Diverse Christmas Children’s Books

I intentionally share diverse Christmas children’s books with my kids because representation matters – even during the holiday season. (I am also deliberate and passionate about sharing diverse children’s books with them throughout the rest of the year, but that’s a post for another day.) Most movies and children’s books on display during the holiday season feature people who do not look like my kids. As much as decorating the Christmas tree, watching Christmas movies, and drinking hot chocolate are a part of our holiday tradition, so is the inclusion of books that depict Black joy during the holiday season. Over the years, we have curated a collection of Black Christmas books and Black holiday books that we enjoy during Christmas. Here are a few of our favorites:

The Harrison Family’s Favorite Diverse Christmas Children’s Books

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The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

This book explores a snowy through the eyes of a little Black boy named Peter.  This is also the bilingual version of the book. This book was released in 1962 and paved the way for more inclusive children’s literature. There is also an Amazon movie that goes with this book.

The Wheels on the Bus at Christmas, illustrated by Sarah Kieley

This book is a play on the wheels on the bus song with a Christmas spin. Our family loves the artwork in this book, as all of the elves appear to represent different ethnicities.

The 12 Days of Christmas by Rachel Isadora

This book is an eye-catching rendition of the classic Christmas Carol with a cultural twist. The book is set in Africa and includes imagery from kente cloth, tribal drummers, traditional clothing, and native wildlife.

The Story of Christmas, written by Patricia A. Pingry and Illustrated by Rebecca Thornburgh

The Story of Christmas is the retelling of the nativity story. My family celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Therefore, it was important to me to find a Christmas nativity book that accurately represented Jesus and his family.

I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison and Illustrated by Frank Morrison

I Got the Christmas Spirit is an adorable story about a beautiful little girl with two big afro puffs who is excited to show her Christmas spirit. This is another book where the artwork is breathtaking.

My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz

This book is an excellent introduction to the holiday Kwanzaa. My First Kwanzaa details the seven principles of Kwanza and the holiday’s values from the vantage point of a little girl.

Christmas in Lagos, authored by Sharon Abimbola Salu and Illustrated by Maria Nikla

This story highlight what it is like to celebrate Christmas in the modern West African City of Lagos, Nigeria. This gorgeous book highlights the sights and sounds of Lagos city at Christmastime through a child’s eyes.

The Night Before Christmas by Rachel Isadora

As you might have noticed, this is the second book on the list from Rachel Isadora. She is my favorite children’s book illustrator. The artwork in her books is always vibrant. This book is no different as a beautiful retelling of the classic story of the Night Before Christmas.

Parker’s Elf, written by Martha Sylla Underwood and illustrated by Vector Family

Parker’s Elf is an excellent book that touches on social-emotional wellness for children. The main character Parker attempts to demonstrate his control over his body and emotions with the assistance of his elf.

Paiyton’s Elf, written by Martha Sylla Underwood and illustrated by Vector Family

Similar to the book Parker’s Elf, Paiyton’s Elf is also a Christmas book that focuses on helping children to manage their emotions. Peyton struggles to control her feelings but receives help from a magical elf. The artwork in this book is striking.

Diverse Christmas Children’s Books Matter – Especially if those children are Black.

Black children need to see themselves depicted positively in media. The way children see themselves in books or on television can have both positive and negative effects on children’s ethnic-racial development.  Children who don’t see themselves reflected positively in media are more likely to have issues with their self-esteem and are more susceptible to having an inferiority complex. Make sure at least one of your gifts this year is a book that reflects your child and their culture positively.

These are a few of my favorite things

These are a few of our family’s favorite diverse Christmas books. Did we leave anything off the list? Let me know in the comments.

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