The entire month of December calls me to slow down. Even though we have to fight the busy-ness off with a large stick, I love the natural slowing that eventually comes. One of the ways I remind myself of the importance of a hushed schedule, the need to pull in just a bit with my people– is reading.
For several years, we’ve slowly added to our Christmas book stack a few at a time. I’m always searching the holiday sections at used book stores for fall and Christmas books.
Here’s a list of our favorite Christmas books. I hope they help you on your journey as you embrace hope and togetherness this season.
Our Favorite Sacred & Semi- Serious Christmas Books:
Buck Denver asks, “Why Do We Call it Christmas?” This discusses the real person of St. Nicholas and what he has to do with Christmas as we know it. (There is also a DVD in the What’s in the Bible Series, by the same name: Here’s the link, but check your local Lifeway Store:)
’Twas the Night Before Christmas (fun little vintage golden book version)
Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker
Who is Coming to Our House? (Simple and sweet for littles.)
Christmas Cookies: Bite Sized Holiday Lessons By Amy Krouse Rosenthal (This is really fun picture book that deals with the anticipation and patience of the season.)
The Legend of the Christmas Tree
A Little House Christmas Treasury: A Collection of Festive Stories (We LOVE this one. I mean, Laura Ingalls Wilder!)
And… I just requested this at the Library because— ANNE SHIRLEY.
Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories (It’s a collection of Christmas stories from the Anne books and it looks so fun. Thank you, local library for having it in stock.)
Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
Christmas in America (blends a little early American History in.)
Our Favorite Silly Christmas Books:
The Christmas Puppy (Simple, cute story— all books with dogs are favorites here.)
Charlie and the Christmas Kitty (the perfect combination of the Pioneer Woman and Charlie the ranch dog!)
Peppa Pig & the Lost Christmas List
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (We’re adding this one this year for the first time!)
The links above are all referral links, (which means that at no extra cost to you, Amazon thanks me for pointing you in the direction of the books listed.) But by all means, search your used book stores for these treasures. If you have a 2nd & Charles store, that is where I found many of mine.
I’d be delighted if this list helps you curate your own Christmas book stash, and I’d love to hear what your own top picks are in the comments or by email.
I’d truly love to know– what are your can’t miss Christmas Books? Do you wrap them one by one or just place them in a basket near your usual reading spot? I’m a basket person but the wrapping always sounds fun.
Love this!! Thank you! I don’t see us reading the ballerina ones but checking out “God gave us Christmas” now!
Thanks Jessi! Yes I suppose we have several “girly” books on our list. Ha! Happy Reading!
Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones is truly my favorite Christmas book. We listened to the Best Christmas Pageant Ever on audio last year when we traveled for Thanksgiving, and we all LOVED it! It is delightful. I just ordered a copy for us to have on hand. Another one that I have enjoyed is A Christmas Carol. It’s shorter than other Dickens’ works, which makes it easier to digest (I love Victorian British literature but do not enjoy Dickens. I know, I know).
Thanks for the suggestion Leah! I keep forgetting “Song of the Stars” but want to add it to our stack. And I LOVE A Christmas Carol and teach it to my 8th graders every year in November. And I won’t tell. We like “Dickens the dog” a lot more than Dickens the author.
Thank you for sharing! We also love “The Crippled Lamb” by Max Lacado
I’ve heard of that one too but don’t think we have it. Thanks Kristen!
Great list..thanks! I just reserved a few at the library 🙂 We love the Best Christmas Pageant any time of the year! There is also a great Christmas book list at Read Aloud Revival. Thanks to such great lists, we have a great stack of Christmas books from the library on our coffee table and have been enjoying them immensely!