http://mppl.org/services/youth-department/good-books/?category=current%20events&list=Winter%20Holidays
List: Winter Holidays
Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela!
Ava Gabriela is excited to celebrate the New Year with her extended family in Colombia, but being around her loud relatives in an unfamiliar place makes her shy and quiet. Includes author's note and glossary of Spanish words.
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Over the River & Through the Wood : A Holiday Adventure
The classic song gets a fresh new twist! The fun begins when Grandma and Grandpa send invitations to their far-flung, modern, and multiracial family: Come to our house for the holidays--and bring your favorite pie! Off everyone goes, driving down snowy roads, riding the train, boarding a plane ... even sailing along in a hot-air balloon. As each family faces an obstacle that delays their trip, they learn that sometimes the most old-fashioned form of transportation works best . . . NEIGH!
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Freedom Soup
Every year, Haitians all over the world ring in the new year by eating a special soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution. This year, Ti Gran is teaching Belle how to make the soup -- Freedom Soup -- just like she was taught when she was a little girl. Together, they dance and clap as they prepare the holiday feast, and Ti Gran tells Belle about the history of the soup, the history of Belle's family, and the history of Haiti, where Belle's family is from.
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Shubh Diwali!
One family celebrates the Hindu festival of lights, taking place November 11-16, 2020.
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The Shortest Day
A celebration of the winter solstice (December 21, 2020) and the Yuletide season. As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper's poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before-- and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. Richly illustrated by Carson Ellis with a universality that spans the centuries, this beautiful book evokes the joy and community found in the ongoing mystery of life when we celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule!
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The Night of Las Posadas
At the annual celebration of Las Posadas in old Santa Fe, the husband and wife slated to play Mary and Joseph are delayed by car trouble, but a mysterious couple seems perfect for the part. Las Posadas is celebrated December 16-24.
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Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas
A boy is worried that his little sister's climbing will spoil the first night of Hanukkah, when his family combines his father's Jewish traditions with his mother's East Indian cooking. Hanukkah is celebrated December 10-18, 2020.
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King for a Day
Even though he uses a wheelchair, a Pakistani boy tries to capture the most kites during Basant, the annual spring kite festival, and become "king" for the day. Includes an afterword about the Basant festival, celebrated on February 16, 2021.
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Hanukkah Bear
On the first night of Hanukkah, Old Bear wanders into Bubba Brayna's house and receives a delicious helping of potato latkes when she mistakes him for the rabbi. Includes a recipe for latkes. Hanukkah is celebrated December 10-18, 2020.
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The Nutcracker in Harlem
In Harlem in the 1920s, in the middle of a family Christmas party, Marie receives a nutcracker from her Uncle Cab, which leads to a marvelous dream in this resetting of E.T.A. Hoffmann's familiar tale. Includes historical notes. Christmas is celebrated December 24-25.
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The Joyful Book
Illustrations and simple text show all the ways to be joyful during the holiday season.
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Shanté Keys and the New Year's Peas
When Shanté is sent to find black-eyed peas for her family's New Year's celebration, she learns about each of her neighbor's New Year's traditions in their home countries.
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Ten Mice for Tet!
A village of mice prepares for Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, as different numbers of mice give gifts, cook food, and celebrate in other traditional ways. Includes an afterword with facts about the holiday. Tet is celebrated February 12, 2021.
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Meet the Latkes
Lucy Latke's family is a family of potato pancakes. After lighting the menorah and gobbling the gelt, Grandpa Latke tells everyone the Hanukkah story, but it's up to the Latke family dog to set the record straight. Hanukkah is celebrated December 10-18, 2020.
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Too Many Tamales
Maria tries on her mother's wedding ring while helping make tamales for a Christmas family get-together. Panic ensues when hours later, she realizes the ring is missing. Christmas is celebrated December 24-25.
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The Nian Monster
The legendary Nian monster has returned at Chinese New Year. Nian is intent on devouring Shanghai, starting with young Xingling! But Xingling is clever and thinks quickly to outwit him with Chinese New Year traditions. Chinese New Year is celebrated February 12, 2021.
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Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa
L'il Rabbit searches for a gift for his grandmother when she is sick during Kwanzaa, and surprises her with the best gift of all. Includes "The Nguzo Saba - The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa." Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26, 2020-January 1, 2021.
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Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus!
Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. But she is spending Christmas with her granny in Canada. She can't wait to see snow for the first time! And how will it feel to be so far from home? Christmas is celebrated December 24-25.
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A dreidel in time : a new spin on an old tale
A brother and sister receive a strange Hanukkah gift and family heirloom--a magic dreidel that takes them back in time to learn about the true meaning of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is celebrated December 10-18, 2020.
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The Lotterys more or less
Nine-year-old Sumac Lottery considers it her job to make sure none of the Lottery celebrations are forgotten, especially now at Christmas time, and in her large, gay, and multiethnic family there are a lot of occasions for celebration in the house they all call Camelottery--but when a terrible ice storm hits Toronto, one of her dads, and her favorite brother cannot make it home from India, and it becomes increasingly difficult to hang on to the holiday spirit.
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Mindy Kim and the lunar new year parade
Mindy is excited to go to the Lunar New Year parade in her new town with her father and her friend Sally. The Lunar New Year is celebrated February 12, 2021.
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Festivals and celebrations
If there's something that binds most cultures together, it's a respect for holidays, both solemn and joyous. This high-interest book explains the characteristics and traditions of numerous holidays such as Hanukkah, Dia de los Muertos, and Juneteenth. Readers will come to understand similarities among peoples as well as the importance of learning about the various cultures within their own community.
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A calendar of festivals
A collection of tales and stories recalling the origins of many festivals that are celebrated throughout the world.d
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Festivals and celebrations
Celebrate different holidays around the world, from Chinese New Year to Diwali, and from the Mexican Day of the Dead to American Thanksgiving.
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Festivals and celebrations
Describes how people around the world celebrate throughout the year, including festivals based on the time of year, historical events, special foods, and religious traditions.
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Celebrations and special days
In Celebrations and Special Days, young readers will join children around the world as they celebrate religious festivals and special family days, such as weddings and coming of-age ceremonies. From Holi to Hanukkah, Easter to Ramadan, readers will join families as they prepare special meals, decorate their homes, and take part in the special times that shape our lives.
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Celebrations of light : a year of holidays around the world
Describes various festivals centered around light that are celebrated by different cultures throughout the year, including Candlemas, Bon Matsuri, Diwali, Hanukkah, Luciadagen, and Kwanza.
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The shortest day : celebrating the winter solstice
Describes how and why daylight grows shorter as winter approaches, the effect of shorter days on animals and people, and how the winter solstice has been celebrated throughout history. Includes activities. The Winter Solstice takes place on December 21, 2020.
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Kwanzaa Kids
Kwanzaa is here, and there are so many fun things to do! Each day the children light another candle on the Kinara. Then they celebrate the Kwanzaa principle of the day-by working at Granny's market stand, making gifts for family and friends, playing African games, and even having a feast! A perfect way to begin teaching young children about the meaning and traditions of this joyous holiday. Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26, 2020-January 1, 2021.
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The sound of Kwanzaa
Hear the words, sing the songs, dance to the beat, and shout "Harambee!" as you jump into this joyful celebration of the sounds of Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26, 2020-January 1, 2021. Through lively verse and colorful illustrations, this festive book celebrates the history and meaning of Kwanzaa. Families will enjoy the hands-on fun of lighting their own candles as they journey through this festive holiday and learn about its traditions and principles. As an added gift, this instructional book includes a no-bake Kwanzaa recipe.
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Prince of Fire : the Story of Diwali
Retells the Hindu tale of a heroic prince and his bride who are separated by the demon prince Ravana until the Monkey Army of Hanuman, god of the wind, helps them. Diwali takes place November 11-16, 2020.
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A World of Cookies for Santa : Follow Santa's Tasty Trip Around the World
A World of Cookies for Santa takes readers across the globe to see all the treats that await Santa on Christmas Eve. M. E. Furman provides recipes for children to bake some of Santa's cookies for themselves. Christmas takes place December 24-25.
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Christmas Traditions Around the World
Explores several of the ways in which Christmas is celebrated in various countries around the world. Christmas takes place December 24-25.
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We are Grateful : Otsaliheliga
Journey through the year with a Cherokee family and their tribal nation as they express thanks for celebrations big and small.
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