By Jean Stehle

We don’t need to convince you that books make great gifts! But shopping for titles that kids, tweens, and teens will enjoy can be tricky. Below, we’ve rounded up the latest and greatest holiday-themed books to help make your holiday shopping a little easier. From Thanksgiving to Hanukkah, and Christmas to Kwanzaa, we’ve got you covered! ‘Tis the season for sharing the gift of reading!

Giving Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday by Denise Kiernan

Thanksgiving is synonymous with family gatherings and football games, but how many of us know the real story behind the holiday?

Thanks to Denise Kiernan’s engaging storytelling and Jamey Christoph’s gorgeous pastel illustrations, readers will learn about the history of Thanksgiving and how Sara Josepha Hale’s letter-writing campaign convinced President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

This book offers readers the opportunity to reflect on the practice of gratitude and highlights many ways to say "thank you" in different languages. A unique holiday book that can be read year round, Giving Thanks is a great addition to any family’s bookshelf.

Green Is For Christmas by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

The infamous crayons are back! In this latest installment from the wildly popular series The Day the Crayons Quit, Green crayon takes a stand, declaring he is the sole Christmas color in the box.

Naturally, Red, White, and Silver crayons have different opinions. After all, how could candy canes or Santa be drawn without Red? There’d be no snowy scenes without White. Bells and stars could not sparkle without Silver.

Through playful interactions, Green is reminded that everyone is needed to make Christmas special.

Mendel’s Hanukkah Mess Up by Chana and Larry Stiefel

Mendel’s favorite Jewish holiday is Hanukkah, but he always seems to mess something up, like using a sparker to light the menorah or making latkes with far too many onions. When the rabbi asks Mendel to drive the fabulous Mitzvah Mobile through the streets of New York's Lower East Side and invite everyone to the Hanukkah Bash, Mendel is nervous. Things go surprisingly fine for Mendel until the unexpected happens.

Readers will cheer for this lovable character and the way he shares the meaning behind Hanukkah. Daphna Awadish’s spot-on marker illustrations help readers feel Mendel’s many emotions.

The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi

Ibi Zoboi’s stunning storytelling shines a light on African American history through the story of Kwanzaa, the seven-day holiday observed from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day. While Zoboi deftly recounts the horrors and injustices Black Americans have endured over the centuries, she poignantly credits the myriad contributions and successes of African American people.

The refrain, “the people remember” highlights how memories, positive or otherwise, are passed down from one generation to the next, emphasizing the power of keeping our ancestors’ stories alive.

Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Magical Menorah by Judy Press

Can Brooklyn's greatest detective Penina 'Pinky' Bloom and her brother Avi solve the case of the mysterious menorah when an ancient Israeli coin is stolen from her family's synagogue?

Perfect for reluctant readers, this light mystery showcases spunky kid detective, Pinky, and her younger brother in Hanukkah-themed hijinks. This book is a part of series, which is perfect for readers who struggle to find a book to connect with. Judy Press offers a light-hearted story emphasizing the value of teamwork and discovering truths in unexpected places. Playful illustrations accompany the text at just the right intervals.

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

Bree can't wait for her first day at her new middle school—until she's assigned the dreaded elective Swim 101. When she befriends an elderly occupant of her apartment building, a former swim team captain, can Bree accept the help to dive head first into her fears?

While this is not a holiday book, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to highlight an author with the last name Christmas! This story not only brims with heart and unexpected twists, but it gives readers the opportunity to explore the relationship between swimming and Black Identity. Bree’s anxieties are relatable, and her father’s emphasis of small changes yielding big results makes this warm-hearted story a big splash. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels.

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds

Sixteen-year-old Shira is on a mission to find the perfect boyfriend over Hanukkah, but after getting snowed in on Nantucket with her nemesis (and former crush!), her plans go off the rails.

This Hanukkah rom-com is ablaze with humor, flirtation, and second opportunities to rediscover the people we think we know so well. Shira, a lonely and socially awkward teen, needs to learn the ropes of flirting to catch the eye of her great-uncle’s intern. Unfortunately, this happens by striking a deal with her once-crush, now nemesis, Tyler.

Readers will be pulling for Shira as she learns to trust her heart and discover that happiness is not always found where expected. Author Hannah Reynolds creates multi-dimensional characters in this companion novel to her debut The Summer of Lost Letters.

The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park

Can sworn enemies Chloe Kwon and Peter Li team up to protect their families’ competing local restaurants from destruction before Christmas Day?

This coming-of-age, rivals-to-romance story will delight readers looking for a delicious holiday tale that includes just the right peppering of romantic tension against the backdrop of family secrets and identity.

While the story is a dual narrative, Chloe’s voice is the predominant one. Park draws attention to the complexities of being a teen and the pressure of living up to your family’s expectations. The secret connecting Chloe and Peter’s families adds just the right amount of mystery to keep readers turning the pages.

How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow

Shani is ready to retreat from the world following a painful breakup and spend winter break holed up at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History as an intern. Then Shani meets May, but the two do not hit it off. Shani’s plan to wallow in post-breakup sadness becomes increasingly harder as she and May cross paths and Shani’s animosity towards May begins to unexpectedly thaw.

Arlow’s snappy dialogue and fresh, relatable characters make for a cozy and crackling holiday read. An excellent title for Casey McQuiston fans.

Whiteout by Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon, and Tiffany D. Jackson

Bring together the best contemporary YA authors to collaborate on a story of teen love and it will be nothing less than perfection!

When Stevie’s planned coming-out dinner with her girlfriend Sola’s family turns into a disaster, Sola gives Stevie an ultimatum: Stevie has until midnight to prove that she loves Sola. Naturally, Stevie enlists the help of her friends, who are all managing their own romantic woes.

Set against a historic snowstorm in Atlanta, the authors dive into each character’s emotional experiences with authenticity and heart. Upbeat and satisfying, readers will be cheering for Stevie and her friends until the last page.

In a fun conclusion, the end of the book provides clues for readers to guess which writer penned each character.

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Jean Stehle is school librarian by day, die-hard reader by night. One of her greatest joys in life is matching readers with books that will surprise and delight, awaken and engage. In addition, Jean is a writer and is currently revising her contemporary fiction novel. She lives just outside of Boston with her husband, two children, and countless books. Come say hello to her on Instagram @jeanstehle_ or Facebook at @jeanstehlewrites.

Holiday Books for Kids of All Ages