‘Tis the season for Holidays!
 
Whether you’re learning at home or in the classroom, the next month is surely going to be broken up by holiday celebrations and days off. Its easy to let learning slide when the routine is disrupted so much, but what if the holidays WERE the lesson? Studying holidays and festivals is a great way to incorporate history and culture into education. Each holiday comes with a story as well as traditions and different food. These are all great to explore with your students!
 
You can choose to study holidays that happen around the world during the time of year, or focus more on the holidays that your family celebrates. Encourage your young learners to ask questions and suggest new traditions for your family this time of year. 
 
Search “holidays” on Just for Kids or on Kanopy Kids to find videos on different holidays to watch. Check out this video on Parent TV for more on the importance of family traditions. 
(Note: Kanopy will require your library card to log in, and Just for Kids can be accessed with this log in- Username: handleyPL, Password: digital. 
If you’ve never logged in to ParentTV before, , follow this link to ParentTV and use your library card number and pin to log in! *Note: you will need to do this BEFORE you click the above link to watch the video on family traditions*)
 
 
 
 
 
Celebrate!: An Anti-Bias Guide to Including Holidays in Early Childhood Programs by Julie Bisson
Celebrate!: An Anti-Bias Guide to Including Holidays in Early Childhood Programs
by Julie Bisson

A hands-on guide to celebrating holidays in your early learning program in culturally responsive, respectful, and inclusive ways.
The Handmade Charlotte Playbook: Crafts, Games and Recipes for Families to Do Together Throughout the Year
by Rachel Faucett

A magical treasure chest of fun-filled family activities with over 100 projects to do together throughout the year. From scrumptious holiday treats and mantle-worthy craft projects to delightful games, The Handmade Charlotte Playbook is a must-have resource for parents seeking great ideas for family together time. Equal parts instruction and inspiration, this book will guide readers of all experience levels to successfully execute and enjoy page after page of the whimsical and imaginative projects--
The Handmade Charlotte Playbook: Crafts, Games and Recipes for Families to Do Together Throughout the Year by Rachel Faucett
New Year by Michele Sobel Spirn
New Year
by Michele Sobel Spirn

Describes how countries around the world traditionally celebrate the New Year, including rowdy parties, special feasts, and spiritual ceremonies and covering such countries as Brazil, China, and England.
Chinese New Year
by Leslie C. Kaplan

Students will learn about the history and traditions of Chinese New Year. When is it celebrated? What does the dragon symbolize? Why do families clean their houses at this time of year? All of these questions and more are answered through interesting, well-written text, and exciting color photographs.
Chinese New Year by Leslie C. Kaplan
Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah by Michael J. Rosen
Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah
by Michael J. Rosen

A child describes how one family celebrates Hanukkah, including polishing the silver menorah, lighting the candles, having a special family dinner, and sharing gifts.
Kwanzaa
by Sheila Anderson

The Cultural Holidays illustrated nonfiction book Kwanzaa teaches young readers about the background, traditions, foods, and celebrations of the African-American holiday. Easy-to-read text combines with colorful illustrations to provide entertainment and facts for even the youngest audience. Looking Glass Library is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades PreK-4.
Kwanzaa by Sheila Anderson
Dino-Thanksgiving by Lisa Wheeler
Dino-Thanksgiving
by Lisa Wheeler

An entertaining, Thanksgiving-themed addition to the much-loved Dino-Holidays series
Christmas
by Alice K. Flanagan

All about the history of Christmas, and how the holiday is celebrated today.
Christmas by Alice K. Flanagan

Handley Regional Library System
100 W Piccadilly St
P.O. Box 58
Winchester, Virginia 22601
(540) 662-9041
www.handleyregional.org