10 Holiday Read-Alouds for the Classroom

Last updated on December 1st, 2023 at 10:09 pm

It’s after Thanksgiving, so the holiday season is officially upon us! This is usually a busy time of year, not just at school, but at home, too. I know many schools begin their mid-year benchmark testing around this time, but, hopefully, you’ll have time to squeeze in a bit of fun!

And, so you don’t have to go down the google search rabbit-hole to find decent holiday read-alouds for your students, here is a list of books that include many different holidays your students may celebrate.

1. Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini-This book is my favorite book to read to students! I love the alliteration and how the language flows in this funny and heart-warming story. In this one, Moose is getting ready for Christmas and everything is “perfectly perfect.” Then, Moose realizes he didn’t get a Christmas tree. He looks everywhere and there are none to be found. Moose comes up with a creative solution and Christmas is saved. I love to use the last page as a short lesson on inference because the page is mostly dark and the words, “Ho, ho, ho,” are on it. I have students infer who the character is and how they know.

2. How to Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton- This is part of the How to Catch a…series. My Elf on the Shelf left this book as a gift for my students one year. This delightful story is about a couple children who set many traps to catch an elf. Read it to see if the elf is caught in the end. You could pair this book with a STEM actvity where students design and create an elf trap. Or, you could have them write about an elf trap they would create and make a diagram of it.

3. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney- A countdown to Christmas told in the usual Llama Llama way. Llama gets overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas until he has meltdown. His mama comes to the rescue and reminds us that Christmas is about being with those you love! A great book to use for SEL during this time of year!

4. Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin- My students usually become a fan of Pete the Cat during the first week of school when we read Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes and Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes, so it is fun to pull out another Pete the Cat book to read. In this story, Santa is sick and Pete fills in. This book has a nice theme of trying your best, no matter what size you are and is put to a tune in the way only a Pete the Cat book can do!

5. Binny’s Diwali by Thriti Umrigar- Diwali is a five day Hindu celebration that occurs in either October or November based on the Indian calendar. In this book Binny is nervous to share about her favorite holiday, Diwali, with her class. In the end she is overcomes her fear and shares about the traditions of Diwali much to the class’ enjoyment!

6. The Night Before Hanukkah by Natasha Wing- This is a part of The Night Before series and my students enjoy these stories. Although fictional, this book inlcudes true information about celebrating Hanukkah. It, also, rhymes, which makes it a perfect read-aloud choice!

7. My Family Celebrates Kwanzaa by Lisa Bullard-This book includes many facts about Kwanzaa and includes wonderful vocabulary that is defined in kid-friendly language. Furthermore, there are built in comprehension questions to ask throughout.

8. Three Kings Day-Dia De Reyes Mago by Marisa Boan-This book gives a simple explanation of why this holiday is celebrated, along with the traditions observed on this day. Three Kings Day is a holiday celebrated on January 6th by many Hispanic people. This book is written in both English and Spanish.

9. The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie DePaola- This book is a little long for young years, but you could break it into sections or summarize each page, if your students have a short attention span. Las Posadas is another Hispanic holiday and is celebrated in December each year. In this story Sister Angie is supposed to be in charge of the Las Posadas celebration for the village, but becomes ill, and the main actors get stuck in the snow. It seems Las Posadas will be ruined, until a special couple arrives to help them get to the village in the nick of time.

10. Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydaker- This book is about the Swedish holiday celebrated on December 13. It is a story about three children in Sweden and how they celebrate Santa Lucia Day!

11. (New for 2023) Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh by Mo Willems- Pigeon is a definite favorite of my students and for many years! If you haven’t shared a Pigeon book with your students, it’s time! Mo Willems has a new one out just in time for the holidays. It gives your students the opportunity to shout out “No!” at the right moments and laugh at Pigeon’s silly antics. You don’t want to miss it!

I hope your students enjoy these stories as much as mine do! If I missed a holiday, please let me know in the comments below and I will do my best to add it to this list. If you’re looking for student gifts, be sure to check out Budget-Friendly Gifts for Students.