Saturday, March 21, 2026

Picture Book Neighborhoods: Culture


 This subheading was only added to the Community neighborhood in 2024/2025. I'm constantly debating with myself about whether items belong here or in US history - I don't want to isolate specific cultures and subcultures of the US, but nor do I want them to be subsumed in the History collection. This was a very small section until I decided to integrate our holiday picture book collection into the general picture books. I try to put only books that focus specifically on traditions or a holiday in specific cultures, not generic "here comes the easter bunny" or "it's santa ho ho ho" type of books. I also try to put specifically religious books, especially for Easter and Christmas, in the religion section. Which is kind of a specious argument since these are, inherently, religious holidays, but whatever.

I do have a collection of paperback holiday books as well - whenever possible, I purchase mainstream/traditional holidays in paperback so I can buy multiples without spending as much money on things that only circulate seasonally.


Picture Book Biographies of Cultural Figures (US and Global)


Cultural Experiences in the US


Global Cultural Experiences


Holiday Picture Books - mainstream/most requested US holidays

  • Groundhog day
    • Groundhog's runaway shadow by Biedrzycki
    • Groundhog day Gail Gibbons
    • Groundhug day by Anne Marie Pace (also Valentine's Day)
    • Groundhog gets it wrong by Jess Townes
  • Valentine's Day
    • A Crankenstein valentine by Berger
    • Foxy in Love by Emma Dodd
    • Valentine's Day by Flanagan
    • How to celebrate Valentine's Day by Hallinan
  • St. Patrick's Day (even though I have FEELINGS about this as a HOLIDAY)
    • Leprechaun under the bed by Bateman
    • How to trap a leprechaun by Fliess
    • St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons
    • Three ways to trap a leprechaun by Lazar
    • It's not easy being a Leprechaun by Sadler
  • Easter (non-religious, even though it's a religious holiday)
  • Mother's Day
  • Halloween
    • Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
    • Spoops : the little spirits of Halloween by Locascio
    • ¡Vamos! : let's celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos by Raul the Third
    • I got the spooky spirit by Schofield-Morrison
    • Happy Halloween & Katie celebrates Halloween by Lisbet Slegers
    • Pick a pumpkin by Patricia Toht
  • Thanksgiving
    • Thanksgiving in the Woods by Alsdurf
    • Peyton picks the perfect pie : a Thanksgiving celebration by Bishop
    • One is a feast for Mouse : a Thanksgiving tale by Judy Cox
    • I know an old lady who swallowed a pie by Jackson
    • Duck and Hippo give thanks by London
    • Thankful book by Todd Parr
    • I am thankful by Sheri Wall
  • Christmas
    • The magic of a small town Christmas by Megan Alexander
    • A simple Christmas on the farm by Alsdurf
    • The Tooth Fairy's Christmas by Bently
    • On Christmas Eve by Margaret Wise Brown
    • Carter's Christmas by Lisa Bullard
    • Joy to the world! : Christmas around the globe by Joy DePalma
    • Christmas pine by Julia Donaldson
    • N is for Navidad by Susan Middleton Elya
    • World of cookies for Santa by Furman
    • It's Navidad, El Cucuy! by Higuera
    • The gingerbread pirates by Kladstrup
    • Joyful book by Todd Parr
    • Twelve days of Christmas by Jane Ray
    • Pick a pine tree by Patricia Toht
    • Is this... winter? by Helen Yoon
  • Chloe Zoe series by Jane Smith


Holiday Picture Books - other holidays and general/collections

  • Feliz new year, Ava Gabriela! by Alessandri
  • Our Day of the Dead celebration by Aranda
  • Holidays & celebrations by Carron Brown
  • Harvest Days: Giving thanks around the world by Kate DePalma
  • The Purim panic by Laura Gehl
  • Celebrate with me! : recipes, crafts, and holiday fun from around the world by Gladwin
  • Two New Years by Richard Ho
  • At our table by Patrick Hulse
  • Skeletina and the in-between world by Susie Jaramillo
  • Dreams of green : a Three Kings' Day story by Jungkunz
  • Diwali in my new home by Shachi Kaushik
  • Danbi's favorite day by Anna Kim
  • Tomorrow is New Year's Day : Seollal, a Korean Celebration of the Lunar New Year by Kim
  • Come and join us! : 18 holidays celebrated all year long by Kleinrock
  • Ruby's Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee
  • Mixed-up mooncakes by Matula
  • Feasts and festivals around the world : from Lunar New Year to Christmas by McGinty
  • My Diwali light by Mirchandani
  • Chinese celebrations for children : festivals, holidays and traditions by Nunes
  • Let's celebrate Korean New Year! by Park
  • The blue table by Chris Raschka
  • Japanese celebrations for children : festivals, holidays and traditions by Reynolds
  • Festival of colors by Sehgal
  • Garland of Lights: A Diwali Story by Chitra Soundar
  • We all celebrate! by Chitra Soundar
  • The Sugar Plum Bakers : a tale of 12 holiday treats by Tanumihardja
  • Día de los muertos by Roseanne Thong
  • Esperanza Caramelo : the star of Nochebuena by Valenti
  • Dino-Hanukkah by Lisa Wheeler
  • Celebrate with us! : enjoy 20 celebrations all around the world by Wilding
  • I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel by Yacowitz
  • We celebrate the light by Jane Yolen

Other titles in this collection I have reviewed



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