Library: Here is a selection of books reflecting some of the Library’s suggestions for the winter holidays. If your favorite holiday isn’t represented, feel free to email children@lapl.org, and the Librarians can help.
Happy Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa to all, and to all a good night!
Reading Recommendations by: Literature and Fiction Dept., Los Angeles Public Library; Children’s Literature Dept., Los Angeles Public Library. Compiled by Susan Lendroth, Los Angeles Public Library.
For Adult Readers
Brightly Shining, Ingvild Rishoi
When their father gets a job selling Christmas trees, Ronja and Melissa are overjoyed. But soon, they find he has stopped showing up to work and returned to visiting his favorite pub. Desperate to keep food on the table, the two young sisters take over for him and work the Christmas tree stand themselves. A tale of sisterhood loosely based on “The Little Match Girl,” Brightly Shining is a beautiful modern Christmas classic.
Holidays on Ice, David Sedaris
A hilarious and delightful collection of essays and fiction about life during the holiday season by wry humorist David Sedaris. survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this fairy tale child, they come to love her as their own daughter.
Christmas: A Biography, Judith Flanders
This New York Times bestselling title explores the history of Christmas, from its origins to modern-day celebrations.
Three Holidays and a Wedding, Uzma Jalaluddin
When severe turbulence rattles a holiday flight to Toronto, two strangers are scared into confessing their deepest secrets. Now, their plane’s emergency landing has stranded them in the cute and quirky Snow Falls Inn, where both women come face to face with their hearts’ desires and have the most magical holiday of all.
Love You a Latke, Amanda Elliot
As the only Jewish person on her small Vermont town’s tourism board, cafe owner Abby Cohen finds herself in charge of planning the town’s first ever Hannukah festival. Overwhelmed and struggling to get local vendors on her side, she puts out a call for help. Just to find the only other Jewish person in town is Seth, her annoyingly cheery regular. As the two work together to pull off this fledgling festival, Abby finds there’s more to Seth, and their connection, than she originally thought.
For Teen/Young Adult Readers
All the Jingle Ladies, Beth Garrod
Molly hates Christmas. Ever since her parents released a cheesy Christmas song ten years ago–complete with a video of Molly dressed as the cutest little elf- December has gone from Ho! Ho! Ho! to Hu-Hu-Humiliating! This year takes a turn for the worse when the song of Molly’s nightmares is included on the soundtrack for the hottest new holiday film. This mortifying tune is everywhere–again! A Christmas connection with a cute guy at the movies may make this holiday season one to remember.
Eight Dates and Nights, Betsy Aldredge
New Yorker Hannah Levin is allergic to horses and tinsel. Unfortunately, she’s surrounded by both when she’s snowed in at her grandmother’s home in a small Texas town. Super lonely, missing latkes and reliable Wi-Fi, Hannah wanders into an old deli where she meets the only other Jewish teen around, Noah, who happens to be equal parts adorable and full of annoying, over-the-top festival-of-lights spirit that he’s determined to share with Hannah. Hannah begins to wonder if there’s more to Hanukkah than she thought.
Joy to the Girls, Rachael Lippincott
LGBTQIA. For Alex and Molly, the last three years have felt like Christmas every day. So what better way to celebrate their final winter break of college than a romantic holiday getaway in a town right out of a Christmas card? Aside from sampling all the holiday cheer Barnwich has to offer, Alex and Molly have an important mission: to help their friend, Cora, get her crush to fall for her. Will these two be able to help Cora get the girl and keep theirs—or will this be the last Christmas of Alex and Molly’s love story?
No Rules Tonight, Kim Hyun Sook
A young adult graphic novel about unveiling secrets, confessing your crushes, and finding yourself, all in the mountains of South Korea on Christmas Eve.
For Young Readers
North for the Winter, Bobby Podesta
Christmas is looking dreary for Virginia even before she discovers a lost reindeer in the woods. In this sweet graphic novel from Pixar animator Bobby Podesta, Virginia and her chatterbox neighbor will have to team up to try and get Donner back where he belongs, no matter who stands in their way.
The Kwanzaa Story: Celebrating Culture Through Community, Alliah Agostini
Learn about the symbols and history of Kwanzaa and how this holiday originally started by a small group of people in Los Angeles spread across the nation.
The Old Sleigh, Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey
This sweet winter story follows one old sleigh in its efforts to keep a town stocked with firewood, even as the town grows bigger and bigger over the years. When the sleigh struggles to keep up, its owners take care to help it adapt.
The Festival of Lights: 16 Hanukkah Stories, Edited by Henry Herz
Sixteen authors came together to create a powerful book of short stories that help children understand the traditions and history of Hanukkah through contemporary stories.