There is so much magic and anticipation wrapped around the holiday season — especially in an effort to uphold beloved traditions. Whether it’s that meal everyone loves or a family game night or a special decoration, these are things families hold as treasured memories and look forward to throughout the year. Traditions can give families a sense of belonging, create a shared understanding of values, and become a core way to create memories. They also can help kids learn more about what’s important to their family.
And yet, traditions evolve and change just as kids do. So, if you’re looking for new ways to build a love of reading this holiday season, we’ve collected some of the inspiring holiday reading traditions families have established in their homes. Plus, they are easy and incredibly impactful opportunities to make this season bright for kids.
Traditions don't have to become a production to matter deeply. In fact, the less pressure, the better. All you really need is a reader you love and a really good book to get started.
See 11 of our favorite book(ish) holiday traditions below.
1. Annual Book Signing
If you have a seasonal book you read every year without fail, add in an annual book signing. Each year, write a note inside to record the date, who was there, and where you were. It’s a wonderful way to relive memories – and a precious way to record those early years as kids are learning to write their names!
2. Create a Book Advent Calendar
An advent calendar might be a popular way to count down the days until Christmas, but this concept is perfect for any festive celebration your readers are eagerly anticipating! Instead of opening chocolates or trinkets each day, switch them out with books.
To create the calendar, choose a collection of classic picture books, holiday-themed stories, or any mix of titles your child would enjoy. You can wrap up seasonal favorites that you already have, or even add a few new books that would be of interest to your child. Once you have all your books, wrap them up. Then, each night, have your child choose one book to open and read it together as a family.
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3. Cook (or Bake) With a Book
Get creative and make a holiday snack to fuel your family's holiday reading routine. Try a holiday-themed sweet, like a cup of hot chocolate with a special chapter book or pair The Gingerbread House Jack’s Family Ate with the gingerbread house recipe that’s included in the back of the book.
Alternatively, make something inspired by their favorite series. For example, while reading the Harry Potter series — explore one of the savory or sweet recipes from The Official Harry Potter Baking and Cookbook Collection. The excitement of making a treat to enjoy during storytime is a delicious way to bond as a family and bring books to life in a new way. The options for literary meals are endless!
4. Picture Books and Pajamas
Whether you’re kicking off the holidays or relishing a free night during a hectic season, toss on festive pajamas and read a new holiday picture book together. Get everyone to revel in some down time and experience a new title with a thematic family night that's pure relaxation and reading.
5. Host a Holiday Book Exchange
The holidays are a great time to reinforce that reading isn’t just a solitary pursuit — it’s something to be shared. A great idea for readers of all ages: Host a book exchange and have guests wrap up a favorite book from the past year to give as a gift. Turn the exchange into a white elephant-esque game or keep it simple; however you play, it’s a spirited way to see what books are inspiring other readers.
6. Learn About Other Holiday Traditions
Whether your family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, or something else, find books about other holidays to introduce your readers to new traditions from other cultures. We’re currently loving A Dragon for Hanukkah, Give Back, Clifford's Christmas, K Is for Kwanzaa, and Peppa Pig: Happy Diwali!
7. Sign Your Gifts
Make books even more personalized by writing a special inscription inside, turning a gift into a keepsake. Wrap up books with an inscription inside to wish kids unforgettable adventures, lots of laughter, or a love of reading in the year ahead. As kids re-read these books over the years or pass them down to younger siblings, they'll relive precious holiday memories.
8. Sibling Book Swap
This is one tradition that teaches kids to get excited about giving. If you have multiple kids in your household, consider giving them each a small budget to shop for a new book for their sibling. It's fun to see what they pick out for each other and how they consider their sibling’s interests. For extra fun, have them write each other a special note in the book about a fun memory from the year. Or let them pick out a book from the library that they think their sibling would enjoy this season.
9. Read a Chapter a Night
For older readers, spend the season reading one chapter a night of a special story. It could be the final installment of The Bad Guys or another seasonal favorite. All that matters is that you pick a story that means something to your reader and have fun with it. Invite different family members to read different characters or take turns reading pages each night. Even better, tie the book to a great movie that you can lead up to at the end and watch together to experience the story in a new format.
10. Create a Family Book Flood
Many families have gift-giving traditions, whether your family goes book shopping together on one night during Hanukkah or you exchange surprise selections on Christmas Eve. When you give books as part of your holiday traditions, it will help your kids to view books as precious gifts — and foster a love of reading.
In Iceland, there is a tradition called Jolabokaflod, which translates to “Christmas book flood” and refers to the practice of exchanging books for Christmas, to be read on Christmas Eve — ideally with a mug of hot chocolate. Whatever your family might celebrate, this is one tradition that you can easily make your own.
Leading up to your own family book flood, encourage your readers to make their own wishlists of books. On the day of, have fun with wrapping, writing inscriptions, making snacks and hot chocolate, and setting up cozy blankets for book nooks perfect for reading. Exchange books and then — the fun begins. Snuggle up to read!
After it’s over, continue to talk about the books that were given and received. Ask questions, swap books, and connect over the topics to extend the celebration (and learning)!
11. Make Reading Resolutions for the Year Ahead
Any day is a good day to resolve to read more. But, the quieter pace of a winter break can be a great time to reconnect as a family over books and to get inspired to do so more often. Maybe picture books and pajamas is a tradition you want to carry through the rest of the year, or you resolve to have sibling book swaps during other holidays. These traditions can make reading special during so many seasons.
Whether it’s an extra-special read-aloud with extended family over Thanksgiving, a holiday book paired with hot chocolate, story time near the tree, a book advent calendar, or the magic of an extra special series all wrapped up in a bow — the experience of reading is a gift that will stay with kids (and families) throughout their lives. Here's to a season full of reading!
Need ideas on where to find that just-right book gift? Let us help. You can find the best books of the year, best selling book sets, seasonal stories, gifts, and so much more on our Holiday Gift Guide at The Scholastic Store.