Here at Peachtree, we know there’s nothing more important than family, especially during the holidays. So whether your family gatherings are happening in person this year, or you’re planning some virtual reunions, we picked some of our favorite stories for you to share with all of your loved ones. Check out these heartwarming book picks below!
Going Down Home with Daddy
by Kelly Starling Lyons
illustrated by Daniel Minter
★ “A warm, loving, necessary reminder of the power in families coming together.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
Down home is Granny’s house. Down home is where Lil Alan and his parents and sister will gather with great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Down home is where Lil Alan will hear stories of the ancestors and visit the land that has meant so much to all of them. And down home is where all of the children will find their special way to pay tribute to their family history. All the kids have to decide what they’ll share, but what will Lil Alan do?
Kelly Starling Lyons’ eloquent text explores the power of history and family traditions, and stunning illustrations by Coretta Scott King Honor- and Caldecott Honor-winner Daniel Minter reveal the motion and connections in a large, multi-generational family.
Buy Going Down Home with Daddy today through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!
The Story Blanket
by Ferida Wolff & Harriet May Savitz
illustrated by Elena Odriozola
“A sweet tale of a close-knit community.” —School Library Journal
Babba Zarrah lives in a tiny village in the snow-covered mountains. The children love to visit her. They settle down on her big, old story blanket and listen to her imaginative tales. One day Babba Zarrah notices that Nikolai needs new socks, but she has no yarn. After the children leave, she unravels part of her story blanket and knits him some nice warm socks. As villagers start receiving mysterious gifts to keep them warm, the story blanket gets smaller and smaller until the children have nothing to sit on at story time. When the villagers finally discover Babba Zarrah’s secret, they decide to give her a surprise of their own. This touching story of generosity makes for a wonderful read aloud experience.
Buy The Story Blanket today through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!
William Still and His Freedom Stories
The Father of the Underground Railroad
by Don Tate
★ “Brings deserved attention to the life of a man who dedicated himself to recording the lives of others.” ―Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
William Still’s parents escaped slavery but had to leave two of their children behind, a tragedy that haunted the family. Motivated by his own family’s experience, William began collecting the stories of thousands of other freedom seekers. As a result, he was able to reunite other families and build a remarkable source of information, including encounters with Harriet Tubman, Henry “Box” Brown, and William and Ellen Craft.
Award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate brings to life the incredible true story of William Still, a man who dedicated his life to recording the stories of enslaved people fleeing to freedom, in this first-ever picture book biography of the Father of the Underground Railroad.
Buy William Still and His Freedom Stories today through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!
Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog
by Lisa Papp
★ “This intergenerational story of love and acceptance is an important addition to library collections for young elementary-aged readers.” ―School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
Madeline Finn and Star are off to Walker Oaks, a retirement community where Star will take his tests to become a Therapy dog. They make their way through a variety of challenges and meet several new friends, but Madeline Finn can’t stop thinking about an elderly man in a wheelchair who never smiles. Is there something she and Star can do to help?
Author-illustrator Lisa Papp’s heartwarming, empathetic story explores the therapy dog training process and provides a realistic and appealing example of a young person making a difference in her community.
Buy Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog today through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!