The holiday season is a great time to explore and celebrate the rich diversity of cultures around the world. One way to do this is by reading multicultural holiday books with your family and friends. These books not only expose readers to different traditions but also cultivate understanding, empathy, and appreciation for the unique customs that make our world so vibrant. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 28 multicultural holiday books that promote cultural diversity and foster inclusion.
1. “Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story” by Angela Shelf Medearis
2. “Light the Menorah!: A Hanukkah Handbook” by Jacqueline Jules
3. “The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice” by Wendy Pfeffer
4. “The Diwali Gift” by Shweta Chopra and Shuchi Mehta
5. “Christmas in the Philippines: World of Smiles” by Mary Man-Kong
6. “Celebrating Chinese New Year” by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith
7. “Papa, Do You Love Me?” by Barbara M. Joosse (Focuses on Maasai culture in Africa)
8. “The Legend of the Poinsettia” by Tomie de Paola (Mexican Christmas story)
9. “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins” by Eric Kimmel
10. “Nadia’s Hands” by Karen English (Pakistani wedding celebration story)
11. “The Gift of Ramadan” by Rabiah York Lumbard
12. “Too Many Tamales” by Gary Soto (Christmas story set in a Mexican-American household)
13. “A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas” by Pat Mora
14. “The Miracle Stork: A Baba Yaga Story” by Rafe Martin (Russian holiday tale)
15. “Children Just Like Me: Celebrations!” by Anabel Kindersley and Barnabas Kindersley (Global celebrations)
16. “Eid al-Fitr: Festival of Breaking the Fast” by Rachel Grack
17. “Night Tree” by Eve Bunting (American family’s unique holiday tradition)
18. “The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes” by Linda Glaser
19. “I’m New Here” by Anne Sibley O’Brien (Story about young immigrants adapting to new cultures)
20. “The Breadwinner Trilogy” by Deborah Ellis (Afghan holiday story)
21. “A is for Africa” by Ifeoma Onyefulu
22. “Snow in Jerusalem” by Deborah Da Costa and Cornelius Van Wright
23. “King Puck” by Michael Garland (Irish tradition)
24. “Oskar and the Eight Blessings” by Tanya Simon and Richard Simon
25. “The Faithful Friend” by Robert D. San Souci (Haitian folktale with ties to holidays)
26. “Coyote Solstice Tale” by Thomas King (Native American storytelling session during Winter Solstice)
27. “The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth” by Margaret Musgrove (Ghanaian holiday story)
28. “Lucia Morning in Sweden” by Ewa Rydåker
Conclusion
Diversity makes our world beautiful, and it’s essential to share and learn from each other’s customs and stories during the holidays and beyond. This list of multicultural holiday books captures a range of different cultures, ages, and traditions, providing a fantastic starting point for exploring the diverse experiences that make the world such an exciting place.
