With this holiday season approaching, people in Iceland prepare for their unique tradition: Jolabokaflod.

For those who are not familiar with Jolabokaflod, which translates to “Christmas Book Flood”, it’s the Icelandic tradition of gifting books to one another on Christmas Eve. After everyone has opened their new gifts, they sit together with a hot cup of cocoa in hand and read. In the 1940’s, paper was one of the few materials that were not being rationed; therefore, books were an easy and accessible gift to give to one another. Over the years, this tradition continued and has also helped increase literacy in Iceland!

 

With the holiday season approaching, here are some fun book suggestions for you and your kids if you would like to take inspiration from this lovely tradition.

 

Beginner

• Sam and the Firefly by P.D Eastman
• Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
• Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
• Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Suess
• At the Beach by Alexa Andrews
• Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney

Intermediate

• AL Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Cholkendo
• The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
• The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
• The Knight at Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne
• The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
• Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches by Michel Guyon

Advanced

• Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
• The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis
• Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll
• The Mystery of the Midnight Peacock by Katherine Woodfine

 

Tell us what books you are planning on sharing this holiday season with your kids! Tag us on Facebook or Instagram @Kidsco.wa.

Check out our staff’s favorite children’s books HERE.