The end of a calendar year is a frantic time, regardless of where or how you live. Weather is changing, celebrations are underway, and there is a general societal push to party hard—only to quickly become austere on January 1st. Excitement, sugar, and chaos often combine: adults tend to be stressed, and children tend to be frantic. As a parent and teacher who has worked in schools during December for the last 20 years, I have learned to fortify myself for the end of the year. It’s not enough to merely be wary. A mindful plan will allow both me and all the kids in my life to enjoy the season and end the year on a high note.
Whether I’m with my young nieces and nephews, visiting a classroom, or sitting on the story rug in the library, my tried-and-true fallback is the mighty read-aloud. Books are great, but reading them aloud is best. I read aloud to 5th graders, and if my school had higher grades, I believe I would keep up the habit. Regardless of how many kids are in front of you, there is a magic to a good read-aloud that can delight listeners or, at the very least, calm crowds.
Below, I’ve gathered a list of crowd-pleasing read-alouds that are perfect for this time of year. Yes, I’ve honored the classic go-tos by including some holiday picks, but I’ve also expanded the selection with some body-positive, anti-diet titles—let’s get a jump on dispelling the pervasive negativity that’s going to hit as soon as January arrives.
We Celebrate the Light by Jane Yolen, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, and Jieting Chen
There are a lot of different celebrations that happen at the end of a calendar year, and this excellent book gives us a sampling of them all. Jane Yolen—a true heavyweight of children’s literature—has teamed up with co-author Heidi E. Y. Stemple and illustrator Jieting Chen to bring these holidays to life in a book that features sections for everything from Diwali to the winter solstice to Bodhi Day. Simple narrative text is bolstered by more detailed back matter, making this ideal to read aloud and have on hand to answer any questions that may follow.
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Working in public education, I’ve often grappled with how to honor a variety of cultures and religions while balancing different holidays—and supporting the people who do and don’t celebrate them. I don’t want to ignore that holidays happen, nor do I want to make kids feel othered. What works best for me and my students is to introduce every holiday (even ones that are culturally normalized) as if it’s perfectly expected not to know about it: “Some people celebrate Christmas, and a popular symbol of Christmas is Santa.” This approach also saves you if younger kids begin announcing that Santa isn’t real in mixed company. A stock line like “People believe in different things, and we don’t argue about beliefs” works for Santa, religion, magic, or even soda preferences. That is my long-winded way of saying: definitely pick this read-aloud for storytime. You cannot go wrong with Barnett and Klassen.
A Dragon Called Spark: A Hanukkah Story by Lily Murray and Kirsti Beautyman
Over the past few decades, the publishing world has gifted us a lovely body of work featuring Hanukkah, but most of these titles focus on the history of the holiday or family celebrations. A Dragon Called Spark is unique in its portrayal of familiar childhood themes like moving homes and imaginary friends. Wrapped in the spirit of Hanukkah, the story follows a young girl named Eve as she builds a friendship with her new neighbor, first by sharing her Hanukkah traditions and then by sharing the secret of her imaginary friend, Spark.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman
I honestly don’t know if there is a better read-aloud out there, holidays aside. This rich story and its gorgeous illustrations have been captivating readers for over 25 years. This is one to practice before you read it to an audience—commit to doing voices for the different goblins. You won’t regret it. Hershel saves Hanukkah with casual cleverness, and the resulting story is the definition of a crowd-pleaser.
All Food Is Good Food by Molli Jackson Ehlert and Fanny Liem
I love Molli Jackson Ehlert. I love kids’ books that give us language to talk about food and nutrition without shame. I love literature that smashes diet culture. This book is everything. All Food Is Good Food earns a place on a list of year-end read-alouds for a very specific reason: we are about to be inundated with weight-loss nonsense, and anything to combat that flood is precious.
Carly Tries New Foods by Katrina Liu and Bella Ansori
In an effort to continue the battle against the diet culture and food shame that January 1st will bring, might I suggest Carly Tries New Foods? Food sensitivities and good old-fashioned picky eating are a tale as old as time, and ever-changing advice has yet to solve the problem. In this warm and friendly book, Carly can’t find her favorite foods at her friend’s around-the-world-themed birthday party. In a gentle, nonjudgmental way, Carly is encouraged to try something new—reassured that if she doesn’t like it, that’s okay!
That You Are Here Is No Small Thing by Traci N. Todd and Vashti Harrison
Vashti Harrison was already one of my favorite authors, but I was delighted to be introduced to Traci N. Todd in this collaboration. The book celebrates the sheer miracle of the thriving Black American community, despite being the descendants of enslaved Africans and enduring the continuous onslaught of pain and sorrow inflicted by descendants of enslavers. Todd’s poetic narrative, penned as a letter to the miracle children themselves, is enhanced by Harrison’s luminous illustrations. These two creators made magic with a book that feels like a song.
Goldfinches by Mary Oliver and Melissa Sweet
This last recommendation can double as a gift suggestion—this book is breathtakingly gorgeous. The striking pink cover and shining yellow finch first capture your attention, then the beauty of Oliver’s words washes over you, unfurling like the natural world she describes. Melissa Sweet’s signature collage illustrations lend an ethereal, atmospheric quality that adds even more weight to each carefully chosen word. An excellent read-aloud or a thoughtful gift for the Mary Oliver fan in your life—this book can do it all.
Hopefully you’ve found some great read-alouds to please your crowds at the end of this busy year. Looking for more books to read at storytime? Check out this list of picture books celebrating neurodivergent kids. Happy reading!