We are so excited to have Kelly Conroy join us today to share information about Holiday Picture Books!
Children's book writer and poet, Kelly Conroy, is 50% silly, fun-loving, never-grow-up big kid and 50% hard-working, focused, analytical former actuary. She loves all things magical, whimsical, and numerical, and her goal in life is to make people smile.
She was initially inspired to write by her cousins, Stan and Jan Berenstain, creators of the Berenstain Bears, and continues to be inspired by her two rambunctious sons and mini goldendoodle, Chewy.
It’s November in America! Which means:
Sayonara, Halloween,
Hello there, Christmas and Hanukkah, and
Best of luck, Thanksgiving!
But who can resist the glittering lights of Christmas or the glowing candles of Hanukkah in early November when the days are getting dark, the air is getting cold, and yet another year is ending — reminding us that as time marches on, we are that much closer to the end…
Oops, sorry about that. You know what else shines a bright light in the darkness? Picture books!
Yes, there are a LOT of picture books about the winter holidays. But there are even more stories and traditions to share. I bet each and every one of us celebrates winter differently. For example, here’s my backstory. I grew up “Christian,” but really, what it boiled down to was – we liked Christmas and celebrated all things Santa —hard.
We baked cookies, sang songs, shopped, wrapped, decked the halls, and decorated trees (though, in fairness, this was not my favorite part. I was one of those kids who placed all of the ornaments on a single branch of the Christmas tree, and my mom was one of those mothers who preferred we decorate the whole thing. Conversations were had.)
But the grand finale occurred between December 24th and 26th. Our Christmas Eve consisted of spending the night with the Jewish quarter of my family, who visited during their winter break. My cousins were SO COOL. We played and laughed and shared pieces of our different religions. I loved that night.
On the 25th, we went gaga for Santa with the rest of my family. Then, on the 26 th, we reconvened with the Christmas Eve crew for a day of skiing.
Those were my favorite days of the year, and I love that I learned from a very young age that even if we have different religions, ethnicities… we are all family.
So, this month, write about your own family traditions and read about others. Sharing stories makes the light in the darkness glow even brighter.
Here are some examples. I’ll review various hooks that make each one unique:
THE REMEMBER TREE by our fearless leader Stefanie Hohl and illustrated by Wes Wheeler
This timeless book about the birth of Jesus is both a game and an activity! Learn about popular holiday symbols by reading the riddles, guessing the answers, and building your own Christmas Tree.
LARRY’S LATKES by Jenna Waldman and illustrated by Ben Whitehouse
This Hanukkah tale, told in perfect rhythm and rhyme, is about a food truck driving alligator, family recipes, expanding your horizons, and potato pancakes. Yum!
THE CHRISTMASSY CACTUS by Beth Ferry and illustrated by A.N. Kang
This story doesn’t mention Jesus or Santa but celebrates the magic of Christmas and the power we have within ourselves to be special.
HANUKKAH UPSIDE DOWN by Elissa Brent Weissman and illustrated by Omer Hoffmann
Sometimes, you have to spin an idea on its head, which is exactly what this book is about. Cousins, one in America and one in Australia, compare and contrast how they celebrate Hanukkah.
DASHER CAN’T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS by Matt Tavares
This new twist on a classic reindeer tale celebrates the kindness of children.
HAPPY LLAMAKKAH! by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Lydia Nichols
This sweet book mixes two fun hooks together. I bet you can tell what they are from the title.
SANTA’S GOTTA GO by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Courtney Lovett
In this fractured fairytale, we get to ponder: When it comes to being a houseguest, is Santa naughty or nice?
EIGHT NIGHTS OF LIGHTS: A CELEBRATION OF HANUKKAH by Leslie Kimmelman and illustrated by Hilli Kushnir
This book is just genius. Opening the cover reveals a menorah with nine candle-shaped mini books that tell a story across the eight nights of Hanukkah.
UNICORN CHRISTMAS: A SPARKLY HOLIDAY ADVENTURE by Diana Murray and illustrated by Luke Flowers
You had me a sparkly! This book is pure fun and joy— until Santa gets sick — but not to worry, the ending is even happier than the beginning.
THE BEARS’ CHRISTMAS by Stan and Jan Berenstain
This was one of my favorite books as a kid. So, yes, it’s old. This character-driven story has silly Papa Bear teaching Brother Bear about a variety of winter sports — while failing miserably. It’s funny, the language is bouncy, it has a heartwarming ending and… it’s by my cousins. Yes, the Christmas Eve crew is my mother’s father’s side of the family: The Berenstains. And although Stan and Jan didn’t attend our festivities, they are the reason I started writing in the first place.
And that, my friends, is a full-circle holiday story.
Good luck writing yours!
Kelly