Read Alouds for December

I had a hard time choosing this month’s book recommendations, there are so many great picture books! I finally narrowed down my favorite read alouds for December that represent a variety of holidays. Since Ramadan and Diwali follow the lunar calendar, they are celebrated at different times each year. Diwali is in October or November and Ramadan is in April of 2020. You can choose to discuss these holidays during the month they are in or during your holidays around the world unit.

Here are my current favorite Read Alouds for December. Click on the title ad it will take you to my affiliate link.

Seven Spools of Thread by Angela Shelf Medearis I love this book because it’s about seven brothers who just cannot get along. They are constantly bickering and driving everyone crazy. When their father dies, they must make seven spools of thread into gold or they will turn into beggars. This book is all about getting along and working together.

Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydaker Do your students know about Lucia Day in Sweden? Its a holiday steeped in tradition and celebration. This book explains it beautifully.

Lailah’s Lunchbox; A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi This story is about Lailah, who is new to the United States and worried about fasting for Ramadan. With the help of teachers, she figures out how to explain it to her new classmates.

‘Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong is a story that follows a Latino family on Christmas Eve. This is another book steeped in tradition that is great to share with your students.

Little Red Ruthie by Gloria Koster This is a Hanukkah story along the lines of Little Red Riding Hood. Ruthie packs some latkes and then walks in the woods to Grandma’s house. She meets a wolf along the way.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto is a story about a little girl who loses her mother’s diamond ring and thinks it’s in the Christmas tamales…but there are too many.

Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko is a great read about a blended family. So many children can relate to this book! This book is how Sadie’s family celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas.

Yoon and the Christmas Mitten, by Helen Recorvits, is about a boy, Yoon, who just moved to the United States from Korea and hears about Christmas at school. He goes home to tell his mom and his mom tells her about it but she tells him they are not a family that celebrates Christmas.

Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey The kids just love Pig and so do I. He teaches us what not to do in such a fun way. Pig is being greedy when Santa comes and Santa takes care of it. Such a funny book!

Let’s Celebrate Diwali by Anjali Joshi Harini is so excited to teach her class about Diwali for Show and Tell but so are some other classmates. All of the students learn that there are many ways to celebrate Diwali.