Welcome to our annual list of recommended new and reissued picture books of seasonal and holiday interest. Season's greetings from the Horn Book staff!

The Birds of Christmas
by Olivia Armstrong; illus. by Mira Miroslavova
Preschool, Primary    Eerdmans    40 pp.
8/25    9780802856470    $18.99

One cold night, Raven receives a celestial command: inform his fellow birds that “a child has been born…the Prince of Peace.” All flock to the stable with gifts: a lullaby from Nightingale, a feather pillow from Stork, etc. One small bird (a robin) thinks she has nothing to give — until the fire keeping Mary and child warm dwindles. She fans the embers and fetches twigs until the flames burn bright again. When an ember lands on the robin’s breast, turning it a radiant red, Mary tells her that it’s “a sign of your kind heart. From today on, you and all your children will wear this color proudly.” This pourquoi tale, beautifully illustrated in ­graphite pencil and colored digitally, alternates expansive ­double-page spreads with single pages and spot art, adding intimacy and focus. MARTHA V. PARRAVANO

Hap-Pea Holidays
by Keith Baker; illus. by the author
Preschool    Beach Lane/Simon    24 pp.
9/25    9781665940283    $9.99

Baker’s cheery pea characters (and pea puns) are in fine form in this Christmas celebration. “Twinkly lights, lots and lots / (after untangling all the knots).” Decking the halls, front doors, and town, the peas then sing carols, frost cookies, make popcorn and paper chains (“don’t eat the glue!”), and play in the snow. After exchanging gifts, the green gang wishes everyone “Peas on Earth!…Hap-Pea New Year!” The exuberant rhyming text is well matched by vibrant illustrations bursting with holiday spirit. KITTY FLYNN

The Giving Flower:The Story of the Poinsettia
by Alda P. Dobbs; illus. by Emily Mendoza
Primary    Sourcebooks Jabberwocky    40 pp.
9/25    9781728297811    $18.99

This engaging botanical history of the ubiquitous holiday plant begins in southwest Mexico where what we now call poinsettias grew wild. In the fourteenth century, the Nahua people (Aztecs) used the “milky sap” for medicinal purposes, the red leaves (the actual flowers are tiny and yellow) for dye, and the plant itself for decoration. The plant was introduced to the U.S. in the 1820s; its association with Christmas was promoted by one California farming family in the 1960s. Friendly illustrations in a muted palette complement the accessible text. A detailed author’s note expands on the information, and a helpful annotated timeline is appended. KITTY FLYNN

Candy Corn Christmas!
by Jonathan Fenske; illus. by the author
Primary    Little Simon    40 pp.
9/25    9781665973663    $10.99

“They were the candy time forgot. / They did not mold. / They did not rot.” When leftover candy corn get a whiff of ­Christmas, they want in on the action. “They stuffed the stockings. / Clogged the nog. / Scampered o’er the yuletide log.” The traditional decorations and delicacies aren’t happy with the chaos, and a ticked-off candy cane declares: “You had YOUR holiday. / Now scram!” Fenske’s gleefully busy illustrations and rollicking rhymes make an already absurd situation even funnier. Santa helps the disgruntled treat see that there’s room for all sticky, sweet, and striped candies, even if they’ve been sitting on the shelf since October. KITTY FLYNN

Santa Claws
by Bridget Heos; illus. by Galia Bernstein
Preschool, Primary    Holt    40 pp.
9/25    9781250909497    $18.99

“While kids scrawl notes to Santa Claus, / Hatchlings write to Santa Claws.” This companion to shark-themed Santa Jaws (rev. 11/21) focuses on the prehistoric world. Santa is a T-rex, the elves are pachycephalosauruses, and Heos crafts such spry creature-themed lines as: “­Tricera-moms and ’cera-pops / Hang stockings for ­tricera-tots.” ­Bernstein’s digital illustrations differentiate the types of dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles through ­animated-looking details, while an appended spread provides brief information about each. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

The Street Where Santa Lives
by Harriet Howe; illus. by Julia Christians
Preschool, Primary    Tiger Tales    40 pp.
9/25    9781664300750    $18.99

When a man with a white beard moves into the unnamed narrator’s busy, diverse neighborhood, only she believes he’s Santa. He becomes a fixture, raising rabbits and opening a workshop to which everyone brings broken things, including the girl’s father’s motorcycle. When the man gets sick, she organizes the neighbors to bring him medicine and food, and he gets better just in time for Christmas Eve. A final illustration shows the neighborhood ­gathering outside for a celebration — while, flying against a full moon, we see a man on a motorcycle pulled by rabbits. An uplifting Christmas story about the power of belief and the importance of community, with cheerful illustrations containing not a few hints to the man’s true identity (our narrator was right all along). MARTHA V. PARRAVANO

How Six Found Christmas
by Trina Schart Hyman; illus. by the author
Primary, Intermediate    Holiday    32 pp.
10/25    9780823461929    $15.99

In this reissue of a classic fable (rev. 12/69), a girl who has never heard of Christmas heads into a snowy forest to search for it. There she meets five animals who want to know, variously and aptly, how ­Christmas feels (the cat); smells (hound dog); looks (hawk); tastes (fox); and sounds (­mockingbird). When the questers come across an old green bottle, they decide that it “must be a Christmas” and disperse, disappointed. But the girl takes the bottle home, fills it with branches of red berries and green pine — “and lo! It was Christmas!” Hyman’s lively prose reflects each animal’s preoccupations beautifully; her mostly monochromatic illustrations, with pops of color such as red for the girl’s stocking cap, are arresting and imbued with personality. MARTHA V. PARRAVANO

The Muttcracker
by Anna Kemp; illus. by Sara Ogilvie
Preschool, Primary    Simon    32 pp.
9/25    9781665981033    $19.99

Bulldog Biff (Dogs Don’t Do Ballet) and his owner, our exuberantly voiced narrator, are cast as bonbons in The Nutcracker. It’s a disappointment — Biff especially wanted to be the Sugar Plum Fairy — but when a chance at that role presents itself, the choice he makes gives a sweet resolution to this energetic story of friendship and of making the best of things. And do our protagonists impress? You bet your bonbon. The brightly colored digital illustrations are dynamic, especially in spreads with multiple ­movement-filled vignettes of one or both members of the dancing duo. SHOSHANA FLAX

Pepe and the Piñata: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage
by Tracey Kyle; illus. by Mirelle Ortega
Preschool, Primary    Little Bee    32 pp.
10/25    9781499817997    $18.99

Pepe and his mami, papi, and abuelo are preparing their family home for ­Christmas as well as participating in a community-wide Latine Christmas ­cultural festival: “Pepe and his friends will help to decorate the square, / inspired by traditions of the heritage they share.” Their family’s contribution is a piñata, representing “the tradition mexicana,” while others bring food (“Yuca fries from Cuba. Spanish ham and rice. / Pollo from El Salvador with just a little spice”), perform music, share games, and more. Bouncy rhymes and colorful cartoony illustrations reflect the vibrancy and fun. An appended glossary, author’s note, and sources provide more details. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

Gather Grateful
by Megan Litwin; illus. by Alexandra Finkeldey
Primary    Candlewick    32 pp.
9/25    9781536233384    $18.99

“Colors change. Cold sweeps near. / The time for gathering is here.” Amidst a fall backdrop, animals such as bears, foxes, and rabbits prepare for winter. ­Finkeldey’s digitally finished gouache and acrylic ink illustrations capture the warmth of the season with rich browns and dark orange. Later, as the palette introduces a ­complementary cool blue, the focus of the gentle text also shifts — to a ­multigenerational human family sharing a meal. In one compelling double-page spread, a ­family of raccoons in a tree and an older woman and two kids standing in front of a window seem to ­contemplate one another. “Gather outside. Gather in. / Cozy time can now begin.” MARVA ANNE HINTON

Monsters in the Moonlight: A Yalda Night Adventure
by Sina Merabian;illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Simon    40 pp.
12/25    9781534496842    $19.99

Two impish divs’ (monsters) mission is to make Yalda night, the ­winter solstice, “as dark and cold as can be.” Knowing humans always ruin the night with their “silly celebrations,” the divs infiltrate a gathering and try to disrupt the Persian solstice traditions (eating watermelon for sweetness, reading poetry for good fortune), but the people always make do. Merabian’s (The Monster in the Bathhouse, rev. 3/22) text, with its shoutable refrain (“STOMP, STEAL, and RIP APART!”), builds to an apt message, reflected in the light-infused digital illustrations: that even when the night is cold or things get lost or broken, “you can make your bright, warm, happy moments.” SHOSHANA FLAX

Merry Mittens: A Moontime Cats Christmas Story
by Jordan Morris; illus. by Charlie Mylie
Preschool, Primary    Candlewick    40 pp.
9/25    9781536239669    $18.99

When it’s moontime, cat friends Carl, Biscuit, and Peewee meet to make “merry mischief.” They play in the snow until they stumble upon a suspicious trail. “Was it made by a snow snake or a giant ice snail?” Turns out it was a thieving mouse who took Christmas treasures, including a giant star. The crafty cats recover the star and place it atop the town’s big Christmas tree. Mylie’s colored-pencil and watercolor ­illustrations highlight the cats’ big, ­expressive eyes, and Morris draws readers into the story through gentle humor. A cat carol and a sledding scene are sure to be storytime ­favorites. MARVA ANNE HINTON

A Dragon Called Spark: A Hanukkah Story
by Lily Murray; illus. by Kirsti Beautyman
Primary    Kalaniot    32 pp.
9/25    9781962011099    $19.99

Eva is new in town, and as Hanukkah approaches, she hasn’t made friends…but she does have a dragon. Spark is lonely and needs a dragon friend, but “that would take a miracle.” As Eva gets to know her neighbors, Hanukkah traditions and Spark provide entry points for conversation, and by the eighth night, Spark and Eva both have friends. Many readers and listeners will likely identify with the friendship arc, and the fantasy elements intriguingly leave room for ­interpretation — is Spark real (“not ­everyone can see him”) or a coping ­mechanism? Textured illustrations use swirling patterns around dragons to create a sense of magic. An endnote gives Hanukkah background. SHOSHANA FLAX

The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise
by Riel Nason; illus. by Byron Eggenschwiler
Primary    Tundra    48 pp.
8/25    9781774885376    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781774885383    $10.99

The main character from The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt loves “flying outside in the wintertime.” Unfortunately, it is too cold for his ghost-sheet friends to join him. When the ghost quilt discovers December holiday decorations in the human ­neighborhood one evening, he is inspired to bring winter fun inside to enjoy together with his friends. Nason’s calm, evocative text embraces the little ghost quilt’s contemplative nature, while ­Eggenschwiler’s sepia and grayscale illustrations match the winter setting with touches of color in the quilt and in the decorations reflecting the season’s sense of warmth and wonder. CYNTHIA K. RITTER

Lost and Found Hanukkah
by Joy Preble; illus. by Lisa Anchin
Primary    Chronicle    40 pp.
9/25    9781797216096    $17.99

Nate, who loves Hanukkah because “it’s always the same,” is sad about celebrating in a new apartment and without his menorah, which was lost in the family’s move. Visiting a Judaica store to replace it leads Nate and his dads to search for the store owner’s missing cat, Kugel. By getting to know the neighborhood, and eventually locating the cat, Nate starts to feel more ­comfortable with change — and creatively solves his menorah problem. Warmhearted and precise watercolor and pencil illustrations show a loving biracial family helping to address relatable, kid-sized feelings. Appended with an author’s note and “Nate’s Save-the-Day Latke Recipe.” ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

The Old Sleigh
by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey; illus. by the authors
Primary    Norton    48 pp.
11/25    9781324054122    $18.99

The titular sleigh traverses snow-covered hills in all types of weather to deliver firewood. A man and a boy chop wood and load it onto the sleigh for delivery to friendly townspeople. But as the community grows and demand increases, the sleigh breaks in half under the weight. The boy takes parts of the old sleigh to make a new sled, which he uses to ­continue their deliveries and for ­playtime until the old sleigh is ­refurbished. Through spare text and colorful, cheery illustrations, the Pumphreys (The Old Truck, rev. 3/20; The Old Boat, rev. 3/21) draw readers into this cozy world of neighbors caring for one another. MARVA ANNE HINTON

Steam Train, Dream Train: Next Stop, Christmas!
by Sherri Duskey Rinker; illus. by AG Ford
Preschool, Primary    Chronicle    40 pp.
10/25    9781797227030    $18.99

The train and animal crew from Steam Train, Dream Train return to spread Christmas magic. Dressed in holiday attire, the workers ride atop the flying train one special night “when each new December starts,” sending “sweet scents through the air” and playing “Christmas songs from all the lands.” Rinker’s rhyming verse will captivate young listeners along with the many details in Ford’s wax oil crayon illustrations featuring nighttime blues and sparkling golds. The travelers finish their trip — after spreading decorations, releasing warm feelings, and unloading loving memories — with a delivery of “Christmas dreams.” CYNTHIA K. RITTER

Construction Site Hanukkah Lights: A Hanukkah Lift-the-Flap Book [Goodnight, Construction Site]
by Sherri Duskey Rinker; illus. by Shawna J. C. Tenney
Preschool    Chronicle    16 pp.
9/25    9781797226743    $12.99

The construction vehicles (­Construction Site: Merry and Bright, rev. 11/21, and many others) are back, this time in a Hanukkah-themed lift-the-flap board book. Enthusiastic rhyming text and boldly saturated wax oil crayon illustrations show the characters using their resources to complete holiday activities, with flaps lifting to reveal the results of their efforts. Cement Mixer and Skid Steer, for instance, team up to create…a giant (and accurate) concrete dreidel. The upbeat intro to Hanukkah ends with a satisfying gatefold scene: “The whole team, sleeping sound tonight, / dreams of miracles — and light.” SHOSHANA FLAX

Golem Loves Latkes: A Tasty Hanukkah Tale
by Doreen Klein Robinson; illus. by Anna Krajewska
Primary    Intergalactic Afikoman    40 pp.
10/25    9781951365325    $19.99

The people of Schmoozeville are fighting “like Judah and the Maccabees”: do latkes go best with applesauce or sour cream? Our narrator, a child visiting her bubbe, makes a golem out of leftover dreidel clay; the creature’s experimentation with latke toppings brings more chaos until the narrator steps up and makes further connections between this fight and the Maccabees’. The silly perennial debate is an amusing way to get to the inevitable ­community celebration. ­Illustrations of a town reminiscent of a playset fit the ­not-to-be-taken-too-seriously text, as does the usually-smiling rainbow-colored golem. Holiday, golem, and related information and a glossary are appended. SHOSHANA FLAX

The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah
by Laurel Snyder; illus. by Leanne Hatch
Primary    Clarion/HarperCollins    40 pp.
9/25    9780063278141    $19.99

Snyder offers a poem and a “thought” for each night of Hanukkah, relatably emphasizing the ways the holiday intertwines with everyday life (more so, as an author’s note explains, than some other Jewish ­holidays). Celebrants light candles after going out for pizza, or early to avoid striking matches on Shabbat…or, when a flat tire delays their return home, on an improvised “bananukkiah.” The accessible poems elicit emotions such as the hushed anticipation of hanukkiah lighting, and the “thought” callouts make informative connections to Jewish law and tradition. The illustrations, digitally created using hand-painted textures, depict a celebrating family in homey scenes and in an atmospheric wintry landscape. SHOSHANA FLAX

A Snow Day for Amos McGee
by Philip C. Stead; illus. by Erin E. Stead
Preschool, Primary    Roaring Brook    48 pp.
9/25    9781250324733    $19.99

In his third outing, city-dwelling zookeeper — and lover of snow — Amos McGee (A Sick Day for Amos McGee, rev. 5/10; Amos McGee Misses the Bus, rev. 11/21) eagerly anticipates a forecasted storm. But first, he departs his cozy home, waits for the bus, and heads to work, knitting in tow, to dole out handmade gifts: a hat for the elephant, socks for the penguin, and more. Now everyone is prepared, but, disappointingly, the snow doesn’t fall. The next morning, a winter wonderland—and animal friends to share it with — await. Fans of the gentle characters will enjoy this visit, with its eye-pleasing visual hallmarks shown in tidy, thoughtful woodblock-print and pencil art. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker
by David Ezra Stein; illus. by the author
Primary    Candlewick    48 pp.
9/25    9781536207798    $18.99

In her fourth series entry, the “little red chicken” goes to see The Nutcracker with Papa. Despite his attempts to dissuade her, she can’t keep herself from interrupting the performance by repeatedly bursting onstage. Stein offers readers a taste of the ballet’s story in between Chicken’s interjections — some humorous (showing off her tutu), some with the best of intentions (saving the nutcracker from a bully) — which eventually get them kicked out of the theater. Luckily, her knack for storytelling saves the show, with her crayon-drawn version of The Nutcracker adding extra playfulness to Stein’s bold and vibrant mixed-media illustrations. CYNTHIA K. RITTER

Dasher and the Polar Bear
by Matt Tavares; illus. by the author
Primary    Candlewick    40 pp.
9/25    9781536236316    $18.99

Reindeer Dasher is back for a third time (most recently Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, rev. 11/23), here befriending a polar bear named George while enjoying the northern lights. Dasher tries unsuccessfully to teach George how to fly; on Christmas Eve, Christmas works its magic for George (and Dasher) when Santa helps George “know how it feels to fly.” Tavares’s splendid digital illustrations of snowy Arctic scenery and soaring sleigh rides complement his heartfelt holiday story of new friendship. CYNTHIA K. RITTER

Winter Is the Worst!
by Dan Tavis; illus. by the author
Preschool    Amicus Ink    32 pp.
10/25    9798889880165    $18.99

Penguin frankly lists the many reasons why “winter is the worst” (the cold, heavy snow, slippery ice) before a few wordless spreads show the one thing the bird likes about the season: sledding with friends (two bunnies, a bear, and a deer). Tavis’s lively comic-style illustrations feature thick black outlines, an appropriately cool palette of blue hues and white, speech-bubble dialogue, and sound effects. Varied page layouts feed the humorous interplay between story and art as Penguin struggles through several winter activities (bundling up, shoveling, snowball fights) until realizing, after an exhilarating sled ride, that “maybe winter isn’t so bad after all.” CYNTHIA K. RITTER

Family Feast!
by Carole Boston Weatherford; illus. by Frank Morrison
Preschool, Primary    Crown    32 pp.
9/25    9780593898291    $18.99
Library ed.  9780593898307    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780593898314    $6.99

“Tastes like home when family meet; / a bond so warm, so strong, so sweet.” These lines are repeated throughout this inviting book about a Black family gathering for a holiday meal. Weatherford captures the love and excitement as a large extended family heads to Big Ma and Pops’s rowhouse in an unnamed city for food (turkey, ham, collard greens, candied yams, etc.) and fellowship. Morrison’s oil paint illustrations, primarily in fall shades, do a particularly good job of showcasing the children in the family as they dart in and out of the kitchen and “beg to lick the bowl.” MARVA ANNE HINTON

Two-List Thanksgiving
by Christine Whan; illus. by Sienna Youngsun Kim
Primary    Beaming    40 pp.
9/25    9781506497594    $19.99

“I smell soy and garlic-braised galbi and sage roasted turkey with stuffing.” A ­biracial girl and her mother prepare to host Thanksgiving for both sides of the family. In a sensory-rich text, the ­enthusiastic narrator describes visiting the local grocery store and the Korean market, cooking all day, and welcoming grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. As they all gather, she sees “one family around one dinner table.” Appealing illustrations in an autumnal palette reflect the story’s cultural pride. A glossary, an author’s note, and recipes for japchae and stuffing are appended. KITTY FLYNN

The Mouse Who Loved Latkes
by Joy Nelkin Wieder; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Kar-Ben    32 pp.
10/25    9798765644249    $19.99
e-book ed.  9798765675540    $9.99

Mouse C.J. (short for Colby Jack) is worried when the Katz family (a ­family of cats) moves into the apartment he inhabits. After enticing smells bring him from his hole, he encounters young Kitty Katz, who enlists his aid with Hanukkah treats in the kitchen. A couple of false alarms later (“That’s not a mousetrap…It’s a Hanukkah menorah”; “We can’t eat mice…They’re not kosher!”), they all settle in for a holiday meal. Cartoony illustrations provide reassurance from the start that the mouse and Katzes will end up friends. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

From the November/December 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.