Discover the history and importance of Kwanzaa, a week-long December holiday celebrated in Black, African, and African American culture. 

In The Kwanzaa Story, little Alliah (of The Juneteenth Story fame) is all grown up and, along with her husband LeVaur, teaches their children Daphne and Alistair why they celebrate Kwanzaa as a family and as a community. This beautifully illustrated storybook shares the origins of the holiday—rooted in Africa, born in Los Angeles—giving historical and cultural context on how a joyful celebration was birthed after the Watts Rebellion and during the Civil Rights Movement. The journey includes:

 

• The history of the holiday, complete with timeline
• Key figures of the Civil Rights Movement and their part in the creation of Kwanzaa
• The seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa, known as Nguza Saba
• The seven core symbols used during Kwanzaa rituals, including the kinara (candle holder) and the mishumaa saba (the seven candles in red, green, and black)
• How Kwanzaa is celebrated today
• And more!

2025 marks the 60th observance of Kwanzaa. The Kwanzaa Story offers Black, African, and African American children the opportunity to connect with their culture and the holiday in a meaningful way, and to see themselves and their family traditions represented on the page with accuracy and joy. This book also exposes children of different backgrounds to a new end-of-year cultural celebration, taking them on an engaging and educational journey about the principles and traditions of the holiday. This visually captivating guide to understanding Kwanzaa encourages young readers to connect with the holiday and its social impact. 

Follow along as Alliah and her family discover the cultural significance of Kwanzaa's principles and symbols, providing a tangible element to the holiday that will allow kids and family members to fully and joyfully participate in its celebration. Readers of all ages will love learning about the amazing history and traditions of Kwanzaa through the wise and educational storytelling in The Kwanzaa Story.

The Holiday Celebration series from becker&mayer! kids honors the diverse holidays and milestones that shape the cultural fabric of the United States. Though these traditions may have originated elsewhere, brought to our shores by ancestors from around the world, they have endured and evolved to weave the vibrant tapestry of American life. The series includes picture books and their companion kid-friendly cookbooks that share stories uniquely representative of the American experience—an experience that is multilayered, eclectic, inclusive, and joyfully beautiful.

Also available from the series:The Juneteenth Story, The Juneteenth Cookbook, The Dia de Los Muertos Story, and The Dia de Los Muertos Cookbook.

Discover the joy and meaning of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.

Lior and his parents, aunties, uncles, grandparents, and cousins are inviting you to celebrate with them! Join in as they make latkes, light the Menorah, recite the Hanukkah blessings, play the dreidel game, and share presents.

Along the way, you’ll learn how Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration marked by the daily lighting of a new candle on the Menorah. It brings the Jewish community together by commemorating the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks.

This bright and engaging picture book covers:
 

• The Miracle of Hanukkah
• The delicious food eaten, such as latkes, noodle kugel, Shabbat, and sufganiyot
• The fun to be had playing the dreidel game
• How the Menorah is lit every night using the Shamash
• The community celebrations at the Synagogue

and more!

…and this glowing gift book is further brought to life with:
 

• Instructions to make an edible Menorah
• A guide to make a Hanukkah tzedakah box
• A recipe for delicious latkes and apple sauce

In this immersive exploration of Hanukkah, young readers join a practicing family as they commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah. Seen through the eyes of young children celebrating themselves, this is a simple and exciting way to introduce little ones to this important Jewish occasion.

Part of the Celebrations & Festivals series, you are invited into a family's celebrations as you explore the magic and excitement of religious and cultural festivals around the world.

A fun, heartwarming holiday adventure about a girl, a flying reindeer, and the biggest Christmas mission ever!

When Virginia (yes, Virginia) spots a real flying reindeer in the sky, she can hardly believe her eyes. She’s just moved to a new city, she misses her mom, and nothing feels right—until magic quite literally lands in her life. But when she tells her neighbor Benny what she saw, he’s sure of it—this has to be Santa business.

Now Virginia and Benny have to help the lost reindeer find its way back to the North Pole before Christmas! Along the way, they’ll face sneaky hunters, suspiciously convincing department store elves, and even the people who track Santa on radar.

Get ready for a hilarious, heartwarming graphic novel about friendship, courage, and keeping the spirit of Christmas alive—no matter what.

Celebrate Hanukkah with this festive introduction for kids ages 6 to 9!

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is also called the Festival of Lights. For thousands of years, Jewish people have celebrated Hanukkah by lighting candles, chanting prayers, and playing games! Learn all about the history, traditions, food, and more with this book of facts and activities that encourage you to join in on the fun.
 

• So many ways to get festive—Discover how Hanukkah is celebrated by different people around the world with songs, gifts, and gatherings.
• Celebrate at home—Kids will explore Hanukkah customs with included activities like making your own stained-glass menorah decoration and learning how to play dreidel.
• Fascinating facts and pictures—Vibrant illustrations and kid-friendly language help bring Hanukkah to life.

Discover Why We Celebrate Hanukkah!

Have you ever wondered why we exchange gifts on Valentine's Day? Or why we wear green on St. Patrick's Day? Get the rest of the Why We Celebrate series and learn about holidays from around the world!

A secret is in the air as the unlikely friends return in four more stories threaded with Jarvis's signature warmth and subtle humor.

Best friends Bear and Bird may not always understand each other, but they always want the other to be happy. So when Bird feels left out because Bear has given a cute nickname to everyone but her, she's relieved when her hasty list of names for Bear doesn't reach him (Stinky Sock Muffin, anyone?). And when the two of them learn they have zero dislikes in common--from lasagna to chess to the word armadillo--and wonder if they can still be friends, they soon realize there's one important dislike they can both agree on. Whether the challenge is being hopeless at keeping a secret (Bear), or getting befuddled about the rules for hide-and-seek (Bear again), this ever-endearing pair continue to charm in a sixth set of gentle stories.

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST

An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author’s family history

Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom’s family lives. But this year is turning out to be an eye-opening one. First, Summer has begun to have vivid dreams in which she's running away from one of the many real-life residential schools that tore Native children from their families and tried to erase their Native identities. Not long after that, she learns that unmarked children’s graves have been discovered at the school her grandpa attended as a child. Now more folks are speaking up about their harrowing experiences at these places, including her grandfather. Summer cherishes her heritage and is heartbroken about all her grandfather was forced to give up and miss out on. When the town holds a rally, she’s proud to take part to acknowledge the painful past and speak of her hopes for the future, and anxious to find someone who can fill her in on the source of her unsettling dreams.

A Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adapted by National Book Award longlister and Eisner-nominated cartoonist Ellen T. Crenshaw!

The Mancusis don't have any kids... but they sure do have a lot of pets! So when they're desperate for a sitter, who do they call? The Baby-sitters Club! Kristy feels pretty sure that the BSC does not pet-sit. But Jessi has always liked animals, and she talks Kristy into being okay with her taking the job.

With snakes on the loose and sick hamsters, Jessi's got plenty of pet-sitting troubles, and things don't get any easier when she and her friends get into a big fight. Will Jessi be able to handle her pet-sitting job when things are going wrong with the baby-sitters, too?

In this hilarious sixth middle grade book in the Middle School and Other Disasters series that started with New York Times bestseller Worst Broommate Ever!, witch-in-training Heidi Heckelbeck has a new rival. 

When a new student comes to Broomsfield Academy, Mrs. Kettledrum informs the students she is an extra-talented witch-in-training. At first Heidi is intrigued and wants to be friends, but when Jodi tells Heidi she intends to be the best witch ever, a competition brews between them and bubbles over while on a field trip to a museum—which becomes more dangerous than either could have imagined!

Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar for one of his favorite meals of the day: breakfast!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is very hungry . . . for breakfast! With die-cut pages, a simple narrative, and beautiful artwork from Eric Carle, this interactive board book is the perfect way to introduce the most important meal of the day. From muffins and pancakes to eggs and fruit, there's something everyone will enjoy. This book will become a staple in the kitchen for even the littlest food critic in training!

Going to the supermarket can be SO BORING. But do you know what makes it fun? DINOSAURS, that's what! A funny, visual treat for children who love dinosaurs.

For one little boy, a regular day at the supermarket is turned upside down. A band of dinosaurs wreak havoc in the aisles, but the grown-ups can't see them! Can he convince the dinosaurs to behave? And, more importantly, who will mop up the mess?