Books to Read

If you enjoyed reading about holidays and birthdays in this book, you
can read more about celebrations. Some books about them are listed here.
Your school or your public library will have many others.

Ages 5 to 8

Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown (Little, Brown, 1983)

In this very funny book, Arthur is director of the Thanksgiving play.
But he can’t find anyone to play the turkey. He has a big surprise at
the end of the book.

Fourth of July by Barbara M. Joose (Knopf, 1985)

Ross, who is five years old, is too young to do many things that are
fun. But he gets the important job of helping to carry the banner in the
Fourth of July parade.

Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam (Macmillan, 1987)

This book contains a Halloween poem for every letter of the alphabet.

Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch (Simon and Schuster, 1982)

In this easy book, a little bear finds out that the moon shares his
birthday. He buys a present for the moon.

The Hit of the Party by Franz

Brandenberg (Greenwillow, 1985) Jim’s first surprise is finding out that
his hamster has escaped. After he finds it, he goes to a costume party,
where he gets another big surprise. Illustrations in this book were done
by Aliki.

January Brings the Snow: A Seasonal Hide-and-Seek by Sara Coleridge
(Franklin Watts, 1989)

This beautiful book, illustrated by Elizabeth Falconer, is based on Sara
Coleridge’s poem. A picture story is concealed under movable flaps.

Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan’s Chinese New

Year by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low (Scholastic, 1990)

Ernie Wan tells about his family and their Chinese New Year celebration.

A Medieval Feast by Aliki (Crowell, 1983)

The king is coming to visit the Lord and Lady of Camdenton Manor. See
and read about how they spend weeks preparing for the visit.

Merry Christmas, Ernest and Celestine by Gabrielle Vincent (William
Morrow, 1984)

In this picture book, Ernest the bear and Celestine the mouse plan a
party. Even though they have no money to buy the things they need,
things somehow work out in the end.

The Polar Express by Chris Van

Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin, 1985)

Late on Christmas Eve, a boy boards the Polar Express to go to the North
Pole. There he gets a special gift from Santa that brings him joy
throughout his life.

St. Patrick’s Day by Joyce K. Kessel (Carolrhoda Books, 1982)

This is the story of St. Patrick and the holiday that honors him. Other
books by the author include Squanto and the First Thanksgiving
(1986), Halloween (1987), and Valentine’s Day (1988).

Thanksgiving at the Tappietons\’ by

Eileen Spinelli (Harper & Row, 1982) The relatives gather at the
Tappietons’ house for Thanksgiving dinner. Despite several mishaps, they
have a meaningful, although surprising, Thanksgiving.

Ages 9 to 12

Candles, Cakes, and Donkey Tails by Lila Perl (Clarion, 1984)

How did birthdays begin? Why do people in other countries have special
birthday customs? What do birthday symbols mean? You can find the
answers to these questions and many more in this book.

Celebrations by Myra Cohn Livingston (Holiday House, 1985)

Poems about holidays, from New Year’s Eve to Christmas Eve, are
accompanied by Leonard Everett Fisher’s beautiful paintings.

Chinese New Year by Tricia Brown (Henry Holt, 1987)

Gung Hay Fat Choy! That’s what you’ll hear everywhere in Chinatown
during the Chinese New Year. Read all about the customs and celebrations
in this colorfully illustrated book.

The Christmas Fox and Other Winter

Poems by John Bush (Dial, 1989)

A sly fox, dressed as Father Christmas, is just one of the animal
characters featured in this book of poems.

Illustrations are watercolors by Peter Weevers.

The Folklore of American Holidays edited by Hennig Cohen and
Tristram Potter Coffin (Gale, 1987)

This book presents the folklore behind customs, festivals, and holidays
in America throughout the year. Also included are some songs, recipes
for traditional dishes, and other items of interest.

Halloween Stories and Poems edited by Caroline Feller Bauer
(Lippincott, 1989)

Check in your closet, behind the door, and under your bed before you
read this fun, spooky book.

Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights by Jenny Koralek (Lothrop, Lee &
Shepard, 1990)

This is a sensitive telling of the story of Hanukkah, complete with
beautiful illustrations by Juan Wijngaard.

Haunts and Taunts by Jean Chapman (Childrens, 1983)

This book contains Halloween stories, poems, and activities from around
the world.

Holidays by Bernice Burnett (Franklin

Watts, 1983)

People all over the world celebrate holidays. Some holidays are
different from those you celebrate. Some that are the same, such as New
Year’s Day, are celebrated in a different way.

The Medieval Baker’s Daughter by Madeleine Pelner Cosman (Bard Hall,
1984)

This is an adventure in medieval life, complete with costumes, banners,
music, food, and a mystery play.