Every year people ask for my recommendations for Christmas books, and I just gush, and gush! For every person. Every time. WELL here it is, all in one place, the Forging Hearts Christmas Book List!
The Lion Story Teller Christmas Book
My favorite Christmas treasury, and one that we have revisited every year since my oldest was a toddler. Bob Hartman's Christmas book has a hearty Christian basis, but don't think it is "just" another beautiful retelling of the Bible stories of Christmas. The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book is a multicultural collection of tales, traditions and legends from all around the world, and each one of them points to Christ! The stories are short, sweet, and hold the attention of even the littlest family members.
Be forewarned that this is a COLLECTION of excellent stories, 38 to be exact so you may want to dive in at the beginning of December, or better yet, towards the end of November!
Room For a Little One
If I had to recommend just ONE Christmas book for a young child, it would be this one, preferably in it's cozy board book format. Let Jason Cockcroft's warm, lustrous illustrations draw you in, out of the cold night that is our modern world, and into the golden warmth that was the night a Savior came into the world.
The Bear's Christmas
How blessed have we been lately by Mike Berernstain's talking up his parents' torch, and continuing on the Berenstain Bear's series with fearless and bold faced Christian values! But come back with me, back to 1970 when this classic, flawlessly rhymed Christmas book was issued by Stan and Jan Berenstain! A delightful romp through bear country, without any particular seasonal message (well, perhaps some humility for Papa 😊) the fast paced silliness and classic illustrations will charm any child.
I Spy Christmas
A seasonal feast for the eyes! If you are at all familiar with the popular "I spy" series, you will understand why our children love to pour over this holiday themed volume.
If You're Missing Baby Jesus
If you're missing Baby Jesus... okay so this is a 24 day devotional? NOPE! This lavish hardcover may appear to be a chapter book, but actually it is a single reading session story - a literal story of missing Jesus, a heartwarming tale of a cold Christmas eve in 1943! This was recommended to me by Lisa, over a Married to Medicine, and I have to say this is a can't miss!
The Very First Christmas
Mother and son team Jan and Mike Berenstein give us a straightforward retelling of the Christmas story! I would recommend this for any child, but maybe particularly for the child who has poor attention span for Bible stories, but knows and love Bear Country! It makes a lovely gift.
There exists of almost limitless books retelling Christmas using popular character, but this stands out for two reasons. First the accurate portrayal of the three wise men/kings arriving after Jesus's birth, not the night of. And secondly on the inside of the back cover there are discussion questions to gently test comprehension, as well as some suggestions of activities to do.
Nancy and Plum
In the tradition of plucky orphans overcoming adversarial guardianship and living conditions, this compellingly written chapter book will have your child just smarting at the injustices heaped upon our two heroines! 13 meaty chapters and the occasional black and white water color picture, the elementary child in your life would love to have this read aloud to them.
Christmas Trolls
Jan Brett's margin illustrations and story line alone would be worthwhile! But leaving that worthy hedgehog (you'll see) aside, I can tell you that this story of a young girl who teaches the joy of sharing to two mischievous, greedy trolls, has all the intricacies and richness you could wish for, showcasing traditional European decorations.
A Cranberry Christmas
Does your family know the gruff but lovable Mr. Whiskers?! If not it is time to make him part of you holiday rotation! Thanksgiving, Valentines Day, Christmas, and more - Cranberry Port, Maine is a familiar stop around here! Despite it's title, this book deals more with seasonal winter fun than Christmas specifically, but I recommend it anyways.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
One of the few books I actually remember reading in PUBLIC SCHOOL as a child I was delighted when it came time to read this to my own children! Although, truth, I outsourced this read aloud to my husband, who missed it in childhood, so that he could enjoy and experience for the first time along with our son! It has an unabashed Christian message, yet avoids the syrupy, artificial nature we can find in to many modern Christian offerings! Coming in at only 7 chapters, this book would read tidily in just one calendar week.
Carl's Christmas
An almost wordless picture book, as an adult I find it so sweet, and happily my 3 year old feels the same way. This wasn't something we could read just once or twice... a day... 😄
Bear Stays Up for Christmas
Have you read Bear Feels Sad? Bear Feels Sick? Karma Wilson's Bear so adeptly translates the feelings and experiences of preschool children into a woodland setting. This stout board books chronicles Bear and the gang's efforts to prepare for Christmas... and Bear's attempt to stay up latest of all.
The Family Under the Bridge
Travel to Paris in the mid 1900's, and fall in love with a family that indeed lives under a bridge. And the gruff yet amiable tramp determined not to let them into his heart! This chapter book would make a good read aloud for children in elementary, and independent reading for middle schoolers.
Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol
To reap the best benefit of unabridged Dickensian language, this is one we actually enjoy as an audio book. May good recordings exist, we chose Jim Dale's (of Harry Potter audio book fame) lively CD. To further solidify the plot for our littlest children, we also annually enjoy a couple film versions, namely The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol.
Madeline's Christmas
In his trademark style of tortured slant rhymes (that children seem to love!) Behelmen takes us to unexpected places on Christmas eve, using unexpected characters, and modes of travel! It's really rather a random story to fall under the umbrella of Christmas tales, but Madeline fans will be pleased!
Really Woolly Baby Jesus is Here
A touch and feel book for the littlest baby or toddler! Probably the MOST simplified version of the Christmas story you can imagine, it still speaks truth and even includes the Biblical reference (Luke 2:11) on the last cardboard page of the sturdy, touchable, chewable Christmas board book!
Note - I never would have found this if I wasn't already a huge Really Wolly fan! Check out their Book of Bedtime Prayers.
Merry Christmas Amelia Bedelia
Dates in the cake batter... cut straight from the calendar! Any child will appreciate the hilariously literal approach Amelia Bedelia takes to holiday preparations!
I'll finish with three books, two delightful spoofs, and finally the 1823 classic, The Night Before Christmas.
A Bad Kitty Chrsitmas
This will be a new rotation to our Christmas box this year! So SHHHH it is lying in wait, please no one tell my three absolutely RABID Nick Bruel fans, who must have read every other Bad Kitty book on the market!
Written in the cadence of the original Night Before Christmas poem, this respectably lengthy picture book also makes TWO insertions of alphabetic lists, for the ABC learners among us. But this book is so much more than Xerus, Yak and fried Zebra tail! A sweet story your Bad Kitty fan will be sure to love.
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas
I always save this spoof for December 23rd! Illustrated in a Nickelodeon-eque style I don't usually appreciate, it nonetheless makes the kids roar with laughter. I mean, baby pat does wet his pants. Har, har, har. But it's redeeming qualities... that materialism isn't what matters... and family love is what counts.
The Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house...
What else needs to be said of this perennial classic, which is approaching two centuries of popularity?
In our house we have the little golden book version, illustrated by Kathy Wilburn. I recommend this even to families that, like us, don't participate in Santa mythology, it's one of the best known pieces of poetry in America, and a pleasant piece of cultural literacy!
When we first began A Christmas Book for Every Day in December we relied heavily on our library system. But slowly we have built up this wonderful collection, that lays dormant all year and then greets us like old friends at Christmastime.
On Ambitious years I individually wrap each book, and we have an unwrapping every morning before breakfast.
Less ambitious seasons have seen me wrapping a book within our Christmas Tree (it's artificial, the wires bend wonderfully to my purpose of book display) before I go to bed, so that it is a fresh wonderment to the children when they wake up.
There are so many magical ways to makes literature a central part of you seasonal rituals, and I hope you have enjoyed our lists of favorites!
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