Read about Rites of Passage: Books for children & parents

New Baby Traditions

On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier

A classic picture book celebrating the birth of a

baby and relating it to natural phenomena.

(Grades PS through 3)

Welcome Dede!: An African Naming Ceremony

by Ifeoma Onyefulu

Told from the viewpoint of a young boy in

Ghana, this picture book shares a new baby

tradition in an African community. (Grades K

through 3)

The Naming of Tishkin Silk by Glenda Mallard

A young boy believes a naming ceremony for

the new baby will bring his family together.

(Grades 2 through 4)

Birthday Traditions

A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake by Debra

Frasier

Connects the passage of time between birthdays

with the orbiting earth. - Includes a recipe for a

cake. (Grades PS through 3)

Every Year on Your Birthday by Rose Lewis

A mother and adopted daughter look back on the

child's life on her fifth birthday. (Grades PS

through 1)

The Birthday Book by Tina Forrester

A nonfiction look at birthday celebrations in

various cultures and time periods. (Grades K

through 3)

Happy Birthday, Everywhere! By Arlene Erbach

A nonfiction look at birthday celebrations for in

various cultures and time periods for

intermediate grades. (Grades 2 through 4)

Birthdays Around the World by Mary Lankford

Another nonfiction look at birthday celebrations

for in various cultures and time periods for

intermediate grades. (Grades 3 through 5)

Other Family & Cultural Traditions

Family Celebrations by Diane Patrick

Discusses family celebrations at various stages

in our lives, including birth, coming-of-age,

marriage, and death. (Grades 2 through 5)

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof by Selby Beeler

Explores cultural traditions surrounding losing

teeth. (Grades 1 through 4)

A Season for Mangoes by Regina Hanson

Sareen participates in her first sit-up, a

celebration of the life of her recently deceased

grandmother in her Jamaican community.

(Grades K through 3)

Fiesta Dress by Caren McCormack

A young girl watches the preparations for her

older sister's quinceanera. (Grades K through 2)

Coming of Age

Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: The Ceremony, the

Party, and How the Day Came to Be by Bert

Metter

A basic introduction for non-Jewish kids.

(Grades 3 through 6)

Celebrating a Quinceanera: A Latina's 15th

Birthday Celebration by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

Follows a family as they celebrate a girl's 15th

birthday. (Grades 3 through 6)

It's Your Rite: Girls' Coming of Age Stories by

Nora Coon

Various girls tell of the events that marked their

coming of age. Includes advice for coming of

age ceremonies. (Grades 6 and up)

Passage of Time & Milestones

Someday by Alison McGhee

A sentimental picture book that follows a

mother & daughter from the baby's birth through

several coming-of-age moments. (Grades PS

through 1)

Thanksgiving With Me by Margaret Willey

While they wait for relatives to arrive for

Thanksgiving, a mother and daughter remember

Thanksgivings past. (Grades PS through 1)

The Growing-Up Tree by Vera Rosenberry

A mother plants an apple tree when her son is a

baby, and the boy and the tree grow up together

for a picture book that explores the passage of

time. (Grades PS through 2)

Birthday Tree by Paul Fleischman

When a family plants a tree at the birth of a

baby, they find that the tree and the child have a

fantastic connection as the boy grows up.

(Grades 2 through 5)

For Parents

The Book of New Family Traditions: How to

Create Great Rituals for Holidays and

Everydays by Meg Cox

Discusses the importance of ritual & tradition,

and provides many examples based on religious,

cultural, and secular holidays.

Mother Rising by Yana Cortlund

A pagan-based book that helps mother-to-be

plan a blessingway to honor their journey into

motherhood.

Blessingways: A Guide to Mother-Centered

Baby Showers by Shari Maser

Following traditions that honor the mother-to-be

as they prepare for the birth of the baby.

Moon Mother, Moon Daughter: Myths & Rituals

that Celebrate a Girl's Coming of Age by Janet

Lucy

Explores various cultures coming of age

traditions for girls. Includes activities and

suggestions for mothers and daughters to bond

based on myths.

Bless This Child: A Comprehensive Guide to

Creating Baby Blessing Ceremonies by Susanna

Macomb

This guide, written by a Christian minister, is

intended to help families of various faiths (or

none) create a “spiritual” welcoming ceremony

for their baby.

Bibliography created by Mindy Rhiger, MLS

March 2012