In Puerto Rico La Navidades are celebrated from Thanksgiving to las Octavitas (the eight days after Reyes -- aka January 14).

I wanted to celebrate our unique approach to the season by featuring some of the picture books that best capture the spirit of our Navidades Boricuas.

Plus, ​I've included below the Sesame Street Holiday CD that features María & Luis singing an aguinaldo (traditional Puerto Rican Christmas Carol).

¡Wepa! ¡Feliz Navidad!

For holiday celebrations beyond Puerto Rico, check 0ut this booklist:

• Picture Books for the Holidays: Thanksgiving through Tres Reyes

ABC Parranda
​by ABC Coquí

Whether Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Noche Buena, Christmas, Kwanza, New Years, Día de los Reyes, or Octavitas celebrations fill your calendar this Dec/Jan, it's the most busy (I mean wonderful) time of the year!

Growing up, our Christmas Day celebrations were complicated by one important factor... my red headed little brother is a Christmas Baby:

I can only imagine how awful it was for him to watch his bully of a big sister get presents on HIS birthday, but somehow he managed...
​

¡Feliz Diciembre Familia!

I hope your November tasted as joyful as mine (Apple Pie & Coquito were on our menu)!

I have one MAJOR request for you today...

This relative newbie on the holiday scene is one of my favorites!

You know what used to stress me out most about the holidays?

Figuring out the gift situation.

What are we buying for whom and how are we delivering it?

The list was always long; the number of days too short.

A few years ago I decided it was time to streamline.

Now my holiday shopping consists of gifting either books, handmade products I purchase from friends, or coquito (Puerto Rican coconut holiday drink) that I make and bottle myself.

For kids, I try to gift holiday themed books or books aligned with their current interests. (Check out my round up of holiday books here: Holiday Books for Your Kids: From Thanksgiving to Día de Los Reyes).

When choosing books for adults, I do my best to gift signed copies of books written by my friends (win win win!).

Read on below for more on my gift giving strategy and for a round up of 2018 books written by my phenomenal friends!

I hope this lists inspires you to support these writers and/or your own creative friends this holiday season. ​

¡Felices Fiestas!