Welcome back to Bookstr’s Three to Read! This week, we’re featuring three children’s books about Kwanzaa, a celebration of African American culture that spans from December 26 to January 1 each year. No matter what holiday you celebrate, educating kids about different festivities and cultural practices is always beneficial. Each of these picks will help your children be interested in learning about the annual celebration of Kwanzaa. Now, let’s get into this week’s recommendations!
HOT PICK
Happy Kwanzaa! by Isabel Micheals, illustrated by Barry Goldberg
SYNOPSIS:
In this Sesame Street book, characters Gabrielle and Tamir teach Elmo about their African American culture and Kwanzaa. Gabrielle and Tamir help Elmo learn about the community-focused, non-religious holiday and the traditions that take place throughout the week. As Elmo learns alongside little readers, Gabrielle and Tamir educate on Kwanzaa’s seven principles, the lighting of the candles, and other exciting activities.
WHY:
Sesame Street is a classic platform for children to learn from, and Elmo’s familiar face will make them even more excited to learn about a new holiday. The book also has colorful illustrations featuring the symbolic colors of the holiday: black, red, and green. Additionally, it has thick pages that make it easy for your little ones to grab and participate in the reading experience!
COFFEE SHOP READ
My Kwanzaa Wish by Yolanda T. Marshall, illustrated by Jamie Ellis Pasquale
SYNOPSIS:
My Kwanzaa Wish is a poetically written children’s book that captures the heart and spirit of the Kwanzaa holiday. It aims to reflect the joy, togetherness, and hope that Kwanzaa inspires, making it an uplifting read for all families to share during the festive season.
WHY:
The author of My Kwanzaa Wish, Yolanda T. Marshall, is an award-winning Caribbean Canadian author of inclusive, festive children’s literature. In this book, she uses her artistry to portray the significance behind Kwanzaa’s traditions rather than just explaining what they are. As a result, her story conveys the principles of inspiration, positivity, and warmth that underlie this wonderful holiday.
DARK HORSE
The Night Before Kwanzaa by Natasha Wing and Kirsti Jewel, illustrated by Amy Wummer
SYNOPSIS:
In a retelling of Clement C. Moore’s classic tale, The Night Before Christmas, this book features the story of a little boy the night before celebrating Kwanzaa with his family. The story highlights the anticipation we all feel when looking forward to a celebration. It’s also part of a larger series of books titled The Night Before, which aims to capture the same exhilarating feeling for different children’s events and holidays.
WHY:
Although similar to the original Christmastime story, this retelling offers a new story of excitement for children whose families celebrate Kwanzaa and encourages children to embrace their heritage with pride. Since this is a familiar story, it also shows children who don’t celebrate Kwanzaa that even though we all celebrate at different times and in different ways, we all experience similar thoughts and feelings about our traditions.
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