So, today I am sharing parenting tips on a list of Christmas books for children of color. I’m a big advocate of reading. It is an activity that was instilled in me as a child and I passed my love for reading on to my daughter. I’m now making it third generation, I’m passing my passion for reading to my granddaughter and grandson.
Reading is so important to all of our children’s education. It has been proven that children learn when they can relate. So, seeing images that look like them or someone they know is one of the ways that help children learn.
Christmas books for children of color:
Story Bird Dance and The Snowbird Ballet – First, this book is a perfect gift or Christmas book for the little ballerina. The recital for Story Bird Dance Academy is approaching. However, Jada is afraid to dance in front of the big kids. And, Nia doesn’t like her costume. How will they do in the recital. Appropriate for ages 6 – 8.
The Secret of Santa’s Songbird – A northern Cardinal named Chipper is slow at growing his feathers. He knows he different, but hopes to be like other birds. Chipper delivers a Christmas gift that nobody sees coming. Not even Santa. Appropriate for ages 6 – 8.
Adventures in Tutus – The Missing Christmas Gifts – Follow Cloclo and Riri on an adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa. They are wearing their tutus, and hope to meet Santa’s elves and reindeer. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.
Sophie Washington Secret Santa –
A secret “Santa” has been mailing presents to sixth grader Sophie Washington. She has no clue who it could be since a gift exchange is not happening in school. Sophie and her friends think either Nathan Jones or Toby Johnson, two boys in Sophie’s class, may be the secret Santa. Sophie begins to unravel clues to discover her secret Santa. Appropriate for ages 8 – 12.
Pinata in a Pine Tree – Partridges are being replaced with Piñatas in this story of the 12 Days of Christmas. Appropriate for ages 4 – 7.
A World of Cookies for Santa – A World of Cookies for Santa takes children around the globe to discover cookie treats left for Santa around the globe on Christmas Eve. The book also has cookie recipes the children can make. Appropriate for children 5 – 8.
The Legend of the Poinsettia – This books explains how the flower of Christmas, the poinsettia, came to be. The poinsettia was a selfless gift from a little girl to Christ. Appropriate for ages 4 – 8 years.
Together for Kwanzaa – Kayla loves Kwanzaa. It is her favorite time of year. Her brother Khari is supposed to come home for the festivities, but a heavy snowstorm is coming. Will Khari miss Kwanzaa. Great book to introduce children to Kwanzaa. Appropriate for ages 3 – 7 .
The All I’ll Ever Want Christmas Doll – Nella’s family is poor, but she’s hoping Santa will bring her and her sisters a beautiful Baby Betty doll. Will Santa grant her wish? Appropriate for ages 4 – 8 years.
I Got the Christmas Spirit – It’s the holiday season! A mother and daughter are enjoying the lights and sounds of the season. She’s also enjoying chestnuts roasting, carolers, and sleigh bells ringing. She finally goes to see Santa, and gives him her Christmas wish. What is her wish? Appropriate for ages 3 – 6 years.
The Night Before Christmas – Teenager, Noland Nixon retells The Night Before Christmas illustrations of an African-American family. Appropriate for ages 6 – 8.
The Day Santa Got Sick – What happens to the toys if Santa gets sick and can’t drive the sleigh? That is exactly what happens one Christmas Eve. But, a little girl elf and Mrs. Claus save the day. Find out how. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.
Messy Bessey’s Holiday’s – Bessey and her mother love to bake cookies for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. After they bake the delicious treats, they clean up the kitchen, and than deliver the cookies to their neighbors.
How to Build an Elf Trap – If you want to catch an elf, you will need more than candy canes and ribbons! Get help building your Elf Trap with precise calculations and the right engineering. Appropriate for ages 4 – 7 years.
My Christmas Story Tree – An adorable board book takes toddlers through the decorating of a family Christmas tree. Beautifully illustrated with glitter and glitz. Appropriate for ages Preschool – 2.
12 Days of Big Hair – Another great books that teaches African American girls to love their natural hair. Everyone knows the 12 Days of Christmas. However, The 12 Days of Christmas with replaced with a natural hair twist. So, Effie’s Big Hair teaches her that her big hair is beautiful. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.
The Nutcracker in Harlem – Next, a little girls finds her voice as a musician in this rendition of the Nutcracker. The setting is Harlem. Appropriate for ages 4 – 8 years.
A Piece of Black Cake for Santa – So, Femi and her friends want to leave Santa Caribbean treats this year. One of the treats is Black Cake. They also share some of their favorite winter activities at the Christmas fair. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.
Finally, these Christmas books for children of color will make great Christmas gifts. So, add a few to your child’s reading list. Also, you may like 24 Winter Books for Kids.
– Our first Easter books for kids is Papa Bear uses an Easter egg, an uprooted tree, and evidence of new life in a pine cone to tell the Easter story. He explains how Jesus was the root of Jesse who came to die and to rise again. He explains that Jesus died for us so that we would have the chance to go to heaven. Ages 3 – 7.
– Grandpa Pig sets up and Easter egg hunt for Peppa Pig and her friends! There’s Peppa, Rebecca Rabbit, and Freddy Fox. They search for chocolate eggs and even see baby chicks hatching. Ages 3 – 5.
– Next, Pinkalicious wakes up on Easter morning. She finds a note from the Easter Bunny that sends the Pinkerton family on an Easter scavenger hunt. Ages 4 – 8.
– Additionally, it’s Easter in Radiator Springs! Mater can’t wait for the Easter Buggy to fill his tire with goodies. But Lightning McQueen is worried that Mater’s Easter holiday will be ruined when Mater wakes up to find that his Easter tire is empty.
– “Twas the night before Easter, just before dawn, Not a creature was stirring out on the lawn.” A twist on The Night Before Christmas. Ages 4 – 8.
– The Wilkinson’s have a new goose. Amazingly, it quacks, clucks, moos and lays golden eggs. The boys think the golden Easter eggs will be perfect for throwing at his sisters.
– So, the Easter Bunny comes each year with a basket of painted eggs and chocolates for the children. But not everybody knows where he comes from. Here’s the story of the Easter Bunny. Ages 4 – 8.
– Town mouse Clayton and country mouse Desmond team up to build the biggest Easter basket ever. Ages 4 – 8.
– This book features Easter with Mater, Lightning McQueen, and all of their friends from Cars! Ages 3 – 7.
– Funny book on how to catch the Easter Bunny. Ages 4 – 10.
Will Zoey Flower be able to stay awake so she can catch the Easter Bunny? She wants to prove that he is real once and for all. Ages 4 – 8.
– Furthermore, Minnie Mouse and the rest of the Bow-Tique gang plan an Easter parade so she can show off her most outrageous and spectacular bows. Ages 3 – 6.
– Marshmallow the rabbit moves into Oliver the cat’s home. Oliver is not very welcoming, but the bunny charm’s him into becoming his friend. Ages 4 – 8.
– Join a troop of animal friends as they bounce along to the Easter Parade. Ages 2 – 4.
– Next, Emma’s is celebrating Easter with her family. They go to church and hunt for Easter eggs and candy. Additionally, the have a big meal with family. Find out the different ways people celebrate Easter.
– Last, The Country Bunny is the mother of twenty-one children. However, she is awarded the position of Easter Bunny. Find out how this busy mother manages. It’s a great Easter book for kids.
– First, Anges Morley was raised on a cattle ranch. She was sent to Stanford University where she trades in her spurs for a basketball. She leads her team to victory against the University of California at Berkeley, and makes history. Ages 6 – 9.
– A girl and her father create a window box as a birthday present for her mother. Ages 4 – 7.
– Dana and the rest of the Raiders gymnastics team must learn how to deal with their biggest rivals, the Superiors. Ages 8 – 11
– Emi is a creative 7-year-old girl who shares a positive message about her curly, cotton candy hair. Great message to teach little girls about their natural hair. Ages 7 – 12.
– Next, sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation in Mississippi. Slavery is over, but Sugar must work in the fields since both of her parents are dead. She finds joys playing with a forbidden friend, the plantation owner’s son. Ages 9 – 12.
– Sassy wants to be a ballerina. Will her big feet, long legs and her big mouth stop her from reaching her dream? Ages 4 – 8.
– Educational books should be a part of the fun as well. This book is about 14 African American innovators who played important roles in scientific and industrial progress. Ages teen and young adult.
– It’s Maddy’s first summer in the bayou. She’s a city girl, but she falls in love with the fireflies, trees and the water. Ages 8 – 12.
– Furthermore, we have a book based on the experiences of being African American and feeling different from the other children. Many will be able to relate to the struggle of trying to fit in. Ages 4 – 8.
– Daddy’s Little Princess educates young children, helps build their self-esteem, and inspire them. Most images of princesses and queens are not images of African Americans. This book introduces them to real-life African Queens and Princesses in all shades. Ages 4 – 10.
– Sam is bully. He makes Jayla feels threatened because he has bullied her because she loves astronomy and stars. He starts to bully her friends too and tries to get Jayla to bully them too. Ages 5 – 9.
– Misty Copeland encourages an African American girl who wants to be a ballerina, but is discouraged by low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. Ages 6 – 8.
– This is the third book in a series. The Gaither sisters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, head to the rural south to visit their grandmother, Big Ma, in Alabama. They leave Brooklyn behind and have a lifetime of fun. The first two books are One Crazy Summer and P.S. Be Eleven. Ages 8 – 12. 
– The true story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA. Ages 8 – 12.
– A little girl takes a trip to the park with her mother. She hears a rhythm coming from the butterflies, the ice cream vendors and the world around her. She can’t contain herself, she breaks out in a dance. Ages 2 – 5.
– Next, we have a little girl who wears her favorite dress on Tuesdays. One Tuesday morning, she discovers that her favorite dress is too short. She is so disappointed, but her mother turns her favorite dress into a ruffly shirt. Her favorite dress becomes her favorite shirt. Ages 5 – 7.
– Furthermore, if your into mysteries you must read Katie Fry. She loves to solve mysteries. When she finds a lost kitten, she decides to find the owner. This book is one in a series. Ages 6 – 8.
– Lola is very happy. On Tuesdays, Lola and her mother go to the library. She enjoys the walk, checking out books, story time and the special treats she gets with her mother. Ages 2 – 5.
– Misty Copeland was the first female African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Most importantly, she’s been breaking down barriers ever since. Ages 8 – 12.
– Mixie has a black father and a white mother. People are always asking her what she is. She decides to embraces her uniqueness and be the best “Me” she can be. Ages 4 – 8.
– Additionally, we didn’t leave our disabled children. Zulay is blind, but she doesn’t let that stop from doing everything she wants to do. She has three best friends who are in her first grade class. They are study the same things. Find out what they are. Ages 4 – 8.
– Nikki and Deja live next door to each other. They do everything together, including watching Saturday morning cartoons, playing jacks, jumping rope and playing during recess. Additionally, they are in Mrs. Shelby’s third class. So, they help each other with homework. Everything is great until a new girl arrives. Ages 4 – 7.
– Last, Penny struggled with why her hair was different from her friends. She wanted to wear her hair straight too, but her mother told her that her hair was perfect just the why it was. Her mother fixes her hair in two magic puffballs. Let the fun begin. Ages 4 – 8.
. It’s fun and the illustrations are engaging. This would be a great bedtime story or when you just want to snuggle up and spend family time.
– This book is about multi-cultures and diversity. It is appropriate for ages 5 – 8 years and has 40 pages.
– So, this book is about a wave named Roland who’s afraid that, one day, when he hits the beach, his life will be over. It is appropriate for ages 4 – 8 and has 68 pages. Jim Carrey won the 2013 Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award for this book.
– This book is about 12-year-old Randi Rhodes. Randi loses her mother at age 12. She is an aspiring detective and has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She finds satisfaction in solving crimes anonymously. The book is appropriate for ages 8 – 12 and has 240 pages.
– Next, this book is about a little girl named Tallulah. All her life, Tallulah has heard DON’T. Don’t get dirty, talk loudly or wear jeans. With the help of friends, she finds out who she really is. This book is appropriate for ages 4 – 8 and has 32 pages.
– This book is Mario and his cousin Gia. Mario’s Nana asks him to babysit his cousin Gia while she bakes. There’s a lesson learned, a family is built on love and care. This book is appropriate for ages 3 – 5 and has 32 pages.
– Additionally, this book is about Alexandrea who has just moved from Georgia to New York City’s Harlem. Al finds herself in the classroom at the Nutcracker School of Ballet as the Sugar Plum Fairy and has stage fright. Friendship, lots of practice, and ingenuity help her to overcome her stage fright and she gives an unforgettable performance. This book is appropriate for ages 1 and up and has 160 pages.
– This book is about Poppy the pig. Poppy goes to the World Games ice-skating championship in Paris! She meets new friends from around the world and explores Paris with her family after the championship.
