Books brighten every holiday. It doesn’t matter whether they come wrapped as holiday gifts or they are borrowed treasures from a fun family trip to the library. Multiple studies in the past 10 years have reaffirmed what we’ve always known… if your children see you reading; `you read to your kids, and you having books throughout the home it helps children become lifelong readers. In addition, reading helps kids increase their vocabularies and master key communication skills as well as increasing their level of empathy for others. Deep reading as in reading a book as opposed to skimming articles on line helps kids learn to stay on task and better absorb what they read. It’s never too early or too late to start building good reading habits.

For this holiday season, we’ve selected a few books to help your kids enjoy the holidays and stay on track to become lifetime readers.

Classic Holiday Reads:

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum – this classic Christmas tale with beautiful illustrations explains the origins your child of St. Nick. Baum begins the fairy tale of Santa Claus with Santa being raised by woodland fairies and discovering flying reindeer. Next he starts building trinkets and toys to give to the children at Christmas time and finally, Santa receives the gift of immortality. For ages 4-8

Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel - Bubba Brayna makes the best latkes in the village, but she’s very near sighted and hard of hearing. When the scent of her cooking wakes a hungry bear from his hibernation, he finds his way to her door. Bubba Brayna mistakes him for her rabbi and welcomes the bear inside to play the dreidel game, light the menorah, and enjoy a scrumptious meal. After he leaves, the rabbi and Brayna’s guests show up for dinner and must figure out what happened to all the delicious latkes. For ages 4-8

Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren – Join the noisy children of three neighboring families to celebrate the holidays by… baking cookies, cutting and decorating trees, eating delicious treats and opening Christmas gifts. Astrid Lindgren takes us through Christmas in the Noisy Village! For ages 4-8

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien - These are actual letters Tolkien wrote to his children while they were growing up. Most are written as Father Christmas, but a special written by a polar bear is a parent and child favorite. Check the book edition because the best editions have copies of most of the meticulously hand written letters and reproductions of the images shared by Tolkien. For all ages

A Merry Christmas and Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott- Alcott’s stories provide a rare look at Christmas in nineteenth-century America. The underlying messages about generosity and charity are timeless reminders of the Christmas spirit. For all ages

A Vintage Christmas: A Collection of Classic Stories and Poems by assorted authors. This book includes stories from Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Selma Lagerlof, and poems from John Milton, Christina Rossetti, William Makepeace Thackeray, Anne Brontë, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. For all ages

Popular Winter Books:

The Winter Train by Susanna Isern – A group of animal friends decides to take the train from the Northern forest to the Southern forest to enjoy a warmer winter, but squirrel misses the train and the animals turn back and begin a frantic search for their friend. Some of the animals in the story don’t really migrate, but it’s a minor detail that should not take away from this message about friendship. For ages 3-5

The Magic of Friendship Snow by Andi Cann – All around her, Jojo sees people making friends, but she is so shy she doesn’t ever think she will have a friend. When Jojo meets Puddles, the snowman made of magic friendship snow, she learns about being a friend and makes a forever friend. For ages 3 and up

When Pencil Met Eraser by Karen Kilpatrick – Two items kids use everyday in school and at home teach a special lesson. Pencil draws on the pages of the book and eraser erases parts of pencil’s work. The two clash until they realize they can make beautiful drawings by working together. It’s a nice story for kids about getting along, cooperating and finding value in the contributions of others. For ages 3-6

The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren – based on on old Swedish tale – The Tomten is an ancient Gnome who protects Swedish farms in the winter by checking on the animals and people during the night keeping them safe til spring. He can’t be seen by adults, but sometimes his footsteps can be seen in the snow. Children can see him, but he only visits in the night while they are sleeping - his image comforting them in their sleep. Don’t miss Lindgren’s follow up book, The Tomten and the Fox. For ages 4-8

Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft - Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so most of them head south (migrate) for the winter. Even though Woodchucks aren’t fans of cold weather, but instead of migrating they hibernate - sleep in their dens all winter long. Kids will enjoy finding out how other animals cope with the cold winter. For ages 4-8

Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko – The holidays at Sadie's house are a combination of Christmas trees, stockings and a menorah, delicious latkes and stories and songs about Christmas and the Macabees. It all blends together in this story about a blended family celebrating the holidays. For ages 5-8

Time for Margot to go to Bed by Lieve Snellings - Margot the groundhog is sad because she has to start hibernation, but she knows it’s what all groundhogs do. Can her friends find out what Margot is afraid of in time to reassure her, so she can go to sleep with a smile? For ages 5-11