8 Holiday Book Club and Toy Recommendations for Kids

Holiday Book Club Picks for Kids

Stories are magic…they transport us to new realms and realities. Want to give the gift of magic this holiday season? Our educational figurines paired with a favorite book makes the perfect gift combo!

Your kids can harness the power of storytelling when they incorporate our figurines and other story props with a great book. Figurines lend a tactile element to reading that most children find irresistible.

Kids of all ages will delight in using our figurines to animate their favorite stories and expand their imaginations. Joyful play is a huge motivator for engaging children in literacy activities. 

Safari  Ltd. offers a wide selection of detailed figurines that serve as amazing props for many popular children’s books. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites that are beloved in many homes and classrooms.

Here Are Our 8 Holiday Book and Toy Pairings For Kids  

Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett

• Polar Bear 
• Hafling (as a Troll)

*Bonus ideas: Set up a little house(wooden bird houses from craft stores work well), throw in some DIY two ingredient fake snow, DIY wooden peg trolls, and a boy and girl toy figure.

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

• Polar Bear (x2) 
• Polar Bear Cub, Arctic TOOB® 
• Siberian Husky (x3)

*Bonus ideas: Set up a snowy scene with DIY two ingredient fake snow and sugar cubes to make an igloo.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

• Dracorex
• Camarasaurus
• Baryonyx
• Dinos TOOB®

*Bonus  ideas: provide a Dreidel game, Gelt, and a Menorah

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

• Einiosaurus
• Guanlong
• Brachiosaurus
• Citipati
• Feathered Dinos TOOB®

*Bonus ideas: Decorate a mini Christmas Tree, wrap mini boxes as presents, or make stockings out of felt (sew or glue).

A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe

• Whitetail Doe
• Gray Squirrel
• Backyard Birds TOOB®
• Cardinal

*Bonus ideas: make a birdseed ornament to feed wild birds or decorate a mini Christmas tree with natural items (like strings of popcorn, strings of cranberries, sprigs of holly, etc…)

Dasher by Matt Tavares

• Reindeer (1 or several)
• Trakehner Mare
• Andalusian Stallion

*Bonus idea: add a santa figure (Santa ornaments work well), make reindeer food (mix dried oats and dried fruits) to leave outside for Santa’s reindeer or as a sensory bin filler for your reindeer figurines, or have STEM challenge to make a sleigh for Santa out of recycled items (bottles, cardboard, etc…)

Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares

• New York City TOOB®
• Cardinal (x2)
• Backyard Birds TOOB®

*Bonus idea: decorate a small Christmas tree for Red and Lulu or make a NY city scene with blocks or by painting various cardboard food boxes from your recycle bin to look like buildings.

Dream Snow by Eric Carle

• Down on the Farm TOOB®

*Bonus idea: create a farm play invitation or sensory bin

This is just a glimpse into the endless book and figurine pairing opportunities. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter  for future suggestions.

Hot Tip: Many of our figurines can be paired with a variety of books. This is especially true for our Wildlife Collections and Farm and Domesticated Animal Collections.

Anji Audley is an early childhood educator with experience in grades Pre-K through First. She is also a mom of two active and creative boys  ages 9 and 13. Anji is a strong advocate for play-based learning. She infuses learning with STEM activities, play, and art to inspire discovery and creativity.