1. Night before Christmas
This one is my all time favorite which I just have to read once before Christmas every year! Now I read it to my little one as well! It comes in many versions with many different publishers. The poem remains the same, oy the illustrations change. Pick whichever you like, it will take you on a magical journey on the night before Christmas.
2. The story of Hannukkah
As someone who grew up in India the only thing I knew about the Jewish community were the atrocities committed towards them during the second world war. Little did I know that there was a thriving Jewish community in my city itself that spoke, not Hebrew or Yiddish but my mother tongue Marathi! Once I was enlightened, I read up all that I could. This book I found was so simple and brilliantly illustratrated to teach about the story of Hanukkah not just to children but to anyone who wants to learn about Jewish history. A must read this holiday season.
3. Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton's Nightmare before Christmas is just as famous as Clement Clark Moore’s The Night Before Christmas. A skeleton who wants to spread cheer instead of spooks, kidnaps Santa and gives kids ghoulish presents is funny to no end. You also feel a little sad for him and makes you think of stereotyping. This one too is one of my favorite Christmas + Halloween read.
4. How the grinch stole Christmas
A grumpy old grinch hates the noisy happy people making merry on Christmas, so he stole it! Everything! The gifts, the decorations, the feast! To his surprise the Whos of Who-ville still went on with Christmas! They didn’t need the presents or the trees or the feast! Christmas was much more than that!
A beautiful book to understand the true meaning of Christmas!
5. All of a Kind of family Hanukkah
Beautifully illustrated book in which we celebrate Hanukkah with a Jewish family with all their traditions from preparing Latkis and potato pancakes to lighting the shamash and the first candles of the Menorah. This book is brimming with tradition, family values and love.
6. Last stop on reindeer express
A little girl goes off on a reindeer to meet her grandpa for Christmas! This book makes the perfect Christmas gift! With a silver foil cover, peep through holes and lots of flaps, this is a gorgeous book that will make the perfect Christmas gift to give to a loved little one you don't meet very often.
Apurva
( India )