Sofia's abuela arrives from Puerto Rico bearing gifts - the three wise men who did not arrive at the manger until January 6th - Three Kings Day. Everyday Sofia moves the little figures closer to the nativity scene. And then the magic begins.

This was an unfamiliar tale to me, and I enjoyed learning about what is involved with the celebration. The illustrations by Jone Leal are warm and inviting. I would certainly add this title to my library's holiday collection.

Book 220 of 300 ~ 2024

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I love reading about different cultures, and I appreciate how the authors and illustrators, especially in the case of children's books, capture traditions that have been and will continue to be passed down.

One of my favourite hymns during Advent leading to Christmas and to the Epiphany is We three kings, so i really enjoyed this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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A pleasant read for all, and a charming nod to tradition being passed down – this shows a Puerto Rican girl accept her grandma into the family home for Christmas, ending with Epiphany, or the Three Kings Day. Festive treats are enjoyed, the story of the nativity is told, and each evening the girl moves the Three Kings a touch closer to the family's model manger, until the magic of that specific night plays out in full. An important and welcome book if you have PR kids in your classrooms – not so essential for the rest of the world, but very enjoyable all the same.

Book Review: Hooray, It's Three Kings Day!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As I sat down to read Hooray, It's Three Kings Day! by Annette M. Clayton, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. This picture book is not just a story; it’s a heartfelt celebration of the rich traditions surrounding Three Kings Day, and it does an incredible job of capturing the essence of this festive occasion.

The story centers around Sofia and her beloved abuela, who brings her cherished wooden santos from Puerto Rico. Through their special tradition, we learn about the wise men who followed a star to find Baby Jesus. The warmth of family and the beauty of their culture come alive in every page, making it a joyful read that resonates deeply with anyone familiar with these customs. What I particularly loved was how Annette Clayton draws from her own experiences, making the narrative relatable and authentic.

Now, let’s talk about the illustrations by Jone Leal! Wow! The artwork is absolutely stunning—vibrant colors and lively scenes that perfectly encapsulate the festive spirit of Three Kings Day. Each illustration adds another layer to the story, making it visually engaging and enriching the overall reading experience. It’s one of those books where you can’t help but linger on each page, soaking in all the details.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is its educational element. It includes four pages of backmatter filled with traditional recipes, a Spanish glossary, and insights into how this holiday is celebrated in various countries. This makes it not only a delightful story but also a valuable resource for young readers eager to learn more about their cultural heritage.

In summary, Hooray, It’s Three Kings Day! is a joyful celebration that introduces children to the cultural and religious significance of this holiday. With relatable characters, an engaging storyline, and breathtaking illustrations, it’s a book that will surely become a staple in any young reader's holiday collection. Whether you're sharing it with your family or gifting it to a friend, it's an experience that will bring warmth and joy to the season. Highly recommend!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

A book about a joyful celebration of both culture and family!

Annette Clayton's "Hooray, It's The Three Kings Day," is a delightful and engaging book that offers a wonderful introduction to this festive celebration and to Spanish culture. It highlights the importance of family traditions, and the bonds shared across generations. The book also includes a helpful glossary and an author's note that provides further context about the holiday, making it an invaluable resource for readers unfamiliar with these customs. With its vibrant and captivating illustrations, Jone Leal made sure that this book is sure to attract young readers (and also adults!) Ideal for children ages 5-8.

Such a wonderful book. I love learning and sharing how different cultures celebrate a holiday. It expands the minds of little children and helps them be more open and accepting of how one celebrates a holiday. This is definitely a book that I will add to my class library. The pictures are so cute as well, it helps kids stay engaged.

Hooray it’s Three King’s Day is an adorably written and illustrated children’s book which gives insight into a holiday that many children and even adults don’t know about.
Told in a simple way, I found it easy enough for my first grader to understand. Pictures showed what some of the gifts and words meant that he didn’t know.
I feel that teaching children to learn and respect the holidays of other cultures is such a gift. We especially liked the last pages which told about the holiday and the authors own experience.
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

A sweet story celebrating family tradition. I do wish it has included more of the actual story of the three kings and not just the story of how the story created tradition in this family.

I thought that this was a really lovely book that would easily be a family treasure and keepsake.

I thought that the story in this book was wonderful, it was well written, had a lovely flow to the story and the illustrations in the book were stunning and really brought the book to life.

I loved the story and the celebration and family traditions and I can't wait to read this book again over the festive period.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

This children's book is such a sweet treat! It's about the celebration of the three wise men seen through the eyes of a little girl and her Puerto Rican abuela who's nostalgic of her life there. It's cute as can be. The illustrations give out all the cosy heartwarming Christmas feels. And the exotic touch is great. Highly recommended to learn about other people's culture.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy. :)

Wow! This book was so super pretty; I adored the illustrations! It's a very simple picture book; I loved the connection to culture as well as religion, and the different holiday traditions and rituals represented. I wanted to pop into the story to see what the traditions looked like myself, and to learn more in-depth about the holiday.

While this isn't a holiday I celebrate, I always try to purchase/read books from different religions/cultures so the collection best represents the diverse community visiting the library.

A book that celebrates family traditions and the meaning of a special holiday is what you will find in Hooray, It’s Three Kings Day! by Annette M. Clayton.

Sofia is excited because it is Christmas Day, which means Abuela leaves Puerto Rico to celebrate the Christmas season with Sofia and her family. Sofia hops onto Abuela’s lap to learn the story of the Three Kings and Three King’s Day–El Día de Reyes. Filled with activities, special food, and an unexpected gift from Abuela, Sofia is eager to share all about Three King’s Day when she grows up.

With charming and colorful illustrations by artist Jone Leal, Clayton brings the history and traditions of Three Kings Day to young readers. As Sofia learns more about her Abuela’s santos, she enjoys all the special things about the Christmas season: spending time with relatives, wintertime outdoor activities, eating special desserts, and Three Kings Day traditions. Clayton provides resources for the reader, like an explanation of Three Kings Day, a helpful glossary, and a fun recipe. A touching Author’s Note shares a personal experience.

Hooray, It’s Three Kings Day! is an adorable picture book that will enchant young readers.

This was a beautifully written and illustrated story. I loved the vibrant colors. I also love all the different elements of the holiday that are discussed and highlighted.

I plan to read this with my children during the holiday season.

What a sweet story celebrating family, tradition and the art of storytelling. It’s not only a charming tale of a girl’s bond with her Abuela at the holidays, it’s also a lesson in considering your family’s past and maintaining the future. This story encourages children to think about heirloom gifts as more than just fun or special, but also as pieces of a family legacy that they can carry on.
The illustrations were absolutely beautiful and this book with hands-down have a place on our holiday shelf!

Thank you to Familius, the author and Net Galley for the ARC!

I liked the bright illustrations here and the way in which the author wove in Spanish words and phrases, providing opportunities to talk about culture and language with little ones. It’s well paced and designed for early readers in a way that allows the adults to keep pace and keep kids engaged.

I’m not confident that this would be a good book for all families, though, because it sets another expectation of a holiday with presents for little ones. That’s certainly something to be aware of, and it would prevent me from reading this with any of the children in my family.

3 stars

'Hooray, It's Three Kings Day!' is a delightfully informative and vibrant exploration into the holiday. The approach will engage children to be curious about the holiday and how it intertwines with other wintry holidays. The illustrations are filled with warmth and softness replicating that of the familial traditions. Such a lovely read.

I received a copy of this eBook from NetGalley for a honest review.

I loved the illustrations in this book. Such a great introduction to Epiphany and how some celebrate three kings day.

We celebrate 3 kings day here so i thought this was a great book to introduce other customs to children who don't celebrate. Illustrations were beautiful.

This charming picture book is about a Hispanic girl's experience celebrating Three Kings Day with her extended family. This book is based on the author's childhood experiences, and it's simple and sweet, illustrating the main character's experiences with her cultural background and with this religious holiday. The writing isn't perfect, and there's a typo on one page, but the story and illustrations are engaging and sweet.

This will appeal to families who celebrate Three Kings Day, and to people from other backgrounds who are interested in learning about other cultures and religions. This book includes some Spanish words, which are defined in a glossary, and there is also another edition that is all in Spanish.

I have to be honest I didn't know much about Three Kings Day before reading this. Although this was obviously written for children, I learned a lot myself!

The way Annette wrote Sofia and Abuela's story of them celebrating Three Kings Day was so fun and heartwarming!

The illustrations by Jone Leal were BEAUTIFUL! I loved the art style, and the rich colors made for an even more captivating story. The line art was so whimsical, and abuela was SO CUTE to look at in her little glasses!

I like at the end there is full context on the holiday, that you could read to your child after enjoying Sofia and Abuela's story. Really give background information to the child and adults! The Spanish glossary, and the recipe for Chocolate Coquito was such a nice touch. A love when stories add an activity you can do with your kids.

This would be such a nice holiday book to read to my niece and nephew! I love introducing them (and myself if I'm honest) to new cultures. My niece loves stories that include Grandma's/Abuela's and I know she'd love this one.

I would absolute recommend to anyone with kids, who want them to have a well rounded education and view of other cultures.

Thank you Net Galley for the ebook to read and review! ❤️