Katy Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 I was reading about using children's Christmas books as an Advent tradition on ModernMrsDarcy and decided I want to do the same thing. But we probably have less than a handful of Christmas books. If you have favorite ones (I'd like a good mix of secular/santa and religious), please list the title, a brief description, and a link if you have time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 we have a variety. B is for bethlehem this is the new edition, with new artwork. I have the older one. S is for star Madeline's christmas The grinch who stole christmas the night before christmas (I prefer the little golden book version) a christmas dress for ellen the best christmas pagent ever the christmas tapestry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 We've done this! It was fun but I think we did it as a two week countdown instead of as our Advent activity. I really like the book Santa's Favorite Story. Santa's considers skipping Christmas and when the animals are alarmed that there won't be Christmas Santa tells them the Christmas story. https://www.amazon.com/Santas-Favorite-Story-Santa-Christmas/dp/141695029X 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) Oh, I forgot to add. If we needed to use library books we made sure to use them sooner in the month so they weren't overdue. Eta:. I either numbered them or used different wrap to indicate the ones we needed to use first. . Edited October 10, 2016 by happi duck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 What Santa Can't Do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My3Munchkins Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 We do this, too. We have about 20 books because there are always at least a few nights in December that we just don't get to the reading. Also, I got tired of wrapping all of the books so I sewed simple fabric bags. Now to prepare, I put one book in each bag and tie on a ribbon. Mortimer's Manger and Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree are favorites at our house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Santa Cows is my all time favorite Christmas book. That is a non-negotiable yearly read aloud to make me happy, lol. Very different and quirky, but the kids are warming up to it, even if they don't "get" all of it. We also read The Night Tree and The Trees of the Dancing Goats every year. When we did the advent book calendar thing, I threw a couple activity-type books in for days when we were short on time (word search, I Spy, etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 The Sweet Smell of Christmas Personal childhood favorite (scratch n sniff book) A couple of years ago we bought the recordable Hallmark Christmas books. My parents did the recording on one book and my MIL did the recording on the other. One is The Night Before Christmas and the other is a religious story of Christmas. Other places sell the recordable books as well. Anyway, so now the kids can listen to their grandparents when we open those books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 I always loved Christmas in the Stable by Astrid Lindgren. Also, the section in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn where a tree lot owner throws the last tree in the lot to a child who can keep it if they remain standing. It has kind of been turned into a short story and is in one of our Christmas books. Oh, another favorite is The Gift of the Magi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 The Father Christmas Letters by Tolkien Wenceslas by McCaughrean Christmas Day in the Morning by Buck Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones The Twenty Four Days before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle Amahl and the Night Visitors - illus by Duvoisin to go with the music. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey The Story of Holly and Ivy by Godden, illus. Cooney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Who Is Coming to Our House? (religious, for young children) Peter Spier's Christmas! (includes church scenes, but mostly secular) The Christmas Story (religious) Christmas in the Country (again, includes going to church, but mostly secular) Christmas Day in the Morning (secular, no Santa) Apple Tree Christmas (secular, no Santa) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMommy Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 A few years ago, I put together this list of our favorite Christmas books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) Too Many Tamales https://www.amazon.com/dp/0698114124/ Auntie Claus https://www.amazon.com/dp/0547406223/ Edited October 10, 2016 by zoobie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnE-girl Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) I think The Crippled Lamb is very sweet. I also love The Sweet Smell of Christmas. I'll have to look through our collection when I'm not under a nursing baby for more ideas. Another one I remembered is The Mouse's Terrible Christmas. I think it's out of print, but you might be able to find it at the library. We got it from the library whe I was a kid, then DH found a copy on eBay for our kids. Edited October 10, 2016 by AnnE-girl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 How the Grinch Stole Christmas- Seuss Snowmen at Night- Buehner Snowmen at Christmas- Buehner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Some of our favorites over the years: Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant--a rich man rides a train through Appalachia and throws gifts to the poor children who are waiting, in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there. Night Tree by Eve Bunting--A family makes its annual pilgrimage to decorate an evergreen tree with food for the forest animals at Christmastime. The Christmas Story by Gennadii Spirin--The Christmas story : according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke from the King James Bible / paintings by Gennady Spirin. The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza by David Shannon--Much to the dismay of neighbors and family, Mr. Merriweather's Christmas display grows from a simple string of white lights into an outrageous spectacle. The Christmas Coat by Clyde Robert Bulla--Two brothers who squabble all the time cause their mother great despair, until a common purpose unites them in working unselfishly together--enabling them to give their mother her dearest wish for Christmas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado is one of my personal favorites. The lamb who is crippled can't go out with the shepherds and other sheep because he can't walk that far so he is in the stable when Jesus is born. I have a disabled dd so this one always makes me cry! In a good way. Others we enjoy: Olive the other reindeer--Olive is a dog who thinks she's one of Santa's reindeer Carl's Christmas Any of Tomie dePaola's Christmas books--we always got these from the library--The Night of Las Posadas, The Legend of the Poinsettia, and An Early American Christmas are all good, but there are a ton more. Check out the dePaola collection in the children's section of your library. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Good suggestions so far, and I would add: "The Christmas Mouse" (story of the writing of Silent Night) The chapter of Little Women where the main characters give their much anticipated Christmas treats to a needier family How the Grinch Stole Christmas Paul Maier--"The Very First Christmas" (If you like that one, and I'll bet you will, he has also written similar books about Easter and Pentecost.) "Christmas Truce" In the video category (this MUST be the videos, the story books would not work nearly as well, and I am so not a video person): The Peanuts Christmas special Red Boots for Christmas (based on a German folktale. Most charming holiday video ever.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 B is for Bethlehem Who is Coming to Our House? (For toddlers) Tolkien's Letters to Father Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 This is a link to a previous post I made about the subject: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/576686-christmas-read-a-louds/?p=6708269 The whole thread had some other great ideas as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) Two of our favorites are: The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, https://www.amazon.com/Year-Perfect-Christmas-Tree-Appalachian/dp/0140558772 , about pluck and perseverance in WW1 Appalachia. It has additional meaning for us since we have family in the town it's based on. The Christmas Cat, https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cat-Efner-Tudor-Holmes/dp/0064432084 , about a homeless kitten delivered from a blizzard to two country kids. Not a family favorite, but someone should mention Polar Express, https://www.amazon.com/Polar-Express-anniversary-Chris-Allsburg/dp/0544580141 , since it's a ultra classic Caldecott winner about a trip to visit Santa. Edited October 11, 2016 by raptor_dad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWillSoar Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Mortimer's Christmas Manger (cute for young children) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Gift of the Magi The Other Wise Man (couldn't get through it without bawling) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado is one of my personal favorites. The lamb who is crippled can't go out with the shepherds and other sheep because he can't walk that far so he is in the stable when Jesus is born. I have a disabled dd so this one always makes me cry! In a good way. Others we enjoy: Olive the other reindeer--Olive is a dog who thinks she's one of Santa's reindeer Carl's Christmas Any of Tomie dePaola's Christmas books--we always got these from the library--The Night of Las Posadas, The Legend of the Poinsettia, and An Early American Christmas are all good, but there are a ton more. Check out the dePaola collection in the children's section of your library. Oh, we love Carl's Christmas :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lulubelle Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Wojciechowski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittanyM Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 We love Mortimer's Manger here too. As well as The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, Bear Stays Up For Christmas, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree and The Donkey Who Carried a King (joint Easter & Christmas book) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) I put ** next to our top 5 favorites :). ** Letters from Father Christmas (Tolkien) -- either ISBN: 9780618009374 OR ISBN: 9780395596982 ** Christmas Every Day (Howells) B is for Bethlehem (Wilner) Trouble at Christmas (Johnson)The TALL Book of Christmas (Smith)Find The Gifts on The Twelve Days of Christmas (a "Look and Find" book) (Tallarico) When It Snowed That Night (Farber) -- collection of poems ** The Remarkable Christmas of the Cobbler's Sons (Sawyer) ** The Christmas Knight (Curry) ** Small Miracle (Collington) The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey (Wojciechowski) The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree (Houston) The Polar Express (Van Allsberg) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Seuss) The Thirteen Days of Christmas (Overton) The Last Straw (Thury)Dance in the Desert (L'engle)The Other Wiseman (retelling by Kennedy) -- hanky alert!The Snowman (Briggs) -- another hanky alert!A Christmas Carol (French) -- abridged version ETA: a few more: Christmas Trolls (Brett) -- she has several other Christmas books, too Christmas Cookies (Lewison) -- a sweet chunky book for little ones -- the Carl book mentioned above reminded me :) Little Golden Book: Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas -- because everyone needs a few Little Golden books :) Little Golden Book: Elmo's 12 Days of Christmas Little Golden Book: Richard Scarry's Christmas Mice (Scarry) -- because everyone needs a few Richard Scarry books :) The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale (Shepard) No personal experience, but this Little Golden Book popped up when I looked for the one above, and it looks sweet: The Little Christmas Elf And some stepped readers for those just starting to read: Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever (Paterson) Merry Christmas Amelia Bedelia (Parish) Arthur's Christmas Cookies (Boban) Aunt Eater's Mystery Christmas (Cushman) Santa's Moose (Hoff) Minnie and Moo: The Night Before Christmas (Cazet) Edited October 11, 2016 by Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I didn't see our family's favorites represented: The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown Little Drummer Boy, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats The Clown of God by Tomi DePaola Each of these get a genuine tear from me the first read of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfknitter.# Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 A title I would add is Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeachyDoodle Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 The Sweet Smell of Christmas Personal childhood favorite (scratch n sniff book) A couple of years ago we bought the recordable Hallmark Christmas books. My parents did the recording on one book and my MIL did the recording on the other. One is The Night Before Christmas and the other is a religious story of Christmas. Other places sell the recordable books as well. Anyway, so now the kids can listen to their grandparents when we open those books. The Sweet Smell of Christmas brings back such wonderful memories for me! It was also my childhood favorite. Now I love, love, LOVE Angela and the Baby Jesus. It's written by Frank McCourt about his mother (Angela of Angela's Ashes). It tells the true story of how, as a little girl in Ireland, she took the baby Jesus from the church's creche because she was afraid he was cold. It's absolutely precious. Gets me every time! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Also, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is hilarious and sweet. It's thought provoking about how we see and respond to those who are less fortunate (be it financially, or with family, or both). Little House and Anne of Green Gables both have anthologies of their assorted Christmas stories. Annika's Christmas Wish -- I cry every time. And the illustrations are gorgeous. Waiting for Noelle is sweet, and so is Madeline L'Engel's The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas. (I got a much-awaited baby sister for Christmas one year, literally, so stories about Christmas babies are especially sweet to me.) Elizabeth Foss has a whole list sorted by area of the world here: http://www.elizabethfoss.com/journal/reallearning/2007/10/advent-and-christmas-with.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.