's favorite books below!
¡Felicidades!
PS Also, check out this blog post on Picture Books for Las Navidades Boricuas.
Many picture books celebrating Puerto Rican Navidad traditions come from independent or island based publishers, so I've rounded up some of my favorite titles on this separate blog post.
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NOTE ON THANKSGIVING
Getting books for kids about Thanksgiving right can be tricky... I'm always on the lookout for books that capture the spirit of giving Thanks without reinforcing problematic (and go-to) American stories. Below I've focused on two Thanksgiving themes in my life: The Macy's Parade & Apple Pie!
Also, here are two great posts on Decolonizing Thanksgiving:
- Decolonizing Thanksgiving: Kids Books about Generosity & Gratitude
-
Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combatting Racism in Schools
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Disclosure: This list contains affiliate links; if you buy something featured, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way!
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade
Melissa Sweet
$17.99 $16.73I'm a New Yorker, so for me Thanksgiving has always meant the Macy's Day Parade! Balloons over Broadway tells the story of how immigrants #gotthejobdone, began an annual parade, and then transformed it into one of the most magical events in the world!
Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie: A Story about Edna Lewis
Robbin Gourley
$7.99 $7.43"Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie," is a picture book that celebrates the childhood of pioneer chef Edna Lewis -- an African American chef who was all about farm-to-table before farm-to-table was a thing. The book is also a celebration of harvests throughout the seasons in preparation for winter, reminding us there is a lot to be thankful for as the days grow shorter and colder.
The Apple Pie That Papa Baked
Lauren Thompson and Jonathan Bean
$19.99 $18.59"The Apple Pie that Papa Baked" is a cumulative story in which a Papa--with the help of the earth, sun, and rain--makes pies for his little one (like my hubby does for us!).
Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama
Selina Alko
$16.99 $15.80We want our little one to know many holiday traditions. Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama book does a nice job of introducing the idea of blending family and holiday traditions.
Los pasteles de Abuela
Raquel Alamo Feliciano, Luis E. Ramos Cruz, et al.
$12.99TO READ: Time to add a new book to the our Boricua Navidad collection! This one dives into making one of my favorite holiday dishes -- pasteles. Yum!
Too Many Tamales
Gary Soto and Ed Martinez
$8.99 $8.36TO READ: Our MexiRican home wouldn't be complete without books about pasteles AND tamales.
A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids
Pat Mora and Magaly Morales
$18.99 $17.66TO READ: I can see this song becoming a go to in our house.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Charles M. Schulz and Scott Jeralds
$8.99 $8.36I'm a sucker for that Charlie Brown tree (I set up a small one on our bookshelf each year), so our holiday book collection wouldn't be complete without this classic.
5 More Sleeps 'Til Christmas
Jimmy Fallon and Rich Deas
$18.99 $17.66We love Fallon's Mama & Dada books, and this Christmas book was a hit last season. Perfect way to count down to Santa Claus' arrival.
My First Kwanzaa
Karen Katz
$8.99 $8.36We want our little one to know about many holiday traditions, and are excited to teach him about the seven principles of Kwanza which are valuable to reflect upon and practice all year long. Here's a simple intro to the holiday for the youngest kiddos.
Shante Keys and the New Year's Peas
Gail Piernas-Davenport and Marion Eldridge
$8.99 $8.36This rhyming picture book follows Shanté Keys as she searches for black eyed peas. On her adventures, she learns all about her neighbor's New Year's traditions from around the world. As a bonus for my MexiRican comelibrito, eating grapes at midnight (like they do in Puerto Rico and Mexico) is included!
Tres Reyes Magos: Colors / Colores: Colors / Colores
Patty Rodriguez, Ariana Stein, et al.
$10.99 $10.22Traditionally in Puerto Rico Dia de Los Reyes (Three Kinds Day - 1/6) was the big gift giving day. While in some ways Christmas (and Santa Clause) have taken over in that department, families still celebrate the visit of the Three Magi. Instead of leaving out milk and cookies, children leave out a glass of water and a shoe box full of grass for the Wise Men's camellos (or caballos depending on who you ask). In the morning they find their gifts from Los Reyes waiting. This book bring a little bit of that Reyes Magos magic into your little one's life!
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Li Yun Alvarado is the author of the poetry chapbook Words or Water. Her work has appeared in VIDA Review; The Acentos Review; and Aster(ix) among others. Through her writing, advocacy, and teaching, she strives to amplify Puerto Rican and other underrepresented voices while supporting aspiring and emerging writers -- especially women writers of color. She holds a PhD in English from Fordham University and is an alumna of Acentos, VONA, and AROHO. Li Yun grew up in NY, lives in CA, and takes frequent trips to Salinas, PR to visit la familia.
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Disclosure: This bookshop contains affiliate links; if you buy something featured, I may earn a modest commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way!