As the holiday season approaches, libraries and schools have a wonderful opportunity to promote diversity, inclusion, and cultural understanding through a holiday-themed reading challenge. November and December are filled with familiar holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah. Hosting an inclusive reading challenge invites everyone to participate and inspires children, teens, and families to explore traditions and learn about the rich cultural diversity around them.
Here’s how to design a holiday-themed reading challenge that excites readers, fosters community connections, and creates opportunities for cultural learning.
Curate Diverse Holiday-Themed Books for All Ages
Creating an inclusive reading list is the heart of this challenge. Select books that reflect holidays celebrated worldwide, such as:
- Diwali: The Hindu festival of lights.
- Kwanzaa: An African American celebration of family, culture, and heritage.
- Hanukkah: A Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
- Christmas: Showcase the many ways Christmas is celebrated around the world.
- Winter Solstice: Different cultures observe the shortest day of the year.
- Las Posadas: A Latin American tradition reenacting the journey of Mary and Joseph.
For younger children, consider picture books like Diwali by Hannah Eliot or Festival of Lights: The Story of Hanukkah by Maida Silverman. Older readers can explore chapter books and nonfiction like The Story of Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington or The Christmas Tugboat by George Matteson. For adults and families, a selection of novels and memoirs focused on various cultural celebrations can round out your collection.
Incorporate Activities to Deepen Cultural Understanding
To create an interactive experience, add activities to your reading challenge that make learning fun and meaningful. Activities work in library settings, classrooms, or even at home:
- Cultural Comparison Journal: Encourage readers to keep a journal where they note interesting facts or thoughts after reading about each holiday. How do these celebrations compare to their own? What similarities or differences do they find?
- Holiday Traditions Showcase: Host a “show-and-tell” day at your library or school, where children and families share their holiday traditions. Whether it’s a special dish, song, or story, these personal accounts add richness and relatability to the books they’re reading.
- Craft and Story Time: Organize holiday-themed craft sessions to make Diwali rangoli, Kwanzaa unity cups, Winter Solstice lanterns, or other festive crafts inspired by the books in your challenges.
Host Reflection and Discussion Events
Creating space for reflection and discussion helps deepen understanding. Consider hosting virtual or in-person book discussions where readers share their thoughts on the books and cultures they’re learning about. Possible discussion questions include:
- Which holiday did you learn the most about?
- What traditions or values were surprising or interesting to you?
- How do you think learning about different holidays helps us better understand each other?
Librarians can facilitate these discussions to help readers connect what they’ve read to their lives and experiences, fostering empathy and a sense of shared humanity.
Wrap Up with a Multicultural Celebration
After the reading challenge, host a multicultural event where readers showcase what they’ve learned. Options for a community or school celebration might include:
- Cultural Potluck: Invite families to share a dish representing a holiday or tradition from their culture. Families can share photos or recipes of their traditional holiday meals for a virtual event.
- Holiday Showcase: Allow readers to present a holiday story, poem, or artwork inspired by a holiday they learned about during the challenge.
- Book Displays: Consider creating a holiday-themed display of readers’ favorite books from the challenge. Readers can add their recommendations or reflections to a display board, encouraging others to check out those books.
Encourage Year-Round Cultural Exploration
While the reading challenge may be about the holiday season, it doesn’t have to end there! Encourage students, families, and community members to continue exploring new cultures throughout the year. Consider hosting additional reading challenges for Black History Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, or Hispanic Heritage Month, each with a curated book list and activities to deepen cultural understanding.
Foster Cultural Awareness and Community Connection Through Reading
By running a culturally inclusive holiday reading challenge, you’ll inspire readers of all ages to embrace their own traditions and learn about others, fostering a more inclusive community. Celebrating the diversity of holiday traditions through reading encourages curiosity, empathy, and respect, and it helps students, families, and communities connect with each other in meaningful ways.
Ready to bring your community together with a holiday reading challenge that celebrates all cultures? Contact our team to learn how Beanstack can help you create an inspiring, inclusive experience for readers of all ages.