The holiday season brings families together around traditions, warmth, and celebration. For many families, these traditions focus on winter wonder, acts of kindness, and quality time together rather than specific religious observances. Finding books that capture the magic of December without religious content can feel challenging, but it shouldn’t be.
These books celebrate everything excellent about the season: first snowfalls, twinkling lights, cozy evenings, acts of generosity, and time spent with loved ones. They build holiday atmosphere through universal themes that resonate across diverse backgrounds and belief systems. Whether you’re creating secular traditions, honoring multiple faith backgrounds in your home, or simply want books that emphasize kindness and community, these titles deliver the warmth and joy of the season.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
This classic winter story celebrates snow, play, and discovery through young Peter’s adventures. It captures the pure joy and magic of a first snowfall and wintertime exploration. The timeless narrative has served families for generations who celebrate the season in secular ways, focusing on childhood wonder rather than specific holidays.
The book’s emphasis on sensory experiences, crunching snow, making angels, the quiet of snowfall creates lasting memories around winter itself. It’s perfect for families building traditions centered on outdoor play and seasonal appreciation.
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle
This cheerful animal-friend story follows Little Blue delivering holiday trees while spreading warmth throughout the community. The emphasis on kindness, sharing, and helping neighbors makes it a wonderful holiday gift without religious content. The repetitive, rhythmic text also supports early reading skills while building holiday excitement.
The book’s message centers on community care and friendship, universal values that resonate regardless of how families celebrate December. Animals working together to help one another provide a gentle model for holiday generosity.
The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia M. Scarry
This scratch-and-sniff sensory experience brings holiday delights to life, cookies baking, fresh pine trees, hot cocoa, and more. Younger children engage multiple senses as they explore holiday rituals that are part of everyday life for many families. The interactive format turns reading into a complete sensory celebration.
The focus remains on cozy domestic experiences: baking together, decorating with natural materials, and enjoying warm drinks. These universal winter activities build excitement without requiring specific religious observance. It’s perfect for creating family bonding moments around shared sensory experiences.
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
This gentle, heartwarming tale explores friendship, giving, and togetherness as Bear’s friends help him stay awake for the celebration. The emphasis on caring and sharing creates perfect “holiday spirit” content with universal themes. The rhythmic, rhyming text makes it enjoyable for repeated readings throughout December.
The story celebrates friends coming together to include someone they love. A message about community and belonging that transcends specific holiday traditions. It models thoughtfulness and consideration in beautiful, accessible ways for young readers.
The Poky Little Puppy’s First Christmas by Justine Korman
This sweet, accessible story centers on friendship and kindness during the holiday season. Perfect for younger readers or as a stocking stuffer, it offers light, cheerful holiday fun without religious elements. The familiar Little Golden Book format provides comfort while introducing seasonal themes.
The puppy’s adventures focus on excitement about celebration, spending time with friends, and the joy of giving small kindnesses. These universal experiences work beautifully for families of all backgrounds.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Funny and playful, this book uses dinosaurs to explore holiday behaviors, decorating, giving, waiting patiently, and showing gratitude. At its core, it celebrates family togetherness and holiday fun rather than religious content. The humorous dinosaur antics keep children engaged while modeling positive holiday behaviors.
The question-and-answer format helps children think about kindness, patience, and consideration during exciting times. It addresses the challenge of managing big emotions during celebration in ways that apply to any family’s December experiences.
Curious George Curious About Winter by H.A. Rey
This winter-themed adventure follows George through snow play, sledding, and cozy indoor activities. Simple and happy, it celebrates winter itself rather than specific holidays. The accessible text works well for preschoolers and early readers who want seasonal stories without complexity.
George’s curiosity models engagement with winter weather and activities. Families can use this book to launch their own winter explorations, building snowmen, catching snowflakes, warming up with hot drinks afterward.
Pinkalicious and the Holiday Sweater by Victoria Kann
This festive, cheerful story celebrates fun, friendship, and the cozy feeling of the season. It’s all about gifting and celebration without religious content. The bright, engaging illustrations and relatable characters make it appealing for young readers who enjoy energetic stories.
The emphasis on creative expression, friendship, and the enjoyment of seasonal festivities provides positive holiday messaging. Pinkalicious’s enthusiasm for celebration is contagious, helping build excitement without requiring specific belief systems.
Weird But True! Christmas: 300 Festive Facts by National Geographic Kids
For children and families who love trivia and fun facts, this book offers a secular, informational approach to Christmas and the holiday season. It’s educational and entertaining, working well as a holiday-period read beyond traditional storybooks. The fact-based approach satisfies curious minds while celebrating cultural traditions.
This book helps children understand holiday customs from an anthropological perspective. How different cultures celebrate, interesting historical facts, and surprising connections. It builds knowledge and appreciation for diverse traditions while remaining accessible and fun.
Build Inclusive Holiday Reading Traditions
These books focus on winter, snow, kindness, giving, family, and community rather than religious themes. They’re cozy, heartwarming, or sensory-rich, making them ideal for December reading traditions or holiday gift giving. The range of ages, from toddlers enjoying board books to early elementary kids devouring fact books, means every family member can find seasonal reading that resonates.
Building a holiday season reading ritual that feels inclusive and welcoming works beautifully regardless of background. These books help families create meaningful December traditions centered on values such as kindness, wonder, community care, and the appreciation of winter’s beauty. They prove that holiday magic doesn’t require specific religious content. It lives in shared stories, cozy moments, and time spent together.
Celebrate Your Way This Season
However your family celebrates December, books create special traditions and lasting memories. These titles honor the season’s warmth and wonder while remaining accessible to families of all backgrounds. They build excitement, teach kindness, and create cozy reading moments that children remember for years.
The Reading.com app helps children develop the reading skills that make these holiday books even more enjoyable. When kids can decode independently, they experience the pride of reading seasonal favorites on their own. Our systematic phonics instruction builds the foundation for confident reading of holiday books and beyond. Start your 7-day free trial and give your child the gift of reading skills that last far beyond the holiday season.