Enjoy this list of some of our favorite Christmas books and stories…
One of my favorites is Annika’s Secret Wish, by Beverly Lewis. Filled with delightful illustrations, Annika’s Secret Wish is about a Swedish girl, Annika, who has dreamed for ten long years–all her life–of getting the almond in her rice pudding on Christmas Eve. Whoever finds the almond in their pudding gets to make a wish, and have that wish come true.
Will this be her year?
This book inspires you to freely give and share even long hoped-for gifts–the best things for us are not always what we think they are!
If you like the Christopher Churchmouse Classics by Barbara Davoll, then surely you’ll enjoy A Churchmouse Christmas It is a story of Christopher’s birthday gift for Baby Jesus, written in rhyme form. I think it is a fun read
A Couple years ago, Mommy bought this book and read it aloud to us–to our enjoyment The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck, is a story of a little boy, Eddie, who really really wants a bike for Christmas–but on the night of Christmas Eve he has a dream. And the result of that dream (and some words from his Grandpa), is that he learns that the neatest thing you can buy from a store isn’t always the best thing you can receive. He ends up wanting something much simpler–a Christmas sweater–even more than the bike, not because a “boring, useless, itchy sweater” is so much more fun in itself, but because “sometimes a sweater isn’t just a sweater”.
Mommy read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson, to us a few years ago, and we all enjoyed it (we like it when Mommy reads books to us, and always beg for “just one more chapter” every time she stops ).
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.
None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale — the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating — has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.
One of our favorite advent books (that we’ve been doing for 20 years ) is The Advent Calendar Pop-Up Book by Meryl Doney. It has a short read, and a lift-the-flap for every day from the first of December to Christmas day–going through the story of Jesus’ birth. We all take turns opening the flaps (even us older people still like to do it ), and just to let you know, the “double doors” are the best ones to get (“double doors” are where you have two flaps to open, and not just one ). At the very end, on Christmas day, there is a big pop-up manger scene to enjoy.
The Last Straw by Paula McDonald Palangi is a favorite of ours–only we don’t have a neat illustrated version like this one–ours is in a “Christmas In My Heart” book by Joe L. Wheeler (book 2). You can read the story here. This story is where we got the idea for Secret Servants, which we do every year at Christmas time.
Some other favorites of ours, from the Christmas In My Heart books by Joe L. Wheeler, are these:
Guest in the House–by Ruth Emery Amanrude (book 1)
Edie has an impressive Christmas all planned out, since they’re having their sophisticated new neighbors, the Widdams, over for Christmas Eve. But her family protest to all the new things she wants to do, and instead want to continue with the same old traditions that they always do. Edie is afraid of what their guests will think of it all, but is reminded that family and the simple things are much more important than trying to have the best decorated house, or impressing people.
Rebecca’s Only Way–by Annie Hamilton Donnell (book 3)
A story of a little orphan girl who is looking very forward to receiving a doll for Christmas, and how she chooses to give up her dear “Joy child” to feed the hungry orphans across the sea.
Clorinda’s Gifts–by Lucy Maud Montgomery (book 6)
Clorinda learns that material things that you buy with money are not the only, or always the best, things you can give someone.
Red Shoes–by Anita L. Fordyce (book 7)
A story of a little girl, Jeney, who has crippled feet, and hates the ugly shoes she has to wear. A kindly, understanding shoemaker does something that had not been thought possible, and creates pretty shoes “like other girls wear” for her in time for Christmas.
A Successful Calamity–by A. May Holaday (book 7)
An enjoyable story about three siblings who unmeaningly add a lot of work for their Mother by having last minute friends over, and having lots of things to run off and do, rather than stay home and help. Their father finally has enough of it, and the parents leave unexpectently for a week, leaving the house a mess, and with guests coming to stay. The siblings learn just how much their parents have done and sacrificed (without so much as a word of complaint) because of their thoughtlessness, and determine that it won’t happen ever again.
Luke 1:26-Luke 2:40
The story of the birth of our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and Friend, Jesus Christ. If it wasn’t for this Christmas story, then there would be no reason to celebrate…nothing to celebrate. This is the most wonderful story you can read this Christmas!
Let us know what some of your favorite Christmas books or stories are, or if you’ve read any of our favorites
