Every Other Christmas

Every other Christmas, I celebrate with my mom.
Every other Christmas, I celebrate with my dad.
Sometimes I wish we could still be together.
But my favorite holiday is special, no matter who I celebrate with.

After his parents’ divorce, a young biracial child spends every other Christmas celebrating the differing traditions between the African American and Colombian sides of his family.

The years the child spends Christmas in Illinois with his mother's family, he crafts with his cousins and grandmother and decorates the front yard with Grandpa. They put an angel on the top of the tree, which is decorated with all of the handmade ornaments Grandma has saved throughout the years. They shop at the mall, sit on Santa's lap, and sing "Silent Night" at Christmas Eve mass with the whole family.

During the holiday seasons he spends with Dad's family in Colombia, the family decorates Abuela's tree with crystal and glass ornaments, Papa Noel visits all of the cousins at Abuela's house, and they eat arroz con pollo, arepas, bunelos, and tamales for dinner (and you can't forget Abuela's silky-smooth cinnamon hot chocolate!). They enjoy a fireworks display the week before Christmas and sing "Noche de Paz" at Christmas mass.

No matter where he is for Christmas, he is surrounded by family, fun, and most importantly, love.

Every Other Christmas is a picture book that explores the heart, soul, and fun of Christmas. The narrative’s parallel structure highlights how each family’s celebrations are similar while showcasing their exciting differences. This book invites any child who reads this story to reflect on what makes Christmas with their family special.

Katie Otey is an author and poet with a passion for spinning heartwarming tales laced with humor. When she’s not writing, she’s singing, performing skits with her kids, teaching Spanish, traveling, and making her family laugh. Every Other Christmas is a nod to Katie Otey's children and her heartfelt desire to blend her experiences as an African American with close ties to Colombian culture. For more on Katie, please visit her website at katieoteywrites.com.

Samantha (SJ) Winkler is a happy child of divorced parents who spent many plane-rides visiting her dad for Christmas holidays. Now, she loves creating detailed worlds for picture books and graphic novels as a member of the SCBWI and Kids Comics Unite. You can see more of her work @sjwinklerart or at www.sjwinklerart.com.

"Every Other Christmas highlights a modern family that is dedicated to keeping tradition alive. In this heartwarming story, we see that no matter where the main character is for the holidays, love from their family and love for their culture is always there." —Jessica DelVirginia, author of Rocky's Road to the Big City

"You'll want to spend every Christmas with the diverse, delightful members of this family.  Winkler's warm illustrations complement Otey's simple text, resulting in a celebration of love and traditions, no matter where you are."  —Tracey Kyle, author of The Lucky Grapes

"This beautiful book shows the young reader there are many ways to celebrate Christmas. But no matter who you celebrate with, what foods you eat, how you jiggle your feet, or what songs you sing, the main ingredient is always love. It is sure to become a holiday classic." —Janie Emaus, author of Latkes for Santa Claus