MISD’s Top Book Picks for the Holiday Season

Educators from the Macomb Intermediate School District offer their top book choices for your child's holiday gift list this year.

‘Tis the season for gift giving! What’s on your child’s list this year? While it’s easy to snag the latest gadget or must-have toy for your kiddo, why not expand his or her library with some new books, instead?

Reading boasts big benefits for kids, after all. According to the Department of Education, students who read or are read to for fun at home typically have higher reading scores than those who are not reading. Reading for pleasure actually enhances concentration, reduces stress, improves vocabulary and writing skills – and so much more.

Want to cultivate your child’s love of reading? We asked local educators from the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD) for their top books picks to help kids of all ages celebrate the holiday season – and boy, did they deliver! Read on for some of their top suggestions.

Infant/Toddler

Baby’s First Slide and See Christmas

By Fiona Watt

Move sliders to discover different holiday scenes with this interactive book for little ones.

Christmas Peekaboo

By DK Publishing

Babies love peekaboo, and this lift-a-flap book delivers the peekaboo fun – with a holiday spin.

Merry Christmas (Bright Baby Touch and Feel)

By Roger Priddy

This holiday-themed book has interactive fun for little ones with different textures and colors.

That’s Not My Elf…

By Fiona Watt

Bright colors and different textures bring this book, which is part of a series of “touchy-feeling” books from Usborne Books, to life.

Where is Baby’s Christmas Present?

By Karen Katz

This lift-a-flap book reveals special surprises – such as cookies, candy canes and more – as baby searches for a Christmas present.

Preschool

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

By Karma Wilson

In this holiday book, Bear’s friends are determined to keep him awake for Christmas, so they enlist him to help find a Christmas tree, bake cakes and more.

Construction Site on Christmas Night

By Sherri Duskey Rinker

Little fans of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site will love this holiday spin, which features all your favorite trucks building a new home for the fire engine.

Dream Snow

By Eric Carle

On Christmas Eve, an old farmer goes to bed wondering how Christmas can come with no snow. After dreaming of snow covering him and his animals, the farmer wakes up to a snowy scene outside. Experience his dream as it unfolds in this lift-a-flap book.

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

By Alice Schertle

In honor of the holidays, Little Blue Truck delivers trees to all of his animal friends. Your kiddo can help count the trees in this book.

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

By Deborah Diesen

Will Mr. Fish find the perfect gifts on his holiday shopping quest? Find out in this children’s book.

The Wish Tree

By Kyo Maclear

On his journey to find a wish tree, Charles discovers that wishes come true in the most unexpected ways.

Elementary School

A Charlie Brown Christmas

By Charles M. Schulz

Charlie Brown is determined to discover the meaning of Christmas in this classic holiday book.

A Little Christmas Tree

By Anthony Merrill and Michael Bast

This is tale of a small Scotch pine who just wants to be a family’s Christmas tree, but when one of his branches breaks, his path is altered. Will someone choose a broken tree for their home this season?

A Warm Winter’s Tail

By Carrie A. Pearson

How do animals stay warm in wintertime? Well, they wonder how humans stay warm, too, in this adorable tale that’s told through the animals’ eyes.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

By Dr. Seuss

The Grinch really doesn’t like Christmas. So much so, in fact, that he sets out to steal the holidays from the Whos in Whoville in this classic tale from Dr. Seuss.

How to Catch an Elf

By Adam Wallace

Some kids might want to catch Santa, but how about catching his elf? That’s the premise of this adorable rhyming book.

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever

By Matt Tavares

Read the story of an adventurous young reindeer who takes off one evening on a mission to live the life she wants – and meets a very special man in red along the way.

Great Joy

By Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Frances sees an organ grinder and a monkey outside her window one evening before Christmas. She cannot stop thinking about them, especially when she sees them sleeping outside. Read this tale to see how it unfolds.

Sneezy the Snowman

By Maureen Wright

Sneezy the Snowman will do anything to get warm – from drinking cocoa to taking a bath – and he ends up melting. Read on to find out what happens to this oh-so-cold snowman.

Snowmen at Night

By Caralyn Buehner

When we are sleeping, the snowmen are out playing. That’s the secret that’s revealed in this adorable holiday book.

The Christmas Wish

By Lori Evert

In this Christmas tale, Anja journeys to meet Santa and become one of his elves.

The Crayons’ Christmas

By Drew Daywalt

How do Duncan, the crayons and their families celebrate the holidays? Find out in this new book.

The Jolly Christmas Postman

By Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Fans of The Jolly Postman will love this Christmas-themed interactive read, which includes letters from The Big Bad Wolf, all the king’s men and more.

The Night Before Christmas

By Clement C. Moore

This classic holiday poem about Santa climbing down the chimney and filling all the stockings on Christmas Eve is a must-read for kids.

The Snowy Nap

By Jan Brett

Hedgie doesn’t want to hibernate and miss the beauty of winter this season, so he stays awake instead of going into his burrow. But when a snowstorm hits, what happens? Find out in this kid-friendly book.

The Polar Express

By Chris Van Allsburg

A young boy takes a magical journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve in this classic tale.

The Purple Coat

By Amy Hest, illustrated by Amy Schwartz

Every year, Gabrielle gets a new coat, but this year she wants something different. Will she get it? There’s only one way to find out.

Middle and High School

A Christmas Carol: A Graphic Novel

By Charles Dickens

The miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future in this classic tale.

After the Snow

By S.D. Crockett

Willo’s life in the wilderness is disrupted when he comes home one day to discover that his family is missing. How will the tale unfold?

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories

By multiple authors

Twelve bestselling authors share their stories in this holiday anthology that features stories for Christmas, Hanukkah, winter solstice and Kwanzaa.

The Book Thief

By Marcus Zusak

This tale, set in Nazi Germany, follows a young foster girl who steals books she cannot resist. She learns to read and shares her stolen books with neighbors during bombing raids.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

By Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers have always lived in their apartment, but when their landlord refuses to renew their lease, they have 11 days to find a new home.

We Are Okay

By Nina LaCour

This novel about grief and the power of friendship is an excellent read for the older kids in your life.

Winter Town

By Stephen Emond

Longtime friends reunite every winter, but this year, Lucy – the “girl next door” – comes back a bit different. Her friend is determined to get the old Lucy back – but will he? Or will they simply grow apart?

For more information on the Macomb Intermediate School District, visit the MISD website.

For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.

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