We wish you a loaded bookshelf
with snowflake, with dreidel, with elf
for gift-giving, or your own self.
Some ideas are right here.

Here’s our annual list of recommended new and reissued picture books of seasonal and holiday interest. Season’s greetings from the Horn Book staff!

Uri and the King of Darkness: A Hanukkah Story
by Nati Bait; illus. by Carmel Ben Ami; trans. from Hebrew by Ilana Kurshan
Primary    Kalaniot/Endless Mountains    32 pp.
10/24    9781962011983    $19.99

Uri, his little sister Shir, and their mother are waiting for their father to come home to begin their ­Hanukkah celebration. As evening falls, Uri starts to worry. He imagines, and then draws, Dad in various possible real-life jams (flat tire, stuck in the rain). Looking out the window, he’s freaked out by the shadows, which take the shape of an advancing army led by a blobby-shaped King of Darkness; an appended note makes the connection to King Antiochus IV and the Hanukkah story. Just as Uri and Shir summon their courage, their father appears — bearing jelly doughnuts traditional for the holiday, and ready to light the candles. ­Effective rhyming­ text carries readers along while colorful, sketchlike illustrations are a creative mix of realistic and imagined scenarios. elissa gershowitz

★ Santa’s First Christmas
by Mac Barnett; illus. by Sydney Smith
Primary    Viking    40 pp.
10/24    9780593524978    $18.99
e-book ed.  9780593524985    $10.99

“Santa doesn’t do anything special” for Christmas?! The elves are embarrassed not to have thought about it before: after a night of delivering toys, Santa just sleeps in an extra half hour and then gets back to work. This Christmas morning, the elves surprise their boss with breakfast in bed. Then they all chop down a “handsome spruce,” hang lights around the North Pole, and bake cookies for “you know who.” There are stockings, presents (delivered by a polar bear in a Santa suit), carols, and a Christmas feast. Barnett’s wry text is full of affection for his characters, and Smith’s rich watercolor and gouache illustrations infuse both the outdoor North Pole and interior scenes with good cheer. kitty flynn

Winter Light
by Aaron Becker; illus. by the author
Preschool    Candlewick Studio    16 pp.
10/24    9781536236460    $17.99

In this beautifully designed board book in the vein of Becker’s You Are Light (rev. 9/19) and others, the die-cuts are just part of the attraction. Brief, lyrical text encourages stillness and assures readers and listeners, “We’ll forge our faith / with winter light… // till days grow long once more.” Lovely, painterly illustrations work with the text to allude to several holiday and winter customs involving light and color, with aptly shaped arrangements of die-cuts (snowflakes, a wreath), some with tinted material embedded so light can shine through. shoshana flax

★ Tamales for Christmas
by Stephen Briseño; illus. by Sonia Sánchez
Primary    Random House Studio/Random    40 pp.
10/24    9780593647813    $18.99
Library ed.  9780593647820    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780593647837    $10.99
Spanish ed.  9780593897515    $18.99

Each year, Grandma makes tamales to sell so she can make Christmas magical for her familia. “With masa in one hand, corn husks in the other, ­Grandma’s just getting started…Grandma is tenacious…Grandma’s at it again,” etc. Punctuated with this changing refrain, Briseño’s inspiring text, from the point of view of a grandchild, is full of awe for this impressive matriarch. The pages count the tamales that Grandma makes — in dozens — all the way to “1,000 dozen tamales!” Sánchez’s expressive pastel-style illustrations, rendered digitally with handmade brushes and textures, perfectly capture a loving and boisterous family who are happiest when they’re together. Concurrently published in Spanish as Tamales para Navidad. monica de los reyes

Winter Magic
by Robert Burleigh; illus. by Wendell Minor
Preschool, Primary    Ottaviano/Little, Brown    32 pp.
9/24    9780316560498    $18.99

This picture book employs a first-person voice to enumerate the joys of winter. The rhyming text claims the identity of everything from snowmen to hot cocoa. “I’m a skater flying across the ice — flash! / I’m a sled zooming down the hill — dash!” Two of the season’s holidays, Christmas and ­Hanukkah, are referenced in the text and/or the gouache, watercolor, and digital illustrations. The palette is appropriately cool, with pops of warmer colors, including bright red for mittens and the jacket of a boy making a snow angel (in perhaps a subtle nod to The Snowy Day) and glowing yellow for a cozy fire. The repeated refrain “I am Winter…” is completed at book’s end with “I am Winter Magic!” An uplifting celebration. martha v. parravano

Counting Winter
by Nancy White Carlstrom; illus. by Claudia McGehee
Preschool    Eerdmans    40 pp.
9/24    9780802855701    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781467468664    $18.99

Various animals adapt to live through winter in this atmospheric counting book that honors the snow and cold. Metaphorically, a red fox stalks winter, three snowshoe hares track it, and eight sled dogs race it. The smooth, steady rhythm of Carlstrom’s poetic writing makes this inviting book well suited for a read-aloud, while McGehee’s­ dynamic scratchboard and watercolor illustrations, primarily in shades of blue, white, and black, add texture. Profiles of all the animals ­featured and notes from the author and illustrator are appended. marva anne hinton

The House Without Lights
by Reem Faruqi; illus. by Nadia Alam
Preschool, Primary    Holt    40 pp.
9/24    9781250907219    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781250399564    $11.99

A house waits with anticipation for its new family to move in, envious of other houses’ decorations for ­Christmas, plus Diwali and ­Hanukkah. But Huda’s family doesn’t put up Christmas lights when they arrive, and the house is a little disappointed. Gradually House grows to love the family, comforting and protecting them, and is content waiting until the family decorates for Eid. “A few months later, on a warm night under a new crescent moon, House TWINKLED.” Soft illustrations feature a joyful Muslim family and welcoming neighbors in a gentle ­celebration of religious diversity. monica de los reyes

Lemming’s First Christmas
by Jamesie Fournier; illus. by Tim Mack
Preschool    Inhabit Media    32 pp.
10/24    9781772275438    $12.95

Avinngaq the lemming is excited to learn about Christmas and presents under the tree, but…“what is a tree?” There aren’t any in the Arctic (as a prefacing note states), so Avinngaq enlists her animal friends’ help to find one. Seaweed, a flower, berries, Arctic willow — not trees, Qimmiq the sled dog says. Avinnagaq sadly sits on a piece of driftwood — “You found a tree!” The cheery cartoon illustrations bring warmth to the chilly winter setting. The board book format seems unecessary for the story’s age level, but this is a friendly introduction to Arctic flora and Inuktitut animal names (glossary and pronunciation guide appended). kitty flynn

Winter Solstice Wish
by Kate Allen Fox; illus. by Elisa Paganelli
Preschool, Primary    Beaming    32 pp.
10/24    9781506492858    $18.99

On the shortest day of the year, people gather on a beach to build a bonfire and make “a wish for light. A wish for hope. A wish for renewal.” The poetic text also includes scientific information about the winter and — across the world at the same time — the summer solstice, both further discussed in the back matter. Paganelli’s vibrant illustrations embrace rich purples, blues, and reds for dazzling nighttime images that reflect the sense of comfort and belonging that the bonfires represent. A particularly powerful spread displaying togetherness features people passing candles and lanterns across panels highlighting other winter solstice celebrations. cynthia k. ritter

Snow Is…
by Laura Gehl; illus. by Sonia Sánchez
Preschool, Primary    Wiseman/Simon    32 pp.
10/24    9781665915595    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781665915601    $10.99

“Snow is a feeling the moment you wake / Snow is a stillness before the first flake.” This picture book shows us a classic snow day through the eyes of a young child. Each page tells readers what snow means to the speaker — anticipation, snowball fights, sitting in front of the fire, and togetherness. The rhyming text and the digital illustrations in a warm blue palette punctuated with reds work together beautifully to bring color into a world blanketed in snow. After a day of fun and excitement, this loving, diverse family snuggles down with some cookies and blankets and bids us goodnight. niharika prabhakar

Letters to Never Send Santa: Confessions, Complaints, and Outlandish Requests from the Files of St. Nick
by David Griswold; illus. by Luis San Vicente
Primary    Moonshower/Bushel & Peck    64 pp.
9/24    9781638192046    $18.99

Santa has “gathered the strangest and worst” letters he’s received. More than twenty letters in verse beg, threaten, complain, bargain, and ask for homework help. “(P.S. It’s due tomorrow).” Phoebe wants a unicorn: “Don’t tell me you can’t. Don’t say they’re not real. / If reindeer can fly, I think you can deal.” There’s a letter from “The Parents” stating, “We break our backs to make this work / And YOU get all the credit.” “The Committee for Elvish Rights” has demands, “Chris from Accounting” has questions, and a T. rex asks, “can u pleez bring the dinoz bak?” The energetic digital collage illustrations play up the poems’ outrageous absurdity. kitty flynn

At Our Table
by Patrick Hulse; illus. by Madelyn Goodnight
Preschool, Primary    Little, Brown    40 pp.
10/24    9780316537056    $18.99

This warm and thought-provoking picture book celebrates the many different ways that families come together to give thanks in the fall season. Hulse’s spare, meaningful text honors a table with room for “old traditions, and new ones, too,” as loved ones gather in suburban homes and in city apartments. Goodnight’s expressive illustrations, created using paper, graphite, and digital tools, portray various races, ­ethnicities, and abilities. The book alludes to the ways ­Thanksgiving is painful for some by showing an ­Indigenous family visiting a memorial for a Wampanoag tribal chief; an ­artist’s note provides more context. marva anne hinton

My Wonderful Christmas Tree
by Dahlov Ipcar; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Tilbury    40 pp.
9/24    9781668945087    $18.99

In a creative echo of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Ipcar describes the snow-covered fir tree outside her window on a clear Christmas night. Atop the tree is “one shining star”; after this, she counts the creatures that inhabit it — two black bears, three bobcats, and so on, culminating with twelve black-capped chickadees. The illustrations, vigorously drawn and painted in rich, warm colors on full-bleed double-page spreads, are accompanied by a rhyming text with many child-appealing details. The five raccoons are “bold little bandits with neat black masks”; the eight gray squirrels have “small feet frisking, soft tails whisking.” Originally published in 1986. martha v. parravano

Mr. Santa
by Jarvis; illus. by author
Preschool     Candlewick    32 pp.
10/24    9781536238839    $17.99
e-book ed.  9781536240504    $17.99

“Mr. Santa? Is it really you?” A child wakes up to find Santa Claus delivering gifts to their house and proceeds to show him around, pointing out pet fish and sharing gingerbread, all the while asking him questions about the big night. The two later take off in Santa’s sleigh, and more questions ­follow as he makes his rounds. Jarvis has chosen a nice mix of ­straightforward and silly questions (“Can reindeer talk…Can you eat clouds?”) that young children may want to ask, and his digitally rendered illustrations give the book an old-timey feel perfect for an inviting bedtime story. marva anne hinton

Hanukkah Hippity-Hop
by Barbara Kimmel; illus. by Ana Zurita
Preschool    Kar-Ben    12 pp.
10/24    9798765604564    $9.99

“MARCH like a Maccabee —­ stomping your feet! / SHAKE like the jelly in a doughnut treat.” This board book dances through the details of ­Hanukkah, urging young listeners to spin like a dreidel and jump like a latke in a pan. Bold illustrations ­feature a diverse group of kids (and one mischievous cat) hippity-hopping­ their holiday hearts out amid ­Hanukkah treats, decorations, and spinning dreidels. A jaunty introduction to Hanukkah activities for the toddler set. shoshana flax

An Anishinaabe Christmas
by Wab Kinew; illus. by Erin Hill
Preschool, Primary    Tundra    48 pp.
10/24    9781774883570    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781774883587    $10.99

During the car ride to celebrate ­Christmas on the Rez, Baby asks questions that Mommy and Daddy patiently answer, sharing Anishinaabe customs and beliefs. Once they arrive, Baby tells their grandparents, Kookum and Mooshom, what they learned: “we are all family”; “it is good to give things away”; “home is where we come from.” Hill’s digital illustrations feature a loving Native family proud of their culture. An endnote explains the relationship between traditional ­Anishinaabe winter solstice observances and the adopted holiday of Christmas. kitty flynn

Merry Christmas, Dear Mars
by Penny Parker Klostermann; illus. by Estrela Lourenço
Primary    Godwin/Holt    32 pp.
9/24    9781250870308    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781250399557    $11.99

Santa’s sleigh crash lands on Mars, and technicians from the Outer Space Rescue Division are called in to diagnose the problem: “Malfunctions are due to our cosmic conditions!” Working together, Santa and the Martian techs upgrade the sleigh (“The tinsel-trimmed turbines were programmed to MAX. / The runners were polished with peppermint wax”) and provide “astro-style suits” for the reindeer. Now, Santa can fill Martian stockings with “celestial sweets” and “savor his snack / in the Christmas tree’s glow.” The rhyming “Night Before ­Christmas”–style text gets a (rocket) boost from the energetic digital illustrations’ slightly retro vibe. kitty flynn

It’s Winter! [Celebrate the Seasons]
by Renée Kurilla; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Little, Brown    40 pp.
10/24    9780316570138    $18.99

“Winter is a time of peace, / of patience, play, tradition, sleep. / A season full of things to do!” Kurilla’s pleasing follow-up to It’s Fall! (rev. 9/23) revels in the busyness of the ­winter months. The jaunty rhyming text transitions effortlessly from snow- day activities to school vacation to various holidays (Hanukkah, ­Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day). An active mix of spots, single pages, and spreads predominantly feature mood-setting blues and white for chilly-looking yet cozy digital illustrations, which are inclusive of abilities, skin tones, and cultures. cynthia k. ritter

On a Chariot of Fire: The Story of India’s Bene Israel
by Erica Lyons; illus. by Siona Benjamin
Primary    Levine/Levine Querido    40 pp.
9/24    9781646144341    $18.99

The Bene Israel, one of the “three largest groups of Jews in India,” arrived around 175 BCE. They were fleeing the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes just before “the Maccabean Revolt…better known as the story of Hanukkah.” Lyons’s tale begins with a nani (grandmother) telling her granddaughter about their ancestors’ dangerous sea voyage. A storm hits, and there are few survivors; those who do make it are welcomed to Alibag, India, a place where people “had their own religions, but respected the new traditions brought from far away.” Benjamin’s sumptuous-hued mixed-media illustrations swirl with color and movement in this story of an underrepresented aspect of Jewish history. elissa gershowitz

A Dragon for Hanukkah
by Sarah Mlynowski; illus. by Ariel Landy
Preschool, Primary    Orchard/Scholastic    40 pp.
9/24    9781338897524    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781338897555    $18.99

The young narrator receives a dragon the first night of Hanukkah, a rainbow the second night…a time-travel machine to visit the Maccabees on the fifth night. It’s all fanciful, but with holiday details woven into the text and winsome illustrations. The dragon’s name is Nerry (ner is Hebrew for candle); the horses on a gifted merry-go-round sport dreidel letters on their saddles. Finally, it’s time to clean up for the eighth night, “the most magical night” in this child’s home because family and friends come for a holiday feast. Engaging back matter is framed as a cartoon discussion about ­Hanukkah. shoshana flax

The Last Pomegranate
by F. Nakhaei; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Clavis    32 pp.
10/24    9798890630896    $18.95

“For a perfect Yalda Night, you need a pomegranate.” No sooner does young Pouya find one than the wind plucks it from his hand. The fruit falls and rolls to Rabbit, who takes a few seeds and then passes it to Bear; who takes a few and passes it to Fox; who shares what’s left with her kits. Pouya is sad to miss out on “a perfect Yalda Night” but is happy that his loss is the other creatures’ gain — a selfless sentiment noted by the wind, who rewards him for his generosity. The story’s pleasing pattern and satisfying ending will be enjoyable to readers familiar with the ancient Persian solstice celebration and those just learning about it. “Yalda means birth in Syriac-Aramaic and refers to the triumph of light over darkness,” and the illustrations, in wintry hues, exude warmheartedness. elissa gershowitz

Elmore the Christmas Moose
by Dev Petty; illus. by Mike Boldt
Primary    Doubleday    40 pp.
10/24    9780593487167    $18.99
Library ed.  9780593487174    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780593487181    $10.99

Elmore the moose applies for his dream job as one of Santa’s reindeer, but there’s one problem: he can’t fly. Santa eventually figures out a different job for Elmore that fits his skill set: Official Manager of Assorted Goodies, Treats, and Sugary Delights. Boldt’s cartoon-style illustrations playfully embrace the absurdity of Petty’s story (e.g., Santa hires a flying walrus named Abner to pull his sleigh). Handwritten letters between Elmore and Santa add to the dynamic page compositions, and entertaining North Pole classified ad pages for endpapers round out this “­Christmas kind of story.” cynthia k. ritter

Charley and Seymour’s Hanukkah Miracle
by Melody Howard Ritt; illus. by Nia Gould
Preschool, Primary    Kar-Ben    32 pp.
10/24    9788765604519    $19.99

It’s Hanukkah, and Charley Chipmunk­ has pledged to bring the menorah to his celebration with his friend Seymour Squirrel, along with…something that starts with C. Carrots, a cantaloupe, and chocolate gelt all make their way into his bag. Young readers and listeners will enjoy the silliness, and possibly the knowledge that they have better memories or deduction skills than Charley. The solution Seymour suggests (don’t try this at home) is reminiscent of the Hanukkah legend of the oil miracle. Illustrations in a muted palette lend a cozy feel as the friends observe the holiday and tell the story of the ­Maccabees. shoshana flax

Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah
by Karen Rostoker-Gruber; illus. by Carles Arbat
Preschool, Primary    Apples & Honey/Behrman    32 pp.
11/24    9781681156422    $19.95

An offstage narrator addresses a child who ignores the titular advice. The ursine guest helps — and “helps” — with preparations; the digital-looking illustrations show that, for example, picking out tiny candles isn’t the best task for bear paws. Once the latkes come out, all helpfulness is out the window, and the guest is out the door. The resolution involves an outdoor ­sufganiyot compromise and a bear-made gift (though that tree-branch menorah might be better for decoration than for lighting). An amusing tale, speckled with Hanukkah details, about making guests feel welcome. shoshana flax

Oy, Santa!: Or, There’s a Latke to Learn About Hanukkah
by Joyce Schriebman; illus. by Gila von Meissner
Primary    Intergalactic Afikoman    40 pp.
10/24    9781951365226    $19.99

With Hanukkah fast approaching, ­Oliver writes an email to Santa: “I’m Jewish. And that means you don’t have to come down my chimney on ­Christmas Eve. I just wanna make sure you know.” Santa writes back with what he thinks is reassurance, but then missteps in wishing Oliver a “Happy Chrismukkah.” The correspondence continues (“that’s not my holiday”) in informative and humorous ways. Cheerful cartoony ­illustrations, ­blue-heavy for Oliver’s settings and red-and-green for Santa’s, include seasonal motifs and clever details. The Jewish family’s varied skin tones, along with other non–Christmas observers and diversity among the elves, are added pluses for representation. elissa gershowitz

Grandma Is Overly Generous: A Retelling of the Twelve Days of Christmas
by Alex T. Smith; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    MCB/Pan Macmillan    56 pp.
10/24    9781035051984    $12.99

An over-the-top grandma is the one sending presents in this takeoff on the popular Christmas carol. Her gifts on the first six days hew close to the original, but then things take a turn. Rather than seven swans a-swimming, Grandma sends her granddaughter Eloise “seven squirrels a-snorkelling.” Smith’s vibrantly illustrated three French hens don berets and ascots while carrying French flags. Each page is designed to suggest an envelope with funny details; for example, the squirrels come from “The Rub-A-Dub Home Pamper Service.” The twelfth day brings a surprise practical gift, and the book ends with Eloise sending her grandma — of course — a thank-you note. marva anne hinton

A Stickler Christmas
by Lane Smith; illus. by the author; design by Molly Leach
Primary    Random House Studio/Random    40 pp.
10/24    9780593815281    $18.99
Library ed.  9780593815298    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780593815304    $10.99

Optimistic creature Stickler (Stickler Loves the World, rev. 9/23) is naturally now spreading yuletide cheer. “This Christmas, Stickler knew just what to give everyone.” The answer is a stick, of course, specific to each recipient’s needs (e.g., Rabbit receives a “Hop-Higher Stick”). Even Doug-the-Fir, who does not want to be a Christmas tree, gets his wish with a “Don’t-Stare Stick” and a clever distraction by Stickler. The textured mixed-media illustrations are classic Smith, as is Leach’s spirited design, and both complement the wacky quality of his humorous story, which ends sweetly with Stickler also receiving the perfect present (spoiler: it’s a stick). cynthia k. ritter

A Mouse Family Christmas
by Deborah Underwood; illus. by Leah Hong
Primary    Little, Brown    40 pp.
10/24    9780316467186    $18.99

In search of the Christmas spirit, young mouse Hugo sneaks ­downstairs on Christmas Eve to see the tree decorated by their house’s human resident, William. But it hasn’t been, because a snowstorm has left the elderly man alone for Christmas. William catches but releases Hugo, who enlists his own large family’s help in secretly decorating William’s tree, and then they all celebrate together. Underwood’s traditional story requires extra suspension of disbelief regarding the human-mouse interactions, but its focus on simple acts of kindness is entirely fitting for the holiday. Hong’s detailed gouache and colored-pencil illustrations on watercolor paper depict heartwarming scenes of clothed mice engaging in domestic activities. cynthia k. ritter

A Cozy Winter Day
by Eliza Wheeler; illus. by the author
Preschool    Paulsen/Penguin    40 pp.
10/24    9780593617205    $18.99
e-book ed.  9780593617212    $10.99

This story, which focuses on several animal families plus one owl, perfectly portrays the delights of a snow day, both indoors and out. Wheeler’s rich, colorful digital illustrations immerse readers in the atmosphere of winter. The playful art, which depicts activities that many young readers will find familiar (sledding, snowball fights), adds warmth (complete with fireplace!) to the narrative. From the first detailed endpaper to the last, this picture book will have readers wishing to wake up and fall asleep on a snow day. charlize guerra

One Foggy Christmas Eve
by Kerilynn Wilson; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Greenwillow    40 pp.
9/24    9780063315440    $18.99

Extreme fog has derailed this family’s Christmas Eve visit to Nana and Papa’s, but the narrator is determined to get there. Though tying a flashlight to the dog’s head fails, more lights, and a few luminous reindeer (not just their noses), help them arrive safely, with an epic story. Stylized, swirling fog dominates dramatic exterior illustrations and influences details in inviting interior spreads in this engaging take on the perils and wonders of the ­season’s weather. monica de los reyes

We Celebrate the Light
by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple; illus. by Jieting Chen
Preschool, Primary    Rise/Penguin Workshop    32 pp.
10/24    9780593752296    $18.99
e-book ed.  9780593887493    $11.99

A thoughtful main text reflects in general on commonalities among late fall/winter holidays: e.g., gathering with loved ones, decorating, sharing food — “When we honor traditions, / we celebrate our people’s long history…and the hopeful days to come.” Smaller type provides basic information about the seven celebrations shown in the lively illustrations: Diwali, winter ­solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, ­Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year. The digital art’s emphasis on diversity reflects the overall message of embracing and learning about our differences. kitty flynn

Gingerbread Dreidels
by Jane Breskin Zalben; illus. by Thai Phuong
Preschool, Primary    Charlesbridge    32 pp.
8/24    9781623543655    $17.99
e-book ed.  9781632893420    $9.99

Just in time for Christmas 2024’s coinciding with the first night of ­Chanukah, here’s a story of an interfaith family enjoying both holidays. After some confused apprehension on the part of young protagonists Max and Sophie, both sets of their grandparents arrive. A bustling family ­gathering ensues, complete with ­Chanukah and Christmas traditions, storytelling, and, of course, foods, including the titular treat. Digital illustrations depict a loving family with diverse skin tones. shoshana flax

From the November/December 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.