With the holiday season already underway, people all over the world are rushing to collect their gifts for loved ones.
In honor of the season, here are five holiday books by Black authors to give to children that are book lovers this December.
- I Got The Christmas Spirit: Written by Connie Schofield-Morrison and Frank Morrison, a husband-and-wife duo with Connie writing the book and Frank illustrating it, I Got the Christmas Spirit is the first collaboration between the two. Now a four-book series, I Got the Christmas Spirit is about a little girl who’s celebrating the holiday season alongside her mother by exploring and seeing the special sights the season has to offer. Spreading along Christmas cheer, the girl eventually makes her way to Santa to ask for peace and love for always.
With its rhythmic style and inspiring storyline, the book has gotten praise, making the list for the 2015 Books All Georgians Should Read, the 2015 Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books of the Year and the 2019 Bank Street College’s Best Books of the Year.
- Santa in the City: Written by Tiffany D. Jackson, a Howard alumni and a New York Times Bestselling American author, Santa in the City follows lead character Deja, a little girl who’s awaiting Santa’s visit. While she waits, she’s simultaneously worried that he might not visit because she doesn’t have a roof or a chimney in the city. With help from her family, Santa himself and the community around her, Deja comes to realize that Christmas is around her, even in the city.
- Together for Kwanzaa: Created by author Juwanda G. Ford, a veteran in children’s publishing, Together for Kwanzaa is a book for kids aged two to eight years old. A relatively short read, it’s about Kayla, a little girl who’s been waiting for Kwanzaa all year. When her older brother gets stuck in a snowstorm, Kayla begins to worry that he might not be able to make it back in time for the festivities. Throughout the book, Ford teaches children about the special traditions that come with the holiday while also weaving in a special story about family.
- Mr. Shipman’s Kindergarten Chronicles: December Celebrations: Created by Dr. Terance L. Shpiman, a veteran teacher who’s career has already spanned 29 years, Mr. Shipman’s Kindergarten Chronicles: December Celebrations is part of his children’s teaching curriculum. The book explores the different holidays that December has to offer, including Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.
- Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem: Written by legendary author Maya Angelou, Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem is a short read for children from kindergarten to fifth grade. Originally published for the ceremony for the 2005 tree-lighting at the White House, the poem focuses on the peace that’s spread around during the holiday season, urging readers to embrace the feeling to let hope and love into their lives.
