Christmas

My children, even the teenagers, re-read these books every year.  We put them away at the beginning of Epiphany and only pull them out at the beginning of Advent, and the family is always overjoyed to see them again.  On St. Nicholas' Day every year, I give them a new Christmas book. For those of you in the United States, you should be able to find these at your local libraries.  For those overseas, it may be hard to access as easily.  I would be glad to give you my top recommendations based on your ages of children if you can only purchase a couple. 

HAPPY READING!

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A

  • Ammon, Richard

    • An Amish Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Angeli, Marguerite de

    • The Lion in the Box
      Gender: Both
      Level:

B

  • Barrett, Mary Brigid

    • The Man of the House at Huffington Row
      a story of love in the midst of loss
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Buzzeo, Toni

    • Lighthouse Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Byrd, Robert

    • Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey
      a fairy tale of how the donkey redeemed himself after being marginalized after Creation
      Gender: Both
      Level:

C

  • Caudill, Rebecca

    • A Certain Small Shepherd
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Collington, Peter

    • A Small Miracle
      Wordless Christmas story—a family favorite
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4

D

  • DePaola, Tomie

    • The Legend of the Poinsettia
      Gender: Both
      Level:

    • The Night of Las Posadas
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2
  • Dicamillo, Kate

    • Great Joy
      Gender: Both
      Level:

G

  • Goudge, Elizabeth

    • I Saw Three Ships
      Gender: Both
      Level:

H

  • Hunt, Angela Elwell

    • The Tale of Three Trees
      the trees that become the manger, the boat, and the cross
      Gender: Both
      Level:

L

  • Lucado, Max

    • Jacob's Gift
      Gender: Both
      Level:

M

  • Mackall, Dandi Daley

    • Listen to the Silent Night
      for very young children
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Mayer, Marianna

    • The Real Santa Claus
      wonderful illustrations and stories about the real St. Nicholas
      Gender: Both
      Level:

    • Young Mary of Nazareth
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • McCaughrean, Geraldine

    • Father and Son: A Nativity Story
      through the eyes of Joseph
      Gender: Both
      Level:

N

  • Nutt, Julia Van

    • A Cobtown Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level:

P

  • Paterson, Katherine

    • The Angel and the Donkey
      a wonderful, beautifully illustrated retelling of the story of Balaam and his donkey
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2
  • Pearl S. Buck

    • Christmas Day in the Morning
      A boy gives his father a gift of service--beautiful
      Gender: Both
      Level: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Polacco, Patricia
     Great current children’s author who illustrates her own books; appeals to a broad range of children; celebrates family, miracle, and heritage. I do not like all of her books because they express attitudes or moral choices with which I disagree, but the ones listed below are excellent.

    • An Orange for Frankie
      A touching Christmas story
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2

    • The Christmas Tapestry
      An amazing Christmas story
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2
  • Potter, Beatrix
     Try getting the very small books as she published them

    • The Tailor of Gloucester
      lovely little story
      Gender: Both
      Level:

R

  • Rubel, David

    • The Carpenter's Gift
      the story of the Rockefeller tree in NY, about sharing what you have, even in poverty
      Gender: Both
      Level:

S

  • Saillens, Ruben

    • Papa Panov's Special Day
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Seredy, Kate

    • A Tree for Peter
      An amazing redemptive story; a generational favorite in our family
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3
  • Seymour, Jane

    • Good King Wenceslas
      includes C.D. with the song--beautiful new book
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Slate, Joseph

    • Who is Coming to Our House?
      great board book for little ones
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Smalls, Irene

    • Irene Jennie and the Christmas Masquerade
      great window into a slave's Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Soto, Gary

    • Too Many Tamales
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Strand, Keith

    • Grandfather's Christmas Tree
      a pioneer survival story
      Gender: Both
      Level:

T

  • the National Gallery, London

    • The First Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Thomas, Dylan

    • A Child's Christmas in Wales
      beautifully written; every Christmas Eve, we watch the movie, which dramatizes the poem in such a lovely way. My children love this.
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Thompson, Lauren

    • A Christmas Gift for Mama
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Tillman, Nancy

    • The Spirit of Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Tolkien, J.R.R.

    • Letters from Father Christmas
      written for his children every Christmas--get an edition that has all the letters in envelopes with Tolkiens illustrations delightful
      Gender: Both
      Level:

W

  • Waddell, Martin

    • Room for a Little One
      great for little ones
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Wangerin, Walter, Jr.

    • Mary’s First Christmas
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3, 4
  • Winthrop, Elizabeth

    • The First Christmas Stocking
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Wojciechowski, Susan

    • The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
      the Scottish author that inspired C.S. Lewis
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Wood, Audrey

    • A Cowboy Christmas
      a beautiful story about a boy's answered prayer
      Gender: Both
      Level:
  • Wood, Audrey and Don

    • A Cowboy Christmas: The Miracle at Lone Pine Ridge
      Gender: Both
      Level: 2, 3