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See Also: T. Kingfisher – Book Series In Order
Hello my favorite teacher friends! winter is almost here; well, almost… except in florida #ifyouknowyouknow you know I love sharing my favorite books for the classroom, so of course I have some December must-reads for you!
You are reading: Christmas books for 2nd graders
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It’s the perfect opportunity to weave together some wonderful books for second graders! So, here’s my checklist of 15 of my favorite books, perfect for December in your classroom!
15 essential books for December
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Please note that these are just a few of my class’s favorite books, but they are a great place to start! I suggest working to find windows and mirrors for the students in your classroom!
1. olive, the other reindeer
Summary: Olive, the cutest dog in the world, realizes she’s been wrong all along and is actually a…reindeer! So, she heads to the North Pole to fulfill her reindeer destiny. It’s quite an adventure for little puppy Olive, but would you believe she ends up saving Christmas?!
Why it’s a must: A quirky story, engaging illustrations, abundant literary elements, and the adorable olive tree make this the perfect book for December. plus, here’s a week of ready-made reading and writing lesson plans for you! saving you time!
Perfect for: K-4th grade
2. the gingerbread girl
Summary: Gingerbread Girl’s brother may have met the death of his cookie, but Gingerbread Girl has a clever plan to beat the odds! ginger and change your destiny!
Why it’s a must: Fun rhymes, colorful pictures, and girl power make this book a must-have for your classroom. your students will love how sassy this little cookie is! It’s also a great way for all of your students to learn about story structure and verbs like we did here. (see the entire gingerbread themed unit here!)
perfect for: k-3rd
See more December book suggestions here on Amazon!
3. the wishing tree
Summary: Charles goes on a wintry quest, complete with sledding and songs, to find a wishing tree! Along the way, he helps many animal friends, and they in turn lead him to the tree!
Why It’s A Must Have: This is such a powerful little wintertime tale about the power of giving and friendship, it will open up a great opportunity to help your class learn about what, or what! who! – is the most important thing this season.
perfect for: 1st & 2nd grade
4. horrible harry and the holidays
6. how the grinch stole christmas
See Also: USA TODAY’s top 100 best-selling books of 2018
Summary: The cunning old Grinch tries to steal Christmas from the Whos, but a little boy bravely and lovingly saves not only Christmas but also the Grinch himself.
Why it’s a must: Is it even the holiday season without this grinchy tale? The lesson learned in this book is very important to teach the moral of the story!
perfect for: k to 4th
7. it was the night before christmas
Summary: This is the beloved and timeless poem narrated in book form. Just like the grinch above, this is another one we all team up with. thinking about that night before the big day and all its magic!
Why it’s a must: This is a story that really helps kids imagine themselves in the same moments and emotions as in the poem… all the excitement, all the anticipation, all the excitement! the wonder! another great introduction to poetry and also to using strong words when writing.
perfect for: 1st & 2nd grade
8. the polar express
Summary: A boy who doesn’t believe in Santa climbs aboard the Polar Express and embarks on a sweeping and whimsical adventure to the North Pole. Will he be made a believer in the end?
Why it’s a must: We all love the movie, but this is the book from which it was created! Awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1986, The Polar Express has since sold more than 7 million copies. Needless to say, it’s a favorite this time of year and his children will be enveloped in all the magic and wonder of this beautifully illustrated book!
Combine it with this hot chocolate writing activity and create a total #teacherwin!
Perfect for: 1st-3rd grade
9. the little red sleigh
Summary: You’ve heard of the little engine that could…well, meet the little red sleigh that could! This sleigh has a big dream of one day becoming Santa’s Big Red Sleigh! but all his life he has been told that the odds are against him and it will never happen. Now, with the help of her friends, the little red sleigh is determined to make her dream come true!
Why it’s a must: This is such a moving read about believing in ourselves, overcoming adversity, and the magic of Christmas! is a great way to teach your students that they can do anything if they put their minds and hearts to it.
Perfect for: 1st-3rd grade
10. walk through this world at christmas
Summary: Travel to a new continent or country on each page and learn about its unique Christmas traditions!
why it is essential: the illustrations!!! they are so vivid and colorful. this one is really great to read aloud with the whole class because of the bright colors and hidden information flaps (my son’s favorite part!). Plus, you’ll love all the diversity this book brings to your classroom! the perfect way to provide mirrors and windows for students in your classroom this holiday season.
perfect for: k to 3rd
11. a world of cookies for santa
Summary: Take a christmas eve food tour of the world to see all the food left for santa (aka father christmas, aka père noël, etc.) in different countries of everyone on that special night.
See Also: Bible Timeline
Why It’s A Must Have: Winner of the American Book Festival Best Book Award and the Moonbeam Book Award, this colorful and fun book is a multicultural celebration that will encourage lessons on diversity, inclusion and appreciation. and understanding of other cultures and traditions.
Perfect for: K-3rd grade
12. choose a pine
Summary: This read aloud follows a family on their search for the perfect Christmas tree, bringing it home to decorate as readers learn about different family traditions.
Why it’s a must: It was a gem of a find! pencil, chalk, paint, and digitally colored paints are reason enough for this book to make the list, not to mention all the Christmas warmth and cheer that the story brings. It will be a great way for your students to learn about what different families do to celebrate the season!
Perfect for: Kindergarten through 2nd grade
13. zetta the poinsettia
Summary: Follow Zetta in this inspiring story as she discovers there’s more to her than just being a popular Christmas plant and decoration.
Why it’s a must-have: Winner of a 2019 Next Generation Independent Book Award for Inspirational Fiction, this truly is a story filled with hope…and beautiful illustrations! it will be a great rubric to help your students get in touch with their dreams and the truth that they can be whatever they choose! It’s a self esteem booster for sure! oh, and #protip, right now it’s free on kindle unlimited.
Perfect for: Preschool through 2nd grade
14. the christmas crayons
Summary: Follow duncan and the other crayons as they write their holiday wish lists and bring out their Christmas decorations.
Why it’s a must: A fun extension to crayon books! the crayons really come to life in such a fun and colorful way, with so many clever and hilarious pages and antics too. Plus, pop-ups and games will help your students practice letters in such a unique way that they won’t even realize they’re learning.
Perfect for: Preschool through 2nd grade
15. tick and legs: christmas is cancelled
summary: oh no! Christmas is cancelled… all festivities are also cancelled!! ticks and legs, a hilarious duo, learns to celebrate despite everything and is quite a hopeful story. they learn that sometimes, despite how much we try or wish, we can be disappointed by the results or a situation…. about things that just don’t look the same.
why it’s a must: 2020. need I say more? If this book doesn’t sound like our year, I don’t know if it does! This book is an amazing way to support your students through their feelings as they navigate what could be a very different holiday season for them and their families!
Perfect for: K-3rd grade
From sleighs to lights, from food to Santa, from trees to worldwide holidays…and everything in between, that’s my go-to list of 15 of my must-read books perfect for December in your living room! lessons!
Have you used any of them with your children? Or, do you have another favorite read aloud? let me know in the comments!
more ideas for your vacation classroom
- 10 Easy Holiday Bulletin Boards
- Cinnamon Decorations in the Classroom
- Santa Claus Letter Writing Activity
- books to read in January
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See Also: T. Kingfisher – Book Series In Order