10 Winter/Holiday Children’s Book Ideas to Support Language Skills

Books are a perfect way to grow language and literacy skills any time of year, but especially during those cold winter months and over the holidays. Here are ten suggestions and ideas for how they can be used to build language skills. 

The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats: This timeless story is great for practicing basic concepts, vocabulary, sensory experiences, and cause/effect.

Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright: Kids love the funny, repetitive cycle of Sneezy melting and being rebuilt, which aids in story recall and understanding cause and effect.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman: This rhyming story is excellent for sequencing events and targeting verbs as friends keep Bear awake for Christmas.

Little Blue Truck's Christmas by Alice Schertle: Great for targeting animal vocabulary, actions, and the repetitive rhyming lines support early language development.

Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington: A heartwarming fable focusing on community and helping others, perfect for discussing social narratives and empathy.

Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford: A story about family and celebrating despite obstacles (a snowstorm), great for working on sequencing events and problem/solution scenarios.

Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe: This story about an elf learning about Hanukkah is ideal for practicing comparing and contrasting skills

Hanukkah Bear by Eric Kimmel: The funny mix-up in this book makes it a fun read-aloud for discussing prediction skills and character perspectives.

The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola: This classic story offers a rich narrative and illustrations perfect for story retelling and comprehension

Carlos, Light the Farolito by Jean Ciavonne: This book provides a unique perspective from the innkeeper's role, great for discussing different viewpoints and problem-solving.

….and a few bonus ideas on how to use any book to support language development! 

• Make reading a fun experience! Build a fort out of blankets and cozy up together, make a special snack to go along with the book, or use puppets/stuffed animals to act out the story. 

• Point things out! Label vocabulary as you read, pause to talk about how characters might feel or ask your child what they think will happen next. 

• Make it exciting! Use different character voices while reading aloud. Use voice inflection to build suspense and curiosity. 

• Visit your local library! You never know what treasure you might find with your children. 

• Create traditions! Whether it’s always reading a bedtime story before being tucked in or choosing special books to have out over the holidays, making reading a part of your routines and traditions can instill a love of literacy and build language skills.

  
  

  Happy Reading!! 

  - Clara Klap, M.S., CCC-SLP