Does your family celebrate Kwanzaa? I am always interested in teaching my daughter about different holidays and traditions, and children’s books are my go to resource! I decided to gather this list of children’s books about Kwanzaa to help families learn more about the holiday!

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Fictional Kwanzaa Books for Kids

My First Kwanzaa was written by Karen Katz. Join a family while they prepare for their Kwanzaa celebrations. This book is a great introduction to the Kwanzaa holiday for little ones. The text is full of vocabulary words and pronunciations, and it explains some of the symbols and traditions of the holiday in simple text.

Together for Kwanzaa was written by Juwanda G. Ford and illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger. This story follows a young girl named Kayla who is worried that her big brother Khari won’t make it home for the holiday. Will they still be able to celebrate together? The sweet story and vibrantly colored illustrations introduce the reader to the traditions of Kwanzaa and celebrate the importance of family.

Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa was written by Donna L. Washington and illustrated by Shane W. Evans. Li’l Rabbit is the littlest rabbit in his family, and he has a hard time feeling like he is a part of the Kwanzaa celebrations. When he decides to help Granna Rabbit feel better,  he needs a little help from his loved ones. This story shares a sweet message about working together and helping others, and the illustrations are adorable.

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story was written by Angela Shelf Medearis and illustrated by Daniel Minter. This book tells the tale of seven brothers and the difficult task left to them in their father’s will. They must make gold out of seven spools of thread. The story incorporates all seven of the values of Kwanzaa, and the accompanying illustrations are bold and dramatic.

Kevin’s Kwanzaa was written by Lisa Bullard and illustrated by Constanza Basaluzzo. This story follows a young boy named Kevin as he celebrates Kwanzaa with his family. The book is broken down into sections including preparations for Kwanzaa and the lighting of the candles. The easy to read text is accompanied by brightly colored illustrations. There are also more in depth explanations for adults and older readers. The book also includes a glossary of vocabulary terms and instructions for creating a Kwanzaa drum.

Non-Fiction Kwanzaa Books for Kids

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Kwanzaa was written by Carolyn B. Otto. This book from National Geographic Kids teaches the reader about the traditions and history of Kwanzaa through large, clear photographs and easy to read text. The use of large headings and colorful fonts helps to make the nonfiction text easier to read. The back of the book includes a glossary and additional resources for further learning.

The Story of Kwanzaa was written by Donna L. Washington and illustrated by Stephen Taylor. This informative book introduces readers to the history of the holiday, as well as the traditions and symbols. The informative text is better suited for older readers, since it is full of vocabulary and historical information. The book also includes a glossary of terms.

Seven Candles for Kwanzaa was written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney. This book introduces the reader to Kwanzaa through a friendly and conversational text and bold illustrations of families participating in festive activities. The illustrations are also bordered by brightly colored African patterns, and the text includes pronunciations and definitions of various vocabulary words.

Do you have any favorite Kwanzaa books? Share them in the comments below!

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