The Village - Holiday Book List

LEARN

Holiday Book List

by Ariane Signer
Copywriter at Hatley

Picture Books for Kindergarten - Grade 3 book covers

I was raised by a college professor and a librarian, so as you can imagine, our home was filled to the brim with books. From a young age, I loved looking through my mom’s psychology anthologies and my father’s science fiction novels, but I soon enough started a collection of my own.

As a young girl, I would go to the Coles bookstore with my dad, who dutifully dished out his hard-earned dollars to support my obsession with Fear Street novels. A love of reading at a young age inspired my adult dream of becoming a writer. As a mom of two young boys, I’ve adopted the same principles that my parents followed when I was young: I won’t buy you all the toys all the time, but you can have as many books as you want. If children know that their interest in reading is encouraged and supported, they will want to read more, I promise you!

The holidays are a great opportunity to focus on reading with your child, as there is generally more time spent together as a family, and no shortage of holiday-themed story books for kids.

These are a few that my kids love (and some that are vintage throwbacks to when I was a kid in the 80’s).

Picture Books
(Kindergarten- Grade 3)

1

Little Miss Christmas book cover

Little Miss Christmas
by Roger Hargreaves, 2006

The classic Little Miss and Mr. Men books are great choices for young children! This adorable tale tells the story of Little Miss Christmas, who puts off her Christmas wrapping duties until the very last minute in order to enjoy a beach vacation. Humourous and light, this also packs in a good lesson about living up to our promises and managing our time more efficiently.

2

A Chipmunk Christmas book cover

A Chipmunk Christmas
by Megan Stine & H. William Stine, 1985

This classic Alvin and the Chipmunks book was one that my parents read to my sister and I when we were young. This story focuses on the importance of giving back during the holiday season. Alvin makes a sick child’s Christmas that much more special by giving him his very special harmonica.

3

When It Start To Snow book cover

When It Starts to Snow
by Phillis Gershator, 1998

I love books that teach children about wild animals and their habits. This is a really cute book about how different animals react to the snow. The illustrations are really wintery and perfect for those first days of Christmas vacation when everyone wants to snuggle up under the covers and read a story book!

4

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada book cover

My sister sent my kids this book as a Christmas gift one year when we were living abroad, and it was a great way to teach them about their Canadian heritage! An original and very Canadian take on the classic song, this book pays homage to many of the cultural symbols that make the True North so unique!

5

Little Blue Truck Christmas book cover

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
by Alice Schertle, 2014

The Little Blue Truck books are classic reads for kids under five. In this special Christmas edition, Blue saves the day by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. Follow along with your little ones as Blue spreads a lot of Christmas cheer to his closest pals.

Fiction or Non-Fiction
(for Grade 4-6)

1

A Christmas Tale book cover

A Christmas Tale
by Geronimo Stilton,2005

Geronimo Stilton is planning to have an extraordinary Christmas with his friends and family on Mouse Island, until he discovers that they are all planning on being out of town for the holidays. Faced with this unexpected predicament, Geronimo falls into a grinch-like mode, until he embraces a creative way to make the most of the season.

2

Llama Llama Holiday Drama book cover

Llama Llama Holiday Drama
by Anna Dewdney, 2010

Llama Llama doesn’t like to wait. When the holiday season arrives, he struggles to wait for the magic of Christmas morning. As he and Mama Llama bake cookies, shop for presents and decorate for Christmas Day, Llama Llama gets more and more impatient for the big day. A great book for children who just can’t wait (that was definitely me as a child) to open their Christmas presents.

3

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa book cover

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa
by Angela Shelf Medearis, 1994

The holiday season is a great time to educate children about different celebrations and customs that are observed around the world. This great guidebook explains the history of Kwanzaa celebrations during the holiday season and provides some great African-inspired craft ideas and recipes that kids can try out during the school holidays.

4

Father Christmas’s Fake Beard book cover

Father Christmas’s Fake Beard
by Terry Pratchett, 2017

Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year, but sometimes the celebrations get repetitive! This creative collection of tales proposes some preposterous and hilarious alternatives to the traditional Christmas celebrations. For kids who appreciate silly humour and wildly imaginative scenarios, this is a great choice!


About the author: Our copywriter, Ariane Signer has been writing journal rants and random lists since she was a little girl. A self-published author, she has found a way to turn her passion into her life's work. When not running after her two young sons, Theo and Jake, she enjoys hiking, music, and reading.

LEARN

Holiday Book List

by Ariane Signer
Copywriter at Hatley


I was raised by a college professor and a librarian, so as you can imagine, our home was filled to the brim with books. From a young age, I loved looking through my mom’s psychology anthologies and my father’s science fiction novels, but I soon enough started a collection of my own.

As a young girl, I would go to the Coles bookstore with my dad, who dutifully dished out his hard-earned dollars to support my obsession with Fear Street novels. A love of reading at a young age inspired my adult dream of becoming a writer. As a mom of two young boys, I’ve adopted the same principles that my parents followed when I was young: I won’t buy you all the toys all the time, but you can have as many books as you want. If children know that their interest in reading is encouraged and supported, they will want to read more, I promise you!

The holidays are a great opportunity to focus on reading with your child, as there is generally more time spent together as a family, and no shortage of holiday-themed story books for kids.

These are a few that my kids love (and some that are vintage throwbacks to when I was a kid in the 80’s).

Picture Books
(Kindergarten- Grade 3)

1

Little Miss Christmas book cover

Little Miss Christmas
by Roger Hargreaves, 2006

The classic Little Miss and Mr. Men books are great choices for young children! This adorable tale tells the story of Little Miss Christmas, who puts off her Christmas wrapping duties until the very last minute in order to enjoy a beach vacation. Humourous and light, this also packs in a good lesson about living up to our promises and managing our time more efficiently.

2

A Chipmunk Christmas book cover

A Chipmunk Christmas
by Megan Stine & H. William Stine, 1985

This classic Alvin and the Chipmunks book was one that my parents read to my sister and I when we were young. This story focuses on the importance of giving back during the holiday season. Alvin makes a sick child’s Christmas that much more special by giving him his very special harmonica.

3

When It Start To Snow book cover

When It Starts to Snow
by Phillis Gershator, 1998

I love books that teach children about wild animals and their habits. This is a really cute book about how different animals react to the snow. The illustrations are really wintery and perfect for those first days of Christmas vacation when everyone wants to snuggle up under the covers and read a story book!

4

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada book cover

My sister sent my kids this book as a Christmas gift one year when we were living abroad, and it was a great way to teach them about their Canadian heritage! An original and very Canadian take on the classic song, this book pays homage to many of the cultural symbols that make the True North so unique!

5

Little Blue Truck Christmas book cover

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
by Alice Schertle, 2014

The Little Blue Truck books are classic reads for kids under five. In this special Christmas edition, Blue saves the day by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. Follow along with your little ones as Blue spreads a lot of Christmas cheer to his closest pals.

Fiction or Non-Fiction
(for Grade 4-6)

1

A Christmas Tale book cover

A Christmas Tale
by Geronimo Stilton,2005

Geronimo Stilton is planning to have an extraordinary Christmas with his friends and family on Mouse Island, until he discovers that they are all planning on being out of town for the holidays. Faced with this unexpected predicament, Geronimo falls into a grinch-like mode, until he embraces a creative way to make the most of the season.

2

Llama Llama Holiday Drama book cover

Llama Llama Holiday Drama
by Anna Dewdney, 2010

Llama Llama doesn’t like to wait. When the holiday season arrives, he struggles to wait for the magic of Christmas morning. As he and Mama Llama bake cookies, shop for presents and decorate for Christmas Day, Llama Llama gets more and more impatient for the big day. A great book for children who just can’t wait (that was definitely me as a child) to open their Christmas presents.

3

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa book cover

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa
by Angela Shelf Medearis, 1994

The holiday season is a great time to educate children about different celebrations and customs that are observed around the world. This great guidebook explains the history of Kwanzaa celebrations during the holiday season and provides some great African-inspired craft ideas and recipes that kids can try out during the school holidays.

4

Father Christmas’s Fake Beard book cover

Father Christmas’s Fake Beard
by Terry Pratchett, 2017

Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year, but sometimes the celebrations get repetitive! This creative collection of tales proposes some preposterous and hilarious alternatives to the traditional Christmas celebrations. For kids who appreciate silly humour and wildly imaginative scenarios, this is a great choice!


About the author: Our copywriter, Ariane Signer has been writing journal rants and random lists since she was a little girl. A self-published author, she has found a way to turn her passion into her life's work. When not running after her two young sons, Theo and Jake, she enjoys hiking, music, and reading.

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