How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World

A festive guide to Christmas celebrations around the world that is perfect for children ages 4 and up!
Everyone loves Christmas! But have you ever wondered what Christmas might be like around the world? This book teaches kids about different cultures, leading them to live culturally respectful lives.
In How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World, you'll discover:

• Who brings Christmas presents in Italy?
• Where can we sunbathe on the beach on Christmas Day?
• What is the typical Christmas dish in Japan?
• Would you like to spend Christmas day in Ethiopia?
• Which goodies are always present on festive tables in Greece?
• So much more!

List of contents

Spain
Germany
Mexico
The USA
Japan
Australia and New Zealand
Greece
Ethiopia
Italy
Israel
Russia
Venezuela
Finland
France

About the author

Pavla Hanackova (1990–2021) was a Czech author who studied English and Chinese at Palacky University, Olomouc, and later worked as a children's book editor for Albatros. In addition to her love of travel, she had a deep passion for food – and all things food-related. She hailed from a picturesque Moravian village surrounded by vineyards.

Maria Neradova is an illustrator, author, and graphic designer based in Bratislava, Slovakia. She grew up in a small town in a very non-artistic family and after years of drawing and doodling as a child, she decided to pursue a creative career. She studied graphic design in Zlin, Czech Republic as well as illustration and printmaking in Bratislava, Slovakia. During her studies, she spent some time in the U.S. and France. After finishing school in 2012, Maria started working as a freelance illustrator. She likes to vary in between her two main illustration styles, as it keeps her focused and loving her job.

Summary

A festive guide to Christmas celebrations around the world that is
perfect for children ages 4 and up!

Everyone loves Christmas! But have you ever wondered what Christmas might be like around the world? This book teaches kids about different cultures, leading them to live culturally respectful lives.

In How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World, you’ll discover:

• Who brings Christmas presents in Italy?
• Where can we sunbathe on the beach on Christmas Day?
• What is the typical Christmas dish in Japan?
• Would you like to spend Christmas day in Ethiopia?
• Which goodies are always present on festive tables in Greece?
• So much more!

Foreword

Publicity 

• Pitch reviews in publishing and library trades (e.g., Publishers Weekly, SLJ, Booklist, Kirkus, Shelf Awareness, Horn Book)  
• Mail to long and short lead media contacts  
• Pitch reviews and interviews to appropriate blogs and websites 
• Pitch launch press release to PW on Albatros Media’s arrival in the U.S.  

 Marketing and promotion 

• Send checklist for online journals, influencers, bloggers, review centers
  Digital
• Social media content, where appropriate 
• Include in themed Pinterest boards 
  School and library marketing 
• Conferences 
• TLA, NSTA, ALA (and other shows, as appropriate) 
• Presentations to library selector groups in Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington D.C.

Additional text

HOW KIDS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD examines the ways in which Christmas is celebrated in 14 different countries across the globe. Each page spread is designated for a country and includes a detailed and colorful illustration of the celebration as described with a few paragraphs to give the highlights. For many countries, it also speaks to differences with Santa, such as the use of kangaroos instead of reindeer in Australia.

What I loved: This is a fun look into all the different ways that Christmas is celebrated in different countries. In some countries, shifts seen over time are also described, such as the traditional mechanism of decorating boats in Greece that has been transitioned to trees to match other countries. It was also interesting to hear about the different depictions of Santa (or whoever leaves presents) and the foods that are associated with the holiday in different countries. The illustrations are really fantastic with lots of color, festivity, and details that give children a lot to visually explore.

What left me wanting more: Some of the European/US countries seemed to have a lot more detail than other countries, such as those in South America, and I would have liked to know more about those and others with which children may be less familiar. More organization of the text would have been nice as well, as the paragraphs often seemed to differ (for instance, a box for who leaves presents or details about presents, and similar facts across countries would have been nice to see clearer the differences).

Final verdict: Overall, HOW KIDS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD is a cute and fun look at the ways the holiday is celebrated in 14 different countries. This is a festive and colorful read that will charm Christmas lovers.
- YA Books Central

Report

"Intended for young readers ages 6-9, How Kids Celebrate Christmas Around the World lives up to its title with an array of fascinating facts about how young people experience Christmas in many different nations: Spain, Germany, Mexico, the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Greece, Ethiopia, Italy, Israel, Russia, Venezuela, Finland, and France. Charming, playful color illustrations add a vibrant touch to the educational and eye-opening glimpse into cultures around the world. Highly recommended!" Midwest Book Review
"This book, which is geared towards children, was honestly enlightening to me as a twenty-four-year-old [...] I recommend this book to anyone with children in their lives so that others are able to really open their eyes to diversity and different cultures." Heather Padgett, reviewer
"Perfect book to read all year round as each of these holidays come up. The information is concise and would be a great resource for creating activities for each holiday for hands-on learning. Perfect for children ages 3 and older." Youth Services Book Review
"In this book, you will visit fourteen different places, each with its own cultures, customs, foods, and beliefs. It is important to remember to be kind and respect one another's different ways of celebrating. The illustrations in this book are very bright and festive! I think this is a fun book to be read aloud to the whole family! I especially like reading about how people in Mexico celebrate Christmas with a pinata and traditional Mexican dishes, like tacos, because I love tacos and rice!" KidsBookBuzz
"[...] A cute and fun look at the ways the holiday is celebrated in 14 different countries. This is a festive and colorful read that will charm Christmas lovers." YA Books Central

Product details

• Authors: Pavla Hanackova, Karolina Medkova
• Assisted by: Maria Neradova (Illustration)
• Publisher: Albatros Media
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: ages 6 to 9
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 07.09.2021
• EAN: 9788000061313
• ISBN: 978-80-0-006131-3
• No. of pages: 32
• Dimensions: 217 mm x 8 mm x 289 mm
• Weight: 360 g
• Illustrations: Color illustrations throughout
• Series: Kids Around the World
• Subjects: Children's and young people's books > Play, learning > Miscellaneous; Education and learning > Schoolbooks, general education schools; JUVENILE NONFICTION / Lifestyles / Farm & Ranch Life, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Lifestyles / Country Life, JUVENILE NONFICTION / Lifestyles / City & Town Life