Winter Holidays
You and your children can share a special time together by learning about holidays from books. Popular U.S. holidays in November, December, and January are Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years Eve and Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. People from other countries celebrate Diwali (India), Boxing Day (Australia, Canada and England), Yuan Tan (China) and Eid al-Adha (Islam).

Children like to look at pictures in books. Children love to sit next to their brothers, sisters, moms and dads to listen to stories about these special days. Books make great gifts for the holiday.

Borrow a Book
Wisconsin has 250 public libraries. Libraries have books, CDs, videos and DVDs you can borrow for free. Many libraries have story times for young children. Some libraries have vans and bookmobiles that bring books to people. You need a library card to use these services. Library cards are free.

Adults get library cards when they bring identification and proof of their address to a library. Identification is a driver's license, passport, Wisconsin ID, or other card with a person's picture and name. Proof of residence is a checkbook, utility bill or mail that came to your address during the last month. Children get library cards when they can print their first and last names.

Own a Book
After school programs, churches and community service agencies have holiday books too. Some of these places give free books to families. U.S. Post Offices around the state also collect books to give to families.

The Next Door Foundation in Milwaukee runs Books for Kids. It collects new and gently used books to give to children and families all year round. Use this free resource to pick up some holiday gifts for your kids.

Families can take four books a month for each child. The books are free to keep. Teachers can pick up one book a month to give to each child in their classrooms.

The Books for Kids library is at 2545 North 29th