Holiday/Seasonal Books A-H

Black History Month

A Picture Book of 

Martin Luther King Jr. 

By: David A. Adler

ISBN: 978-0823408474

A brief, illustrated, biography of the Baptist minister and civil rights leader whose philosophy and practice of nonviolent civil disobedience helped American blacks win many battles for equal rights.

A Picture Book of Rosa Parks

By: David A. Adler

ISBN: 978-0823411771

Her refusal to give up her seat on a bus helped establish the civil rights movement.

As Good As Anybody

By: Richard Michelson

ISBN: 978-0375833359

MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel. Their names stand for the quest for justice and equality. Martin grew up in a loving family in the American South, at a time when this country was plagued by racial discrimination. He aimed to put a stop to it. He became a minister like his daddy, and he preached and marched for his cause. Abraham grew up in a loving family many years earlier, in a Europe that did not welcome Jews. He found a new home in America, where he became a respected rabbi like his father, carrying a message of peace and acceptance. Here is the story of two icons for social justice, how they formed a remarkable friendship and turned their personal experiences of discrimination into a message of love and equality for all.

Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad 

in the Sky

By: Faith Ringgold

ISBN: 978-0517885437

Cassie, who flew above New York in Tar Beach, soars into the sky once more. This time, she and her brother Be Be meet a train full of people, and Be Be joins them. But the train departs before Cassie can climb aboard. With Harriet Tubman as her guide, Cassie retraces the steps escaping slaves took on the real Underground Railroad and is finally reunited with her brother at the story's end.

Barefoot: Escape On The Underground Railroad

By: Pamela Duncan

ISBN: 978-0064435192

In the dark of the night a Barefoot, an escaped slave, flees for his life. With his pursuers close behind and the moon shrouded in clouds, Barefoot must rely on the wisdom of the wild animals of the forest and swamp to guide him to the safety of the underground railroad. Innovative perspective and use of light and a spare text result in an unforgettable portrayal of one slave's journey to freedom.

Freedom Summer

By: Deborah Wiles

ISBN: 978-0689878299

Joe and John Henry are a lot alike. They both like shooting marbles, they both want to be firemen, and they both love to swim. But there's one important way they're different: Joe is white and John Henry is black, and in the South in 1964, that means John Henry isn't allowed to do everything his best friend is. Then a law is passed that forbids segregation and opens the town pool to everyone. Joe and John Henry are so excited they race each other there...only to discover that it takes more than a new law to change people's hearts.

Harriet Tubman and the Freedom Train

By: Sharon Gayle

ISBN: 978-0689854804

Harriet Tubman was born a slave. But she always knew that someday she would be free. After realizing her dream Harriet decided she had to help others find freedom too. So she became a guide on the Underground Railroad. Little did this courageous woman know just how many people she would help.

Henry's Freedom Box

By: Ellen Levine

ISBN: 978-0439777339

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.

If You Traveled on the 

Underground Railroad

By: Anita Riggio

ISBN: 978-0590451567

If you traveled on the Underground Railroad
--Where was the safest place to go?
--Would you wear a disguise?
--What would you do when you were free?
This book tells you what it was like to be a slave trying to escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

Pass It On: 

African American Poetry For Children

By: Wade Hudson

ISBN: 978-0590457705

A collection of poetry by fourteen distinguished African-American poets features the work of Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Eloise Greenfield, among others.

Secret Signs: 

Along The Underground Railroad

By: Anita Riggio

ISBN: 978-0613593595

In the mid-1800s, Luke and his mother help support themselves by making panoramic eggs of maple sugar. When a man bursts into their home and accuses them of hiding slaves, Luke's mother denies the charges--although she is planning to meet her contact on the Underground Railroad that very day. With his mother held at home, Luke, who is deaf, must use his resources and creative talents to help make the connection. 

The Bus Ride That Changed History

By: Pamela Duncan Edwards

ISBN: 978-0547076744

In 1955, a young woman named Rosa Parks took a big step for civil rights when she refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white passenger. The bus driver told her to move. Jim Crow laws told her to move. But Rosa Parks stayed where she was, and a chain of events was set into motion that would eventually change the course of American history. Fifty years later, The Bus Ride That Changed History retraces that chain of events—introducing the civil rights movement, one idea at a time. Take a ride through history in this unique retelling of what happened when one brave woman refused to stand up so that a white passenger could sit down.

Christmas

A Wish To Be A Christmas Tree

By: Colleen Monroe

ISBN: 978-1585360024

This charming tale of an overgrown pine that was always passed over for Christmas, and what his woodland friends do to help him, is sure to become a holiday classic for years to come.

Bear Stays Up For Christmas

By: Karma Wilson

ISBN: 978-0689878046

Bear's friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up -- by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!

God Gave Us Christmas

By: Lisa T. Bergren

ISBN: 978-1400071753

“Who invented Christmas?”
Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that…
Jesus is the best present of all.
This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

Oh, What A Christmas!

By: Michael Garland

ISBN: 978-0545242103

When the harness to Santa's sleigh breaks mid-flight, Dasher, Dancer, and the rest of the reindeer gang fly off into the night...leaving Santa and all of his presents stranded! Who will guide Santa's sleigh and save Christmas now? Luckily, Santa lands by a tiny barn filled with sleepy animals. With a twinkle in his eye, Santa sees a solution and wonders how well can cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and an old hound dog fly? OH, WHAT A CHRISTMAS! is an upbeat and humorously sweet holiday story about Santa's soon-to-be-classic wild and crazy sleigh ride one special Christmas Eve.

Room for a Little One
By: Martin Waddell
ISBN: 978-1416925187


That cold winter's night,
beneath the star's light...

...a Little One came for the world.

I own this book.

Santa's Favorite Story

By: Hisako Aoki

ISBN: 978-0689817236

Christmas may be canceled this year because Santa is too tired to deliver all his packages. The forest animals are worried, but when Santa tells them the story of the very first Christmas, when Christ was born, the animals discover the true spirit of the season.

Song of the Stars
By: Sally Lloyd-Jones
ISBN: 978-0310722915


The skies shouted it to the seas that thundered it to the waves that roared it to the great white whales that sang it to the starfish in the deep. And tiny sandpipers danced it on shining sands... 'It's time! It's time!' On one quiet night, creation whispered a secret. Grass and bees, robins and trees all spread the word. Sheep told their young while angels sang the song to the shepherds. Hushed news of a miracle echoed to the ends of the earth. The moment had come. The long-awaited child had arrived! Creation cried out in celebration, but only a few people heard. Only a few joined nature's chorus, a song in praise of the newborn King.


I own this book.

The Candymaker's Gift

By: David and Helen Haidel

ISBN: 978-1562921507

With simple text and gorgeous illustrations, this insightful holiday book will delight the whole family. The legend of how the candy cane came into being, and what it signifies, wonderfully proclaims the best gift of Christmas.

The Great Reindeer Rebellion
By: Lisa Trumbauer
ISBN: 978-1402744624


In a playful take on “The Night before Christmas,” the talented pair provides kids with a one-of-kind, behind-the-scenes peek into Santa’s workshop. And it seems that all’s not well at the North Pole: the reindeer have gone on strike and Santa’s auditioning a menagerie of other animals to take their place. But when the cats abandon station to chase some mice and the elephants fall through the roof, what’s Santa to do? Will his eight trusty reindeer ever fly again?


I own this book. 

The Polar Express
By: Chris Van Allsburg
ISBN: 978-0395389492


One couldn't select a more delightful and exciting premise for a children's book than the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole.


I own this book.

The Spirit Of Christmas

By: Nancy Tillman

ISBN: 978-0312549657

Bells jingle, sleds dash through the snow, trees are topped with sparkling stars, and children everywhere dream of candy canes and presents. But the best gift of all—the most magical gift of the season—is when we spend Christmas with those we love.

Easter

Benjamin's Box 

By: Melody Carlson

ISBN: 978-0310700449

What are the treasures in Benjamin's Box? Come along with Benjamin and see... Like all boys and girls, Benjamin is very, very curious. Unlike children of today, however, Benjamin lives during the days of Christ! When Jesus comes to Jerusalem, Benjamin decides to follow Him and find out who He really is. At first, he thinks Jesus is a teacher, then a king. At last, Benjamin learns the good news -- news that every child (and grown-up!) will want to share.

Easter Egg Haunt

By: Mike Thaler

ISBN: 978-0310715917

With hilarious stories and nutty pictures, the Tales from the Back Pew series offers kid's a unique view of church. Enjoy plenty of giggles with your child---and learn fun, important truths about God, church, and the Bible. It's Easter. Will the Easter bunny be ten feet tall? Will it really lay eggs? I hope they're not scrambled!

The Biggest Easter Basket Ever

By: Steven Kroll

ISBN: 978-0545017022

As Mouseville prepares for a gala Easter celebration on the village green, complete with a biggest Easter Basket contest, two lovable mice learn a lesson in cooperation -- and fun! Town mouse Clayton and country mouse Desmond continue to teach the benefits of collaboration and friendship in another sweet story centered around this joyful holiday.

The Easter Story

By: Patricia A. Pingry

ISBN: 978-0824955311

This boardbook tells the story of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem, the Lord's Supper, and the crucifixion and resurrection. Illustrations show Jesus as a friend to children while the story, based on the Gospels, simply and gently explains Jesus' death as the means of salvation for mankind.

The First Easter

By: Carol Heyer

ISBN: 0824954637

The First Easter tells the story of why Christians celebrate the Easter holiday. The test recounts the events of the last week in Jesus' life, from his triumphant arrival in Jerusalem to his crucuifixion and resurrection.

The Legend of the Easter Egg

By: Lori Walburg

ISBN: 978-0310722717

Featuring the beloved setting and characters from the best-selling Legend of the Candy Cane, this moving story about Thomas and Lucy takes us deeper into the mystery of Christianity. When his older sister Lucy falls sick, Thomas goes to stay with John and Mary Sonneman at their candy store. But all the candy he could desire does not cure Thomas's aching heart. Only when Mary Sonneman shares with him the story of Easter does he understand the hope he has -- and what he can do for his sister.

The Story of the Easter Bunny

By: Katherine Tegen

ISBN: 006050711X

On a snow-cold day in a snug little house . . .

Everyone knows that the Easter Bunny comes every year with a basket of painted eggs and chocolates. But who is the Easter Bunny, and what is his story? At last, the famous bunny's secrets are revealed in this delightful tale perfect for springtime!

The Story of the Easter Robin

By: Dandi Daley Mackall

ISBN: 978-0310713319

In the center of the nest lay one perfect egg, the color of a spring sky. The father robin sat on a branch nearby, guarding his family. Tressa spotted raccoon tracks below and a blue jay eyeing the nest. 'Gran, how are we going to keep the egg safe?' 'We'll have to leave that one to the Creator,' Gran said. Robins have built a nest on the window ledge at Grandmother's house! Tressa is thrilled---and concerned. What will happen to the sky-blue egg laid by the mother robin? As more eggs appear, Tressa witnesses the daily drama of the robins' nest and learns how God cares for all creatures. Besides watching the birds, there are Easter eggs to color. And there is a very special story to hear---a tale of long ago about one small bird with a very big heart. How did the robin get its red breast? Tressa is about to find out as Gran tells her the story of the Easter robin.

The Very First Easter

By: Paul L. Maier

ISBN: 978-0758606273

Ten-year-old Christopher yearns for stories that are real truth, not fiction. Remember, Mom? I don t like fairy tales anymore, Christopher said with a sigh. So Mom and Dad tell Christopher the story of the very first Easter, and the sorrow and joy of Jesus trial, death, and resurrection. Christopher learns important details about this miraculous event that help him understand the season s celebration. And he discovers his own special link to the very first Easter.

Harvest/Fall

Count Down To Fall

By: Fran Hawk

ISBN: 978-1934359945

Count backwards from ten to one during one of the most colorful times of year: fall. Learn about the bright, colorful leaves and the trees from which they fall: aspen, birch, maple, oak, chestnut, linden, pine, beech, dogwood, and sweet gum. Watch the animals frolicking in the crisp, autumn air as they get ready for the approaching cold winter. 

Fall Mixed Up
By: Bob Raczka
ISBN: 978-0761346067


"Every Septober, Every Octember, Fall fills my senses with scenes to remember." "Bears gather nuts. Geese hibernate. Squirrels fly south in big figure eights." Fall is all mixed up in this silly book from Bob Raczka! Can you find his mistakes in the words and pictures?


I own this book.

Leaf Man

By: Lois Ehlert

ISBN: 0152053042

Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.

Leaves

By: David Ezra Stein

ISBN: 978-0399246364

It's a young bear's first autumn, and the falling leaves surprise him. He tries to put them back on the trees, but it doesn't work. Eventually, he gets sleepy, and burrows into the fallen leaves for a long nap. When he wakes up, it's spring?and there are suddenly brand-new leaves all around, welcoming him.

Pumpkin Pumpkin

By: Jeanna Titherington

ISBN: 978-0688099305

Jamie plants a pumpkin seed in the spring and, after watching it grow all summer, carves a face in it for Halloween! But best of all, he saves some seeds that he will plant again next spring.

Pumpkin Soup

By: Helen Cooper

ISBN: 978-0374460310

Deep in the woods in an old white cabin, three friends make their pumpkin soup the same way every day. The Cat slices up the pumpkin, the Squirrel stirs in the water, and the Duck tips in just enough salt. But one day the Duck wants to stir instead, and then there is a horrible squabble, and he leaves the cabin in a huff. It isn't long before the Cat and the Squirrel start to worry about him and begin a search for their friend. Rendered in pictures richly evoking autumn, Helen Cooper's delightful story will resonate for an child who has known the difficulties that come with friendship.

The Ugly Pumpkin

By: Dave Horowitz

ISBN: 978-0142411452

The Ugly Pumpkin has waited all through October for someone to take him home, but no one wants him. He doesn't look like other pumpkins. So the lonely Ugly Pumpkin leaves the patch in search of a place where he'll fit in. By the time Thanksgiving arrives, he discovers the truth about who he is, but it's not what he expected!

The Very Best Pumpkin

By: Mark Kimball Moulton

ISBN: 1416982884

Growing up on Mimi and Papa’s farm, Peter knows a lot about caring for pumpkins. One summer Peter finds a lonely pumpkin all by itself in the field, and with his tender care, the pumpkin flourishes. By autumn, it’s the very best pumpkin of all, and Peter wants to keep it for himself. But when a young girl shows up at the farm in quest of a perfect pumpkin, will Peter pass on his prized pumpkin and gain a friend?

When The Leaf Blew In

By: Steve Metzger

ISBN: 978-0545112819

A wonderfully zany story about what happens on a farm when a leaf blows into the barn! When the leaf blows into the barn, The cow sneezes "Ah choo!" And when the cow sneezes "Ah choo!" The spider falls on top of the owl. With simple, repetitive text and silly, expressive illustrations, children will fall for this hilarious autumn story about the way one leaf turns an entire barnyard upside down.