The holiday season is a magical time of year for any child, but especially for kindergarten children. At this age, children are still young enough to get caught up in the folklore of the season like Santa Claus and his reindeer, and they are also old enough to form more solid holiday memories than when they were younger. Kindergarteners are also likely to have the attention span and attention to detail needed to begin enjoying books with longer storylines and richer plot details.

Reading comprehension is also an important part of kindergarten readiness. Whether your family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, you are sure to find a great holiday-themed book in our list of the best holiday books for kindergarteners to share at home and school.

Best Christmas Books For Kindergarten

From magical trains to wild Christmas reindeer, here are our favorite festive Saint Nick classics for kindergartners!

The Polar Express By Chris Van Allsburg

This Christmas classic had to top our list. In this story, a young boy takes a trip to the North Pole on a train called The Polar Express. Teachers and parents can plan a whole day around this book by having a pajama party with hot chocolate, reading The Polar Express, and watching the movie adaptation.

Bear Stays Up For Christmas By Karma Wilson

Bears typically hibernate during the winter, but in this story, Bear’s friends help him stay awake so he can experience the magic of Christmas.

A Pirate’s Twelve Days Of Christmas By Phillip Yates

This is a fun and different take on the twelve days of Christmas. You and your child can even make up your own version of the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas song or a picture book to go along with it.

Pete The Cat Saves Christmas By Eric Litwin

This installment of the Pete the Cat series is a retelling of The Night Before Christmas that teaches your kindergartener the importance of giving their all.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bell By Lucille Colandro

This book is a good way to introduce your child to predicting what might happen next in a story. Each book in the Old Lady series has a common thread that connects all the items in each book.

Santa’s Book Of Names By David McPhail

This is a great pick to get your kindergartener excited about learning to read, since it is about Santa helping a little boy learn to read.

The Wild Christmas Reindeer By Jan Brett

This book tells the story of a little girl who is in charge of getting Santa’s reindeer ready for their long journey around the world to deliver gifts to children on Christmas. It is a little longer than others on our list, but its beautiful illustrations are sure to keep your child engaged.

Best Hanukkah Books For Kindergarten

Here is a compilation of our favorite (and educational) Hanukkah reads! Whether you celebrate the lighting of the menorah or not, these books are sure to be a holiday hit.

Latkes And Applesauce By Fran Manushkin

A snowstorm has the Menashe family stuck in their home during Hanukkah. Soon, a stray cat and dog show up on the Menashes’ doorstep seeking shelter from the storm. Even though they are worried about running out of food, the family takes in the animals and shares their food with them, and their kindness is rewarded on the eighth day of Hanukkah.

Here’s a fun idea: To enrich the experience of reading Latkes And Applesauce with your child, you can try making latkes at home. Latkes are crispy potato pancakes that are quick, easy, and fun for the whole family to make. This traditional potato latke recipe uses ten simple ingredients to make a dozen latkes in 40 minutes.

Beam Of Light By Elisa Boxer

This book tells the story of the first official White House menorah, which was made from a beam of wood that had been preserved for seventy years, since the renovations that were made during the Truman administration. The story and its beautiful illustrations are a testimony to the Jewish people’s strength and resilience.

Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival Of Lights By Charlotte Offsay

This sweet picture book is set in a cozy home full of Hanukkah treats and celebrates the joys of family, togetherness, tradition, and making new memories. The book includes informative side notes that explain Hanukkah terminology and an afterword that provides historical context, making this an excellent read for Jewish and non-Jewish families alike.

Hanukkah: The Festival Of Lights By Bonnie Bader

If you and your child have enjoyed Little Golden Books, you’re sure to love this Big Golden Book that explains Hanukkah traditions like eating latkes and lighting the menorah, the history of Hanukkah, and why the holiday is celebrated.

Hanukkah, Here I Come By DJ Steinberg

Part of the same series as Kindergarten, Here I Come, this book explores the traditions, stories, fun, and games of Hanukkah through bouncy, upbeat poems.

The Night Before Hanukkah By Natasha Wing

Based on The Night Before Christmas, The Night Before Hanukkah features clever rhymes and dynamic illustrations that introduce young children to Hanukkah traditions.

Daddy Christmas And Hanukkah Mama By Selina Alko

This is an excellent choice for families who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. This joyous embrace of Christmas and Hanukkah is sure to become a modern holiday classic.

Best Kwanzaa Books For Kindergarten

Historical, festive, and entertaining, here’s a list of our favorite Kwanzaa books for kindergarteners!

Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa By Donna L. Washington

Li’l Raabbit doesn’t want his sick Granna Rabbit and the rest of his family to miss out on the big Keramu feast during Kwanzaa, so his family and friends come together to help.

The People Remember By Ibi Zoboi

This winner of the Coretta Scott King Honor Award tells the story of African descendants’ journey in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Together For Kwanzaa By Juwanda G. Ford

Kwanza is Kayla’s favorite holiday, but this year, there is a big snowstorm coming that could keep her older brother, Khari, away from the family and ruin the celebrations they had planned.

The Story Of Kwanzaa By Donna L. Washington

This informative book answers questions about Kwanzaa, such as “Why do we light candles on the kinara?”, “What’s a bendera?” and “Where did the Nguzo Saba come from?” There are also activities at the end that your child can try.

K Is For Kwanzaa By Juwanda G. Ford

This book is the perfect way to teach your child about the alphabet and Kewanzaa traditions at the same time.

My First Kwanzaa By Karen Katz

This book will teach your child about the seven symbols and principles of Kwanzaa from the perspective of a little girl whose family celebrates Kwanzaa.

Kevin’s Kwanzaa By Lisa Bullard

Through the narration of a little boy named Kevin, your child will hear exactly what goes on each day of Kwanzaa and how different families celebrate this week-long holiday.

Enroll Your Child In Kindergarten At JLP Inspiring Minds

JLP Inspiring Minds is Tamarac’s leading private preschool and K-5 school. We are dedicated to helping our students develop academically, mentally, and physically to be the best they can be.

Our curriculum follows the National and Florida State Standards, with a focus on international studies and the arts through hands-on learning. In particular, the kindergarten curriculum at JLP Inspiring Minds includes instruction in English language arts, math, science, and social studies. These subjects are taught through thematic units that change throughout the school year. Additionally, we keep class sizes small and offer multi-grade classes so our students can get the support they need in their current grade and get ahead on material for their next grade.

If you are interested in enrolling your child in kindergarten at JLP Inspiring Minds, please contact us online today to schedule a tour of our private school.