Religious Holidays

The Quarrel of Sword and Bone was a death sentence for anyone who stepped into the arena with the deranged Queen, whose soul had crisped to frost in an age long since past. Sixteen-year-old Helen Bell understood tragedy better than most kids growing up—she knew what it was like to wear clothes from donation bins and be mocked by the beautiful girls in school. She thought these brutal experiences made her ready for anything.

Although she grew up following some holiday rituals, Abigail Pogrebin realized how little she knew about their foundational purpose and contemporary relevance; she wanted to understand what had kept these holidays alive and vibrant, some for thousands of years. Her curiosity led her to embark on an entire year of research, observation, and writing about the milestones on the religious calendar. Whether in search of a roadmap for Jewish life or a challenging probe into the architecture of Jewish tradition, listeners will be captivated, educated, and inspired by My Jewish Year.

The Atheist's Guide to Christmas is a fantastic listen that was edited by Ariane Sherine, who started the Atheist Bus Campaign in response to an evangelical Christian bus ad that gave the URL of a website "telling non-Christians they would spend 'all eternity in torment in hell'." With the backing of Richard Dawkins, Sherine managed to compile a wonderful concoction of the world's most entertaining writers, scientists, comedians, and philosophers to read, perform, and narrate pieces that they had all written for the print book.

Join the festivities and discover the joy of giving, coming together and spreading happiness in five new family stories! These uplifting stories are perfect for young children celebrating with their friends and family, or wanting to learn about different Jewish traditions. These stories are aimed at children aged three to six for family listening, learning and the development of young minds.

Eight-year-old Elsie Dinsmore is enjoying a blissful Christmas holiday season with her family and friends when a crisis arises that threatens life as she knows it. She believes that obeying a request her father has made would violate her conscience, and she must refuse him. He, in turn, believes Elsie is being willful and disobedient, and he fails to see her refusal as a matter of her deep, abiding faith in God.

The people of the world is divided, not only by locations, but also by religions. Different religions have different practices. In addition, different religions have various causes for celebration. In this book, we're going to tackle some of the most well-known religious holidays celebrated around the world. With this knowledge, your child will learn to accept and respect the other religions other people follow. Happy listening!

Are you looking for non-religious kids' Christmas stories? If so, you will enjoy our collection: Kids' Christmas Book with Santa Claus and Non-Religious Stories: Xmas Holiday Story Books for Children. Note that these are public domain works that were originally written by the indicated authors. All of the stories have been modernized and re-written for the 21st century.

Do you ever feel like you are too small or too ordinary? That's how Itsy and Bitsy feel. When these two charming little mice hear that a king is coming to Bethlehem, they run to find him. But they can't find the king, and other animals discourage them. "Don't even try," they say. "The king doesn't care about little ones like us." Itsy and Bitsy are just about to give up when something amazing happens.

Families will treasure this fresh perspective on the nativity for years to come. Song of the Stars, written by best-selling author Sally Lloyd-Jones, enhances Advent traditions and adds depth to Christmas Eve readings of the Christmas Story.

In this award-winning novel set in the coal mining town of Brilliant, Ohio, during the Great Depression, 10-year-old Annie O’Neill is finally allowed to stay up on Christmas Eve, bursting with excitement and wonder at finally catching a glimpse of Father Christmas himself! When Annie’s father returns home from a long shift at the coal mine on Christmas Eve, Annie makes a life-changing discovery about who Santa Claus really is. As her heart wrestles with reality and make-believe, Annie’s profound discovery about the real Father Christmas will touch the hearts of people everywhere.

Ramadan is almost here! It's Zain's favorite time of the year. Well, it usually is. After a recent move and with no mosque or Islamic school in his new neighborhood, will Zain find a new Muslim friend to celebrate with him? Children will learn what makes the ninth Islamic month special from pre-Ramadan decorating, the importance of fasting and volunteering in the community, and the festivities and prayers that continue through the month, ending with Eid al-Fitr.

It's Christmas Eve and Andrew is upset. His father won't let him open his gifts early. So Andrew and his little sister, Lindsay, run away to the woods. As they venture deeper into the forest, Andrew and Lindsay hear a thundering, gravelly voice, "Who's s-s-s-sitting on my b-b-b-belly?" It was a troll with orange spiky hair!

What are the treasures in Benjamin's Box? Come along with Benjamin and see. Like all boys and girls, Benjamin is very, very curious. When Jesus comes to Jerusalem, Benjamin decides to follow him and find out who he really is. At first, Benjamin thinks Jesus is a teacher, then a king. At last, he learns the good news - news that every child (and grown-up!) will want to share.

On the first night of Hanukkah, a weary traveler named Hershel of Ostropol eagerly approaches a village where plenty of latkes and merriment should warm him. But when he arrives, not a single candle is lit. A band of frightful goblins has taken over the synagogue, and the villagers cannot celebrate at all! Hershel vows to help them. But can one man alone stand up to the goblins, save Hanukkah, and live to tell the tale?

Nessie the Loch Ness monster isn't as scary as you might think! She's friendly and curious and likes to play with her friends. She's never celebrated Christmas though...because she doesn't know what that is! With the help of her friend the otter, she finds out why humans have trees full of candles and give each other presents. That gives her an idea... If humans can do it, monsters can too, right? Are you ready to find out how Nessie celebrates Christmas at the bottom of Loch Ness?

Life in the village often revolves around food and families. The Village Feasts is the follow-up collection to Winter Blessings by Izzy Abrahmson. Rich with misadventures and ingenious solutions, the stories dance with a traditional feel around contemporary issues. Mrs. Chaipul refuses to cook. The Gold family can’t afford matzah (unleavened bread). Reb Stein, the baker, wants to set a world record. And why would anyone eat matzah made from cabbage? The Village Feasts is a book that you and your family will listen to again and again.

Riya loves Diwali for the tasty treats but not the darkness and loud fireworks. Can Riya be brave and find a way to celebrate Diwali with her family without being scared? Presented as a 'Once Upon a Time' bedtime story, children will learn the origin of Diwali and how it came to be a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. Diwali is a five-day long celebration beginning from purchasing silver and gold items, to decorating the home with lights and candles, to preparing baked goods and visiting friends and family, to ending the holiday with fireworks and a celebration of siblings.

You'll never again think of Santa Claus in quite the same way. Here is a touching rendition of the historical origins of our modern-day Santa by an in-demand speaker reacquaints us with the true meaning of Christmas.

Two thousand years ago, a ship sailed east, alone on an endless sea. The people onboard were fleeing the same war that the Maccabees fought in the ancient land of Israel. They took with them their faith and their traditions, knowing they would sail for more than a year. When a great storm crushed their boat on the shores of India, only a few survived. Some say the prophet Elijah plucked them from the sea. But they were welcomed by the people of the new land. They survived and adapted, with new spices for their food and new clothing and culture to borrow, but never strayed from their faith.

Rescued from an animal shelter on the first night of Hanukkah, Latke the puppy joins the family just in time for the celebrations. Although he has trouble learning the house rules, he is one lucky dog! Told from the pup's point of view, this sweet Hanukkah song is perfect for little ones.