12 Days of December Read Alouds
Happy holidays, y'all! It's the most wonderful time of year...for books! There's nothing like a read aloud to help scrape the children off the ceiling! 😝 Here are a few of my favorites:This post contains affiliate links.
1. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell!
A classic "Old Lady" story to kick off the craziness season. If you're not familiar with this series, the Old Lady swallows a series of things that eventually come back out to make some seasonal thing--a scarecrow, an Easter bunny, or in this case, Santa Claus.
2. A World of Cookies for Santa
Holiday traditions are different all over the world. Not everyone leaves chocolate chip or Oreo cookies for Santa. Take a trip around the world and check out what kids in different countries leave out the big guy. The kids LOVE this one. Minds get blown.
3. Too Many Tamales
As the family gathers for their Christmas celebration, Maria loses her mother's ring. She thinks it's in the tamales and her cousins help her eat them in search of the missing ring. This book is full of cultural connections and talking points, highlighting different traditions from different cultures.
Everyone's favorite pigeon is back for a holiday tale. If you love Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, you HAVE to add this one to your collection.
5. Tough Cookie
This one is a spin on the Gingerbread Man, but has a sweet little lesson at the end--that it's okay to be just who you are. My kids get all excited to read this one, then I hear a chorus of "Awww"s at the end.
6. Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah
I love this book because it talks about a culture that isn't the majority in our classroom and it focuses on taking care of others during the holidays. Rachel is so worried that Mrs. Greenberg is alone for Hanukkah that she goes out of her way to make her feel special. It's a sweet story with important themes.
We always talk about different cultures' traditions during December and The Hanukkah Hop is a great introduction to Jewish traditions. Rachel prepares for her family's party and gets the dreidels, latkes, and menorahs ready. It's perfect for introducing the vocabulary related to Hanukkah.
8. The Gingerbread Man
We read this one at the beginning of gingerbread week. There are many different versions of this story, but I personally prefer the classic one. Pairing it with The Ninjabread Man makes for a great lesson on comparing stories.
9. Jingle Bells Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.)
Junie B. Jones is in full swing during the holidays. The rambunctious first grader learns an important lesson about giving in this fun early chapter book.
10. Snowmen at Christmas
I love to read this one just before we leave for winter break. It's an imaginative fantasy about how snowmen might celebrate Christmas and one that leaves most of my students wide-eyed and ready for the holiday to begin. It also lends itself to a great art lesson on perspective.
As far as comparing traditions goes, this one will make your littles think. In Ireland, the elves wear green, jump down the chimney to let Santa in the front door, and the donkeys that pull the sleigh will eat the roof if you're not careful. This book has so many talking points and is a great way to introduce a wreath craft. Disclaimer: While I love this book, I do edit out a few phrases that may be seen as cheeky in America. Use your discretion and read it ahead of time before introducing it to your class.
12. The Smallest Gift of Christmas
Roland discovers that the best gifts of Christmas are not necessarily the biggest gifts. If you love Peter H. Reynolds books (I am Human, I'm Here, I am Yoga, Happy Dreamer), you'll love The Smallest Gift of Christmas.
Bonus Titles: Meet the Latkes
The story of Hanukkah as told by potatoes. It's absolutely hysterical and presents the story of the Maccabees and Jewish traditions in a child-friendly way. This is my new favorite read aloud for Hanukkah!
This is a story about traditions families have during the holiday season. It makes a great opener for your holidays around the world unit as it gets kids thinking about the different traditions they have in their families.
Red and Lulu is a beautiful story about two birds who have made a home in large evergreen tree. When the tree is chosen to become the center of Rockefeller Center at Christmas, the birds get separated. They work to find each other and reunite for a beautiful holiday in the center of the city. Lots of "oohs" and "ahhs" with this one.
I think this one may be out of print now--it was hard to get a good link for it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. But if you can find a copy, it's a beautifully illustrated representation of how different countries celebrate the holidays. It's a lift the flap book with hidden pictures everywhere, and an absolute favorite in our classroom.
Stay cozy,
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