When school is out during kid’s winter break for weeks at a time, many kids tend to brain dump all that they have been learning during the school year. Sitting down to read for just 10 minutes a day can help kids retain their reading comprehension and problem-solving skills. Though the school is out for winter break, learning should go on. Here’s our list of winter reads for this year’s holiday break.
1. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
Recommended ages: 9+
‘A Christmas Carol’ recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. This classic story was picked not just for the time of year but because Dickens paints a vivid setting. He connects you with the characters emotionally throughout the story making it a life-long winter classic everyone should get their hands on early in life.
2. Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket
Recommended ages: 9+
There was just something eerie and adventurous about reading these books as a kid during the holidays. The series follows the tragic tale of three orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire — who are investigating their parents’ mysterious death. The siblings are saddled with an evil guardian named Count Olaf and must figure out a way to escape him at every turn. These books are not only great for kids but really for the whole family!
3. The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
Recommended ages: 4+
This book made our list because it is full of magic and whimsy. On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. He learns about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of the holidays. Even for younger ones, it makes a great bedtime story around Christmas time. Catch this read if you’re looking to inspire magic and creativity in your home.
4. Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein
Recommended ages: 4+
Where the Sidewalk Ends is a 1974 children’s poetry collection written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. This book contains themes relevant to kids of all ages. This great holiday gift is a lighthearted fun read. The poems inside this book are so delightfully wacky that your kids may not want to put it down!
5. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
Recommended ages: 6+
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis in 1950. It is the first published and best known of seven novels in The Chronicles of Narnia. This one is perfect for kids with a healthy imagination who like an adventure!
That makes our list for the season’s best books for kid’s winter break! Let us know what other books you and your kids will be reading to keep your minds sharp!
