I read enough and have a crazy enough schedule to know that pulling everyone together for a family reading time can be challenging. In spite of this, with my whole heart, I recommend picking one book to read together this Christmas season. Or each choose a book and all read together in the living room. Put cider in the crock pot, heat cocoa on the stove or brew a pot of tea. Grab lap blankets, rest in the glow of twinkling lights and snack on Christmas cookies (we like Trader Joe’s seasonal varieties!) or sliced oranges and apples (my son’s winter treat of choice). Be still…together, for a few moments each day.
Here are my favorites + Tina’s favorites (cohort in creating the Literature Kits)
Our new book this year: Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien ~ Tolkien wrote letters to his children from Father Christmas from 1920-1943. They are collected in this book including copies of the original letters with Tolkien’s whimsical and hilarious illustrations as well. This book is delightful. {all ages}
Extra: Letters from Father Christmas on Audible ~ BUT you really must have the book or you miss his handwriting and drawings.
The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury—It begins with a bookstore and a couple who uses this store to minister to people around them. They create community and offer hope through books they sell and the friendship they offer. This book walks through the themes of faith, purpose, identity, friendship, community, despair, deception, hope and second chances. Also, it’s a beautiful picture of the magnificent beauty of ordinary lives lived for relationship. {The Bridge Prequel, The Beginning // Great for teens (girls) to adult}
Finding Father Christmas, Engaging Father Christmas and Kissing Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn—I love all books by Robin Jones Gunn, and I enjoy this trio each season. A young woman’s search for her father, an English village at Christmas time, a story best enjoyed with scones and a pot of tea. Each book builds on the previous and adds to the story thread of belonging and finding a place to call home. {teen and up}
“Even though it was only dusk, all the lights were lit, turning this street into a twinkling fairyland that looked like a Victorian Christmas card. Of all the places of business on Bexley Lane, the Tea Cosy exuded the most charm. The building was one of the oldest in Carlton Heath; made of rock and limestone, it hinted at being a well-aged, diminutive castle….The string of merry silver bells jumped and jingled, and once again I stepped over the timber threshold and entered one of my favorite places in the world, The Tea Cosy.”
~ Miranda, Engaging Father Christmas
A Redbird Christmas: A Novel by Fannie Flagg—I can’t recall who pointed me to this read several years ago, but I enjoyed it so much I bought it. Quirky, captivating, hilarious, and heart-warming, this book features Mr. Oswald T. Campbell, who upon hearing that he had only months to live, heads from Chicago to a small town “…deep in the southernmost part of Alabama.” It’s fabulous, that’s all I can say — a beautiful story about forgiveness, community and new beginnings. {teen and up + my husband and son enjoyed it}
A Wreath of Snow: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Liz Curtis Higgs—Liz Curtis Higgs does historical fiction so very well and this novella is no exception. A wounded, hurting family and
a man desperately seeking forgiveness are thrown together on Christmas Eve, 1894 in Stirling, Scotland. Best enjoyed on a gray and snowy evening with a steaming pot of Scottish Breakfast Tea and a piece of Scottish shortbread. {teen and up}
The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall — There exists no shortage of Amish fiction books and most blend together in my memory. A small few stand out and this book is one of those. I absolutely loved this book. And, as far as Amish fiction authors go, Cindy Woodsmall is the one I have liked best.
The story begins with a marriage of convenience, but defies the predictable plot line. This story deals with themes of forgiveness, acceptance, courage, fear, unworthiness, kindness, community, God’s sovereignty and faith that is tested and refined. It’s a heart-wrenching yet lovely story of beauty from ashes — the kind of beauty only bestowed by God. {best 20-something young women and up ;-)}
The Christmas Bride by Grace Livingston Hill—I wasn’t quite sure about this book when I started reading. Being an old book (published in 1934) the style is different than what I’m used to, BUT it quickly won me over. Set in Chicago in the 1920’s, this book features Gregory Sterling, who was a man of character searching for his purpose. He crosses paths with a young woman, struggling to survive and sets out to help her. I was smiling and laughing and yes, even crying in spite of myself. {teen to adult}
Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John—If you want a FANTABULOUS read-aloud for your family this Christmas season, this is the one. Written in 1948, set in Switzerland, the author felt that her country needed a story to illustrate the power of forgiveness after the horrors of World War II. I recommend making “gingerbread bears” decorated with white icing to eat while you read this soul-stirring book. {ages 7-12, family read aloud}
EXTRA: Treasures of the Snow Literature Kit in our shop: A complete and comprehensive resource and hosting guide to use in your family or to use with friends who read the book along with you.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens — To be honest, I struggle with Charles Dickens. I’m slogging my way through Great Expectations right now. BUT, I really loved reading A Christmas Carol. This story has been told on stage and on air every Christmas for 170+ years. (Interesting fact: Abraham Lincoln was watching A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theater when he was assassinated — a mere 20 years after publication.) Some literary works deserve to be read in their original bindings, so to speak. This is one.
“I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.
Their faithful Friend and Servant, C.D.” December, 1843.
THREE FAVORITE PICTURE BOOKS
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado — A lamb named Joshua is left behind because he can’t keep pace with the others. He sees that his limitations give him a very special gift during a monumental moment in history. Every time I read it, I start to choke up and have to fight back tears. And every time, I tell myself I won’t get all teary because for goodness sakes I know what is going to happen. It’s a much needed reminder that God sees us and we’re not forgotten.
Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman ~ Mortimer is a house-mouse looking for more comfy quarters, so he continually is kicking each Nativity statue out of the stable. This is an adorable and creative re-telling of the Christmas story. I illustrations are whimsical and just so cute!
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrations by Mary Englebreit — the classic tale, THE BEST illustrations. My step-dad has read this to my kids every Christmas Eve since they were babies.
FOR ADVENT
Last year for an “official” Advent read, my husband read through Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent. In past years we’ve read through Jotham’s Journey, Tabitha’s Travels, and Bartholomew’s Passage from this series.
Jotham’s Journey is the first book in this series and they should be read in order. We often get behind on the readings, but even finishing after Christmas is still worth it.
Haphazard by Starlight: A Poem A Day From Advent To Ephiphany by Janet Morley ~We’ve gotten into poetry and this our poetry book for Advent. I bought it last year, started it, but got distracted and I am happy to have it on hand for this Christmas season.
TINA’S CHRISTMAS PICKS
{She recommends the above reads too ~ we share recommendations often, so these were her other favorite additions to the list}
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
I love the humor and beauty in this story of a Christmas pageant gone wrong. The Herdmans are the family in town with a set of kids who run wild, set things on fire, and bully everyone at school. When they take over the church Christmas pageant, everything goes haywire. This is a great read-aloud because of the incorrigible kids and their antics but has an ending that reminds us all of true meaning and hope of Christmas. {7 and up}
EXTRA: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever movie and it is also on Audible and CD if you are looking for something fun to listen to while traveling this holiday.
The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean
My kids and I have been reading this book every year since my girl was age four. She’s now thirteen and it is one of the things she most looks forward to each year. This book is the story of a woodcarver who is creating a Jesse Tree for a church. Each day a young boy comes to visit (much to the curmudgeonly woodcarver’s chagrin) and asks for the story of that day’s symbol. The book begins with Adam and ends with the birth of Jesus and retraces the stories that foreshadow his birth. My kids and I particularly love watching how the woodcarver’s relationship with the young boy changes his heart.
Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones
A friend gave us this picture book several Christmases ago and I still look forward to reading it each year. Jones’ beautiful prose, coupled with Jay’s unique paintings make for a beautiful and meaningful read.
The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L’Engle
I love this short and sweet book by one of my all time favorite authors. The Austin family is preparing for Christmas by doing something special each day of December. Seven year old Vicky is going to be the angel in the church pageant this year but she’s concerned that her very pregnant mother will have the baby before Christmas and won’t be able to be there. This book is short enough to be read aloud in less than an hour or you can simply read a bit each day of December. It is hard to find in print, but Amazon has an affordable Kindle version.
“and it was always said of him [Ebenezer Scrooge], that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!”
Amazon links are affiliate links. Merry Christmas!