Cozy Books for the Holiday Season
There's nothing better than making a cup of tea, grabbing your favorite blanket, and curling up on the couch with a great book. Here are some of our favorite seasonal reads to make your winter book displays as inviting as a warm fire and cup of cocoa on a snowy day.
Early Readers
This time of year brings the holidays front and center. Explore 18 different holidays from around the world in this fun and informative book complete with beautiful illustrations.
It’s almost Three Kings Day, and while the grownups prepare a large meal, the kids prepare their shoe boxes for los Reyes to arrive later that night. Will they stay up late enough to wish the Kings a Feliz Día de los Reyes? Or will the magic pass them by?
Pete the Cat is a perrenial library favorite, so spend the holidays with him! In this rockin' spin on the traditional tale The Night Before Christmas, Pete the Cat proves that giving your all in the spirit of Christmas is the totally groovy thing to do.
During the coldest season, when the world feels scary—what do you remember about being warm?
Baked potatoes.
Trust.
A kettle on the stove.
Blankets.
A smile.
And, most of all, the reassurance that you belong.
In his powerful and moving poem, featuring illustrations from thirteen extraordinary artists, bestselling author and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Neil Gaiman draws together many different memories to answer the question, what do you need to be warm?
The Rockette's are a time-honored holiday tradition, and this autobiography from the first Black Radio City Rockette dancer, Jennifer Jones is inspiring read.
Dancing has always made her feel free, like she can do anything. But when Jennifer was a child, some people didn’t think that she had a future as a dancer because of the color of her skin.
With the support of her family, especially her mother, she proved that anything is possible when you believe you belong.
In this irresistible spin on a timeless holiday tale, debut author Heather Pierczynski and artist Skylar Hogan’s reveal why only a mouse is singled out within The Night Before Christmas. A perfect cozy read by the fireplace to induce plenty of giggles and laughter.
Beth Ferry brings us a tiny cactus who loves Christmas! And your readers won't be able to help loving the adorable illustrations by A. N. Kang.
Middle Grade
The animals of the Athensville Zoo are heading to school! But their visit is interupted by a blizzard, and the animals have to stay overnight where they meet a slew of new friends.
Snowdays aren't just for the animals! After a snowstorm shuts down her Ojibwe reservation, Jo Jo uses her big imagination and big personality to help both Elders and classmates alike. The perfect book for early chapter book readers to tear through on before going out to play in the snow.
What Middle Grade reader wouldn't like to imagine a world in which they can have as many toys as they want? Max Fernsby seems like your typical 10-year-old kid, but when a red bag literally falls on his head from the sky, Max finds he suddenly has the power to produce any toy in the world!
Teen
Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas. As the city grinds to a halt, twelve teens band together to help a friend pull off the most epic apology of her life. But will they be able to make it happen, in spite of the storm?
No one is prepared for this whiteout. But then, we can’t always prepare for the magical moments that change everything.
It all starts when Shani runs into May. Like, literally. With her mom’s Subaru.
Attempted vehicular manslaughter was not part of Shani’s plan. She was supposed to be focusing on her monthlong paleoichthyology internship. She was going to spend all her time thinking about dead fish and not at all about how she was unceremoniously dumped days before winter break.
Then she and May are snowed in together on Christmas Eve. As things start to feel more serious, though, Shani’s hurt over her ex-girlfriend’s rejection comes rushing back. Is she ready to try a committed relationship again, or is she okay with this just being a passing winter fling?
Escaping to NYU for college didn’t turn out the way Cameron planned—he’s flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn’t found anyone he can call his “people.” When he gets home for winter break, he’s so desperate to avoid a Conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get—as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there’s a cash prize for the most festive of Santa’s helpers. But the competition is fierce—especially from fellow elf Marco. Christmas spirit oozes out of his veins. At first Cam is determined to see him as nothing but a rival, but as they spend more time together, Cam starts to second-guess himself.