You are now in the main content area

Holiday Stories: Alumni share their favourite books for families

December 15, 2022
Holiday Favourites: Alumni share their favourite books for families

During the holiday season, a cherished pastime for many is sharing stories of celebration, family and friendship, the beauty of winter and magic that is invisible to the eye.

This year, we asked alumni to share their favourite books to read with family and what makes the holiday season so special for them. This wonderful list of stories was the result and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you. 

The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Sebastia Serra

Donna Cheung
Aerospace Engineering ’06

Recommendation: The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Sebastia Serra

What do you enjoy most about this book? The Runaway Wok is one of the many books we borrow from the public library. This book is especially interesting as it’s placed during Lunar New Year, a holiday that I celebrated as a kid. It is a story about a magical wok who helps a poor family celebrate the new year with a big feast. It’s a reminder of the importance of generosity and family and community gatherings during this time of the year.

What makes the winter holiday season special for you? I’m very fortunate to share the holidays with my family. My children are Chinese-Russian Canadians, so in addition to celebrating Lunar New Year, we celebrate Christmas and New Year — which is a huge celebration with many Russians.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Erin MacDonald
Entrepreneurship and Small Business ’21

Recommendation: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

What do you enjoy most about this book? This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read in years. I love the incredible artwork and the message it sends about the power of friendship and resilience. An animated short film (external link, opens in new window)  based on the book is being released over the holidays and I’m excited to see it.

What makes the winter holiday season special for you? I love getting outside in the fresh air and enjoying nature, even on the coldest days. From skiing and snowshoeing on my parents' property to hiking in provincial parks, I enjoy taking advantage of the season and all its wonders!

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner

Emily Mills
Journalism ’05

Recommendation: Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner

What do you enjoy most about this book? This is an amazing story to enjoy with little ones during the winter holidays! It’s like a mix of Where’s Waldo? and The Night Before Christmas — a beautiful interactive book that has become an annual tradition for our family. My son likes this book because it has a lot of creativity and imagination. The pictures have fun details in them, like drinking hot cocoa and snowball fights. Also, there is a special feature in this book: you have to find hidden animals and a Santa face on some of the pages!

 Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger

Emily Mills
Journalism ’05

Recommendation: Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger

What do you enjoy most about this book? I grew up celebrating Christmas — along with the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa, with friends and family in Toronto. My son likes that there are people and families that reflect us in this book. It teaches you a lot about Kwanzaa through this story.

If you’re buying books this holiday season, consider shopping at Black-owned bookstores in the GTA such as Knowledge Bookstore and A Different Booklist. It’s a great way to support small businesses and demonstrate your understanding of Kwanzaa’s seven principles. 

What makes the winter holiday season special for you? Our multigenerational family continues to blend celebrations over the holidays, while learning about other cultures and traditions, too. There are several community gatherings for Kwanzaa right in our city — and I’m happy to see this tradition continue each year. 

The Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis

Waubgeshig Rice
Journalism ’02

Recommendation: The Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis

What do you enjoy most about this book? My family really enjoys this book because it’s a celebration of new life, and an acknowledgement of the gifts we receive from the natural world around us. For our children especially, it’s a beautiful glimpse into another Indigenous culture — the Inuit of the north — and it’s an opportunity for them to learn and relate themselves to other nations and lands as Anishinaabeg. They understand that at the core of both cultures is a spirit of respect and gratitude.

What makes the winter holiday season special for you? My favourite thing about the holiday season and the winter to come is the focus on family and the chance to settle in our homes and appreciate what we have together. We also have a new baby coming in February (our third), so this will be a truly memorable winter for all of us! It’s also traditionally known as the storytelling time in our culture, so we’ll be spending a lot of time sharing and reading stories.

Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Noam Kehimkar
Global Management ’24

Recommendation: Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

While Noam didn’t recommend this book, in her Hanukkah profile she did share that her favourite Hanukkah dish is latkes. As such, we thought she’d enjoy this award-winning (2013 National Jewish Book Award) story about a bear who eats all the latkes and introduces young readers to the traditions and customs of Hanukkah.

Have you published a book or will you be in 2023?

Fill out this form to let us know!