PagineSeven days, seven principles! A family guide to Kwanzaa for kids — the seven principles (Nguzo Saba), the kinara and its candles, the symbols and the karamu feast — with a free printable traditions & words sheet, principle-a-day writing prompts, 15 Kwanzaa activity worksheets, a by-age Kwanzaa books list, and African folk tales to read free. More December reading: winter stories, Christmas and Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African American and Pan-African family, community and culture, held every year from 26 December to 1 January. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, and its name comes from the Swahili for “first fruits.” Each day honours one of the seven principles (Nguzo Saba): Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). Each evening families light one more candle on the kinara — one black, three red, three green — and on 31 December many share a feast, the karamu. Kwanzaa is cultural, not religious.
Print the seven principles & symbols, try the Kwanzaa word search, or read our guide, Kwanzaa for kids.
The clever spider of West African and Caribbean storytelling — free to read.
Folk tales from across Africa, free in the Pagine library — storytelling is part of many Kwanzaa celebrations.
The Nguzo Saba, the kinara & the symbols.
Print →✍️Two prompts for each of the seven principles.
Print →✅Best Kwanzaa books, by age.
Print →🔎Find 8–10 Kwanzaa words hidden across and down — perfect for K–2. (Ages 5–7)
Print →🧩A bigger grid with words across, down, diagonal and backwards. (Ages 8–11)
Print →📘12 Kwanzaa words with kid-friendly meanings, plus sentence practice. (Ages 6–10)
Print →✏️Look, say, cover, write, check — 12 seasonal spelling words. (Ages 6–9)
Print →🔤Fill in the missing letters to finish each Kwanzaa word. (Ages 5–8)
Print →🔀Unscramble the jumbled Kwanzaa words. Answer key included. (Ages 7–10)
Print →🔡Put the Kwanzaa words in alphabetical order. (Ages 6–9)
Print →🔢Count the pictures in each row and write the number. (Ages 3–6)
Print →➕8 story sums — adding, taking away, groups and halves. Answers included. (Ages 6–9)
Print →🎲Two picture-word bingo cards for a class party or family game. (Ages 4–8)
Print →📝Write a poem where each line starts with a letter of the word. (Ages 7–11)
Print →📖An original short story with 6 questions and an answer key. (Ages 7–10)
Print →🔁Cut out the steps and put them in the right order. (Ages 5–8)
Print →🎨Make a Zawadi (Handmade Gift) — draw it, then answer the questions. (Ages 5–9)
Print →✅Colour a candle for every book you read during Kwanzaa and the winter break. (All ages)
Print →Titles we don’t host yet — each links to a free public-domain edition.
Reading tips and seasonal stories related to this collection.
Kwanzaa’s seven days line up perfectly with a reading ritual: each evening, light the next candle on the kinara, talk about that day’s principle, and share a story. Our Kwanzaa principles & symbols printable explains the Nguzo Saba simply for children, the writing prompts give two ideas for each principle, and the Kwanzaa reading list suggests a book for each day. Storytelling is part of many Kwanzaa celebrations, so we’ve gathered African folk tales and Anansi stories you can read free in Pagine.
Track every book your child reads over the winter break in the free Pagine app, and find more December reading in our winter stories collection.
Kwanzaa is celebrated every year from 26 December to 1 January — seven days, one for each principle.
The Nguzo Saba are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African American and Pan-African family, community and culture, created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Each day families light a candle on the kinara and talk about one of seven principles. It is cultural, not religious.
Favourites include My First Kwanzaa, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa, Seven Spools of Thread, The Gifts of Kwanzaa and K Is for Kwanzaa. See our printable Kwanzaa reading list.