The holiday season is an enchanting time filled with magic, love, warmth, and tradition. Many parents are eager to include their infant in the holiday magic, and what better way to begin than with reading? Reading is critical for language development. The more your infant is read to, the more their language skills are being established.
We’ve curated a list of 10 holiday books to share with your infant this year to introduce them to tactile play, hand-eye movement, coordination, language, and more. Whether it’s Christmas classics, lift-a-flap, or finger puppet interaction books, this list has a book for every holiday occasion this year.
1. Llama Llama Jingle Bells
Along with the rest of the Llama Llama series, this holiday book by Anna Dewdney is a cozy addition to the reading list this year. It’s perfect for infants and babies who aren’t ready for longer stories just yet. Accompanied by delightful, colorful illustrations, Llama Llama Jingle Bells is a small yet durable book, making it ideal for little readers.
2.Fa-La-La Llama
Written by Joan Holub and illustrated by Allison Back, this board book is an amazing addition to your infant holiday reading list. The eye-catching illustrations combined with expert tactile features like crinkly wrapped presents and soft, fluffy sweaters are sure to keep your 0-3-year-old engaged and entertained. Best of all, this book tells the lyrical tale of llamas celebrating Christmas, and can be sung to the tune of “Deck of The Halls.” How fun!
3. Baby’s First Hanukkah
Produced by DK Children, this delightful board book is part of the Baby’s First Holidays series. It’s suitable for everyone from infant to toddler age range. Discover the magic of Hanukkah, including pictures of the Jewish festival of lights, lighting the menorah candles, latkes, and more. Because of the durable padded pages typical of board books, Baby’s First Hanukkah is durable, educational, engaging, and can be fun for the whole family.
4. I Can See Christmas
Author Elly Crawford designed this series of books for ages 0 to 6 months. During this critical developmental time, babies need visual stimulation to ensure vital brain and eye development. Featuring high-contrast black and white images, I Can See Christmas is an excellent way to help your infant enhance their tracking capabilities, facilitate brain and eye development, and is expertly crafted to keep baby’s attention during tummy time. The I Can See series also features holiday books for Easter and Valentine’s Day.
5. Babies Love Christmas
Created by Cottage Door Press, this lift-a-flap board book is engaging, adorable, and full of holiday fun. Lift-a-flap books are amazing for infants who are beginning to explore with their hands. Designed for chunky, curious fingers, Babies Love Christmas features 6 durable flaps that open to reveal surprises throughout the book.
6. Happy Hanukkah, Little Dreidel
Practice hand-eye coordination with your infant while learning about Hanukkah traditions. This board book is an interactive finger-puppet book that enhances verbal learning and tactile play, and is a great way to spend time together. The durable pages are great for tiny hands and exploring mouths, too. Happy Hanukkah, Little Dreidel is rated for babies ages 1 to 3 years.
7. My First Kwanzaa Book for Newborns
Written especially to introduce infants and toddlers to the Kwanzaa holiday, this book by Belle Boss includes 24 pages of large print, high contrast pages. Through brightly colored, original illustrations, Belle Boss captures all seven principles (unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith) of Kwanzaa. Along with other Kwanzaa traditions, this book for newborns is an amazing way to introduce the holiday and its significance to your child right from the start.
8. My First Kwanzaa
This book by Karen Katz is delightfully portrayed. With 32 pages of warm holiday cheer, this is the perfect family-friendly book to add to your holiday library this year. Katz presents the principles of Kwanzaa and celebrates the richness of family, friends, and community. Though this book is rated for children ages 2 through 5, the simple text formatting and vibrant illustrations can keep your infant entertained and included with family holiday traditions.
9. Hanukkah Baby
Hanukkah Baby is part of a series of books called Indestructables, written by Ekaterina Trukhan and illustrated by the mother of triplets, Amy Pixton. It ranks #13 on Amazon’s list of Top 100 Children’s Jewish Books and is suitable for babes from 0 to 2. The Indestructables series features rip and waterproof pages that are safe to chew and are 100% washable. This will ensure that your baby can engage with the story with developmental play. Bright images with simple text portray the magic and the history of Hanukkah in a book your infant can love for the first few years of life.
10. Christmas Cheer
Another board book perfect for young ones who are exploring, learning, developing, and growing this holiday season. Each page of Christmas Cheer is uniquely designed to overlap with the following pages, creating a full-size design when the book is closed. With bright colors and a range of shapes, this infant book urges tiny hands and wandering fingers to pick it up. The different-shaped pages feature everything from tree decorating to Christmas caroling and more. Add this book to your holiday traditions for a fun, inviting story and playtime.
Infant Care at Parkland Children’s Academy
Reading to your infant is one of the best ways to bond and introduce them to the magic of the holiday season. Start a new holiday tradition this year by including these inviting stories with your newest additions.
At Parkland Children’s Academy, we are dedicated to providing outstanding childcare services ranging from daycare to preschool to after-school care. Our state-of-the-art facility features a toxin-free playground, expertly qualified teachers and staff, and enhanced security (see for yourself with a virtual tour).
Get started with a call today at 954-688-587, and see the difference Parkland Children’s Academy can make for you and your family. We can’t wait to become your outstanding choice for early education in Parkland, Florida.