Holidays - Kwanzaa
Holidays can be a time of joy, reflection, and family. But, they can also create a change in routine, and new people/places. Below are some resources to help prepare your child for Kwanzaa to decrease meltdowns, and increase the fun! Remember, the more you talk, read books, watch videos, and play games about new/different experiences, the more your child will know what to expect.
The books and toys below present information about Kwanzaa in way that is accessible to young children, while also being engaging. If you have any additional recommendations, please feel free to send me suggestions through the CONTACT US page.
Happy Kwanzaa!
Books about the History and Traditions of Kwanzaa
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The Story Of Kwanzaa: This book explains the history that behind the creation of Kwanzaa, and then explains the significance of each of the seven days of Kwanzaa. The book describes some of the traditions and vocabulary related to the celebration. At the end of the book, is a craft recommendation to make a “Cow Tail Switch”, as as well as a recipe for Benne Cakes.
While this book provides a wonderful explanation of Kwanzaa, it has a lot of text on each page. For those who struggle to sit for longer periods, a video (see below), or a storybook might be a better option.
Ages 6+
Holidays Around The World - Celebrate Kwanzaa with Candles, Community, and the Fruits of the Harvest: This book offers many pictures of celebrations of Kwanzaa all across the United States of America. The book has pictures of craft making, dancing, gift exchanging, lighting candles, and more.
While this book does have a lot of text on each page, younger listeners may still enjoy the many vibrant pictures of people celebrating Kwanzaa. Caregivers can just describe the pictures instead of reading all of the text to provide an introduction to Kwanzaa.
Ages 5+
Fun Books That Have Kwanzaa Themes
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My First Kwanzaa: This Karen Katz book is a wonderful introduction to Kwanzaa for young children. The story offers a simplified explanation of the traditions and vocabulary related to Kwanzaa. The illustrations are engaging and can also be used to point out rituals and vocabulary if your child is unable to sit for the story.
Ages 3-5 years
Happy Kwanzaa - Sesame Street: Elmo celebrates Kwanzaa with his friends and learns about the seven principals and traditions of the holiday. Vocabulary related to Kwanzaa is introduced.
Ages 3-5 years.
The Night Before Kwanzaa: This rhyming story of a family celebrating Kwanzaa describes each of the seven pillars of Kwanzaa with vocabulary and traditions introduced. It is fun, interesting, and informative.
Ages 4+
Together For Kwanzaa: This book tells the story of a little girl waiting and waiting for her big sister to come home to celebrate Kwanzaa with the family. Along the way, the family celebrates and models each of the seven pillars of Kwanzaa, and introduces vocabulary. There is a lot of text per page in this story, and so is better suited for an older listener, or a child who is able to sit and attend for longer stories.
Ages 5+ years
Imaginative Play and Toys For Kwanzaa
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Videos About Kwanzaa For Kids
Additional Resources For Kwanzaa
National Museum Of African American History And Culture: This is an incredible resource for information about Kwanzaa. It explains the history of Kwanzaa, the seven principals of Kwanzaa, as well as links to videos for children to learn more and ways to celebrate the holiday. The resource also provides recipes for helping families celebrate throughout the week.
The Indianapolis Public Library: This library provides a brief history of Kwanzaa, and offers recommended book lists. Additionally, the library links to videos of author read-alouds for some of their recommended books.