We are so excited to have Stefanie Hohl join us today to share information about Picture Books about Family Traditions!

Stefanie Hohl loves to write books for kids! She is the author of The Remember Tree and Where is the Star. As the creator of ABC See, Hear, Do, a learn-to-read program that teaches reading through movement, she shares her passion for discovering better methods for teaching young children and sharing that knowledge with others. She has a Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State and a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Stefanie lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, five children, a very silly dog, and two cuddly cats.

With the recent focus on representation in picture books, a slew of picture books focused on family traditions have emerged in the past few years. This includes books about food, culture, holiday celebrations, heritage, and more. These books allow us to see diverse groups of people more clearly as we learn about what’s important to them, how they live, and the value of our shared humanity.

I’m a bit obsessed with family traditions, so I highly recommend these books. Traditions allow families to build a strong foundation by connecting with each other through shared experience. They are also a way to pass customs and rituals to the next generation.

Let’s take a look at some specific types of picture books about family traditions. As we do, think about your current family and/or back to your childhood. Hopefully, these stories (& the questions I pose after each specific type) will trigger ideas for stories only YOU can write!

Food Traditions

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza

Bee-bim Bop by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee

Fry Bread by Keven Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Does your family eat traditional foods for family dinners, holidays, or special occasions? What does it taste like? Smell like? What stories are connected to this food?

Holiday Traditions

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara

Binny’s Diwali by Thrity Umrigar, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani

Which holidays do you celebrate? What traditions go along with these holidays? What stories are connected to your family holiday celebrations?

Religious Traditions

Fridays Are Special by Chris Barash, illustrated by Melissa Iwai

Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Do you or your loved ones practice religious traditions? Why is faith important to them or to you? How have faith traditions drawn your family members closer?