Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool
Last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, we followed our usual tradition of chopping down our Christmas tree.
But there’s another tradition we always follow on that day as well, and I was reminded of it when one of my children asked:
“When will we get the Christmas books out?”
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a selection of special titles to read and share together, would it?
So here’s a list of 20 favorites–most of these reside in our personal home library, but a few are new-to-me popular titles I’ve heard about online. Enjoy!
Board Books
* A Child is Born by Margaret Wise Brown (Out of print, but so special I had to include it!)
* Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck
Picture Books
* Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble
* Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
* A Christmas Carol (picture book edition) by Charles Dickens (I’m excited about using this edition to introduce my three to this classic!)
* The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Woljciechowski
* The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson (Love these illustrations by Eloise Wilkin–you’ll recognize them from her other Little Golden Books.)
* God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa T. Bergren
* How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
* The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
* The Nativity by Julie Vivas
* The Nutcracker Ballet by Vladimir Vagin
* The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
* Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell
* Santa’s Favorite Story: Santa Tells the Story of the First Christmas by Hisako Aoki
* Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
* The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
* Mr Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
Chapter Books
* The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
* Little House Christmas Treasury by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Takes the holiday chapters out of each Little House book and combines them into one treasury. We read them each year!)
Have another holiday favorite in your home library? Share it with us in the comments!
Originally published on November 29, 2012
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Was thinking about Christmas reads yesterday too. Currently having lots of fun reading a Maurice Sendak illustrated version of The Nutcracker – maybe a bit more suitable for older children, but my boy is having lots of fun hearing about all the toy soldiers.
Alison’s latest post: A Christmas Carol: daily readings
Here are some great Christmas books: Christmas in noisy Village , Have you seen Christmas?, Saint Nicholas the real story of the Christmas Legend, Christmas around the world ( Us borne), Pine Tree Parable, Night before Christmas ( Tasha Tudor version- so beautiful), The Story of the Lost Star, An unexpected Christmas Gift.
Sorry, last one was An Unexpected Christmas Guest.
The Three Gifts of Christmas! by Jennie Bishop (who wrote the princess and the kiss). Just read it again to the girls tonight.
The Polar Express is one of our favorites. We also liked Closing the Book on Santa Claus by Ron Chandler. It is about a father who tries to save his daughter’s holiday celebration after it is cancelled at the local school. He organizes a rally at city hall, but unexpected calamity prevails. My daughter made me read it to her twice.
Thank you so much for this list! I was able to find all but one or two at our local library! Will be wrapping these and opening one (or two!) a day leading up to Christmas! Hooray!
What a great list! I love this time of year, especially for these kind of special, quiet read aloud times. One that we read every year is The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot. It’s wonderful and makes us all tear up every time!
Erin’s latest post: An Illustrated Pride and Prejudice
Have to chime in with one more we love: The Gift of the Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall. It’s a simple read, but very sweet and poignant.
Erin’s latest post: An Illustrated Pride and Prejudice
You will love the following meaningful Christmas Stories:
Why Christmas Tree’s Aren’t Perfect – Schneider, The Gift of the Magi-O.Henry
Christmas in the Trenches-McCutchern, Legend of the Candy Cane-Walburg
Dance in the Desert by Madeline L’Engle! Awesome illustrations too.
I would add Song of the Stars to this list! It is the most beautiful story about all of creation getting ready for the coming of the newborn King. And it has amazing illustrations. Even my husband usually tears up when he reads it to the kids!