Holiday suggestions from the Hawaii State Library:

» "It’s a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook," by Stephanie Spinner: (Ages 5-8) As young Owen celebrates the first year he is allowed to light the Hanukkah candles himself, his grandmother tells him a bedtime story each night. He recognizes that many of the stories are about family members — but what about the alien who saw a menorah in a window?

» "Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story," by Angela Shelf Medearis: (Ages 6-10) In a village in Ghana, a father requires that his seven quarreling sons learn to create gold from thread without argument "by the time the moon rises" or they will forfeit their inheritance. This block print-illustrated original story introduces the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

» "Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting," by Jim Murphy: (Ages 10 and older) Christmas 1914 was the date of one of the most extraordinary events of World War I: soldiers on both sides of the Western Front spontaneously laid down their weapons and came together to celebrate their shared holy day.

» "Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares," by Rachel Cohen: (For grades 9-12) This story is told in alternating voices of Dash and Lily, two 16-year-olds. It’s Christmastime in New York, and the two go on a wintry scavenger hunt.

Look for more holiday books next week.