Advent is upon us.  It’s been a joy to see our 9 and 8 year old engage this season more than ever before.  We’ve been waiting for years to see glimpses of their understanding surround the idea of waiting and hoping.  The girls are running with the idea of giving to others this season.  Our second daughter, Norah, who lives and breathes art, created an Advent basket.  It is beautifully lined with ribbon and various cards waiting to be written on and handed out to neighbors and friends.  And Sophia, our story girl, has been asking, “When are we going to read the story about St. Nicholas?”

Over the years, a handful of Christmas books have become family favorites. And we continue to add more! I’ve just about maxed out my number of books on loan from the library. The good news for you is I’ve made some lists!

SO….Cozy up with your family on the couch, grab your hot cocoa, build a fire, and pick a book or two from this delightful list.  Enjoy the season!

Advent and Christmas Read Alouds

Family Favorites

• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
• Annika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis
• The Nutcracker from the story by Janet Schulman
• The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• The Christmas Carol (A Young Reader’s Edition) Retold by Jane Parker Resnick
• Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
• A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor
• The Night before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss
• The Legend of St. Nicholas by Dandi Daley Mackall
• Letters From Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien

Other Christmas-themed books……

• Gift of the Magi by O Henry
• The Polar Express by Chris Can Allsburg
• Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray
• The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
• The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
• A Christmas Like Helen’s by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Coloring books

• Christmas Around the World by Joan O’Brien (Dover)
• Old-Time Christmas Village Sticker Advent Calendar (Dover Sticker Books)
• Nativity Stained Glass Coloring Book (Holiday Stained Glass Coloring Book) (Vol i)
• My Book of Little House Christmas Paper Dolls: Christmas on the Prairie
• Nutcracker Ballet Paper Dolls with Glitter! (Dover Paper Dolls)

Advent and Christmas Devotional Books

• The Divine Hours – Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle
• The Greatest Gift – Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp (Family Favorite)
• Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas Includes readings from Aquinas, Bonhoeffer, Dillard, Donne, Eckhart, Eliot, Guardini, Gutierrez, Hopkins, Kierkegaard, L’Engle, Lewis, Luther, Merton, Norris, Nouwen, Romero, Soelle, Underhill, Yancey and others.
• The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas by Dean Lambert Smith

What about you? What are some of your favorite Advent and Christmas books?