City of Lights Holiday Fairytales and Folk Tales Recommended Reading List

Book	Description
	Grumpy old farmer Tomten just wants to stay at home and avoid the terrible Christmas celebrations altogether. His cousin, Yule Tomten, is up to his ears in Christmas presents and thousands of children waiting. With just two more days till Christmas, will an invite for Christmas coffee be enough to melt farmer Tomten’s grumpy heart so they can save Christmas together?
	On the first night of Hanukkah, Old Bear wanders into Bubba Brayna’s house and receives a delicious helping of potato latkes when she mistakes him for the rabbi. Includes a recipe for latkes.
	When they are given the seemingly impossible task of turning thread into gold, the seven Ashanti brothers put aside their differences, learn to get along, and embody the principles of Kwanzaa. Includes information on Kwanzaa, West African cloth weaving, and instructions for making a belt.
	Meet the 13 Yule Lads from Iceland. These troublesome brothers live on a mountain deep inside a cave. However, every winter they sneak down to cause mischief the last 13 days before Christmas. One by one they make their way into town to steal, harass, and annoy the people below. This Iceland folklore has been told to children for centuries. Although the Yule Lads can be quite naughty, they also bring gifts to children who have been good, but beware of their nasty mother, Gryla and her giant Christmas Cat!
	With beautiful illustrations evoking folk art traditions and sensitive storytelling, Babushka tenderly reminds us that nothing is more important during the holiday season than taking the time to show love for one another. This timeless Russian tale will warm your heart and fill you up with the joyful, generous spirit of Christmas
	This perennial Dickensian favorite about a miser’s startling change of heart is illustrated by Italian artist Roberto Innocenti and reissued for the readers of all the Christmases Yet To Come
	A collection of holiday fairy tales from around the world includes works by Hans Christian Andersen, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Ruth Sawyer, and Mary de Morgan.
	Christmas Legends Around the World – SECOND EDITION invites young readers on an enchanting journey through the magical traditions and characters that bring Christmas to life across different cultures. This beautifully illustrated book shares stories from countries near and far, opening up a world of wonder and learning during the most festive season.
	From the flickering candlelight of midwinter to the crisp dawn of Christmas morning, step into a world where ancient magic mingles with Christian tradition. In ‘Christmas Myths and Legends’ acclaimed folklorist Louisa Tarver unwraps the enchanting stories that have shaped our winter celebrations for centuries
	Pet dog Ari’s unraveled Christmas sweater fortuitously helps her and her human find their way back home from a hike.
	Not a creature was stirring … except the mischievous Krampus who’s too excited to sleep! It’s Christmas Eve and Santa has a lot on his plate, but his biggest challenge is convincing little Krampus to go to bed. Brimming with holiday cheer, this is one bedtime story that’s good for goodness sake.
	When Lucida is unable to finish her gift for the Baby Jesus in time for the Christmas procession, a miracle enables her to offer the beautiful flower we now call the poinsettia.
	Li’l Rabbit searches for a gift for his grandmother when she is sick during Kwanzaa, and surprises her with the best gift of all. Includes “The Nguzo Saba – The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa.”
	A little girl enlists the help of a robber and a reindeer to save her best friend from an evil Snow Queen who steals little boys and freezes them.
	Do spiders bring good luck? A spirited spider and his many siblings have fun exploring their new Christmas home while spinning some joy for the family that lives in the home. Tinsel the Christmas Spider is a modern retelling of the old folktale about spiders bringing good luck and cheer at Christmastime.
	After a few false starts, Teeka discovers the best way to get Santa’s reindeer ready for Christmas Eve.
	This beautifully illustrated book brings together a selection of wintery tales from all over the world – from North America to Siberia, China and Scotland. Award-winning author, Dawn Casey and illustrator, Zanna Goldhawk, have created a magical book to be treasured for generations to come. A treasury of stories celebrating the wonders of winter, and the qualities within that warm our hearts through the long cold. This stunning book brings together a selection of wintery tales from all over the world – from North America to Siberia, Scotland, France, Russia and Norway. This is a magical book to be treasured for generations to come.
	Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with Hannah as she receives eight magical presents–one for each night. There’s a playful dragon, a gleaming treasure chest, some rowdy unicorns–and more. But are the gifts what they seem to be? When Hannah gathers with family and friends to light the menorah, she’ll discover the true magic of Hanukkah
	The light from a menorah takes a young boy on a journey around the world, introducing him to other cultural and religious holidays that celebrate light. He visits space, a desert, mountains, and more, seeing different people, food, and their own unique celebrations before returning home to his own family and menorah. An author’s note provides information about Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, and Loy Krathong.
	A husband and wife sacrifice treasured possessions in order to buy each other Christmas presents.
	The well-known poem about an important Christmas Eve visitor.
	Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year are visually depicted in turn, accompanying a stunning, read-aloud text that speaks of the traditions that link them all together. The warm yet accurate imagery is explained in simple secondary text on each page, and further in the backmatter. Beloved author Jane Yolen and daughter, author Heidi Stemple, have crafted a loving and poignant story with true reverence for our shared traditions of celebrating light, love, food, and family. An empowering, informative, and inclusive holiday book for families of all traditions
	A World of Cookies for Santa takes readers across the globe to see all the treats that await Santa on Christmas Eve. M. E. Furman provides recipes for children to bake some of Santa’s cookies for themselves
	After hearing how her toy nutcracker got his ugly face, a little girl helps break the spell and changes him into a handsome prince

1. Oskar and the Eight Blessings
2. I have a Little Dreidel
3. Seven Candles for Kwanza
4. Christmas is coming: Traditions from around the world
5. The Harlem Nutcracker
6. Charlotte and the Nutcracker: the true story of a girl who made ballet history
7. The Fir Tree