‘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.
