The Christmas Classics Booklist
Dark afternoons. They’re driving me insane. All I want to do is curl up under my covers, or brew another espresso and snuggle into my chair with a book. While these thoughts have not helped me grade my students homework more efficiently, or make much headway on those house projects or homeschooling plans, they have inspired me to choose which Christmas books I want to crack open this year.
There are just too many wonderful seasonal stories to savor each Advent and Christmas! I want to read everything aloud but alas, neither my voice nor my children’s attention spans can endure that many hours. So this year, I’m deciding to focus on classic favorites, those titles that are sometimes hard to locate on bookstore shelves but are worth the investment of an online search so they can join your stack of annual, hardback holiday friends. These I love to revisit every season and will continue to read long after my children have flown my winter nest.
Picture Books
Most of our favorite seasonal picture books we love are well known – and some are current and silly – but here are a few stories that might have eluded you in years past. The titles and authors are listed below, along with their original date of publication.
1. The Fourth Wise Man
By Henry Van Dyke (1895)
I own the full short story in one of my Christmas anthologies, but I’m more apt to open this picture book, with its beautiful illustrations. This story, which describes the wise man who was late to the stable and spends his whole life searching for the Messiah, bridges the gap between Christmas and Easter, and is filled with striking images of faith, hope, and charity. Every time I read this one, it brings my soul some new insight!
…………………………………………………….
2. Christmas Day in the Morning
By Pearl Buck (1955)
This lovely, simple story – written by the author of The Good Earth – describes the lasting impact of a farm boy’s simple act of love for his father on Christmas morning. I love how this story encourages children to consider their own kind deeds as presents and to brainstorm how they can demonstrate their love each day.
……………………………………………….
3. The Little Drummer Boy
By Ezra Jean Keats (1968)
I’ve taught this song so many times to my children’s choir that I decided I must finally locate the best storybook version for my own library. I love these classic illustrations, the adherence to the original legend, and – naturally – the inclusion of the music sheet notes at the back.
…………………………………………………………
4. The Story of Holly and Ivy
By Rumer Godden (1958)
A little doll wants a home but faces a gloomy, scary Christmas Eve in the toyshop. A small orphan girl decides to make her own Christmas trip to visit an imaginary grandmother. And a lonely, childless woman awaits her husband’s arrival home after a late night shift. This one has all the makings of a fairy tale, doesn’t it? My children thought so too. 🙂
Lost Christmas Novellas
These are beautiful selections that are out of print but worth the search, due to their unique storyline and presentation.
5. Miracle in the Wilderness
By Paul Gallico (1975)
This short story – easily read within 30 minutes – is eloquently told and striking despite its simplicity. The author shares the true story of a family who see their homestead burned to ashes and begin a march to their deaths following their abduction by warring Algonquins in the midst of the French and Indian war. A Christmas miracle inspires the Algonquin chief to spare their lives and to contemplate whether there might be any connection between the English God and his own people’s legends.
……………………………………………….
6. The Lion in the Box
By Marguerite de Angeli (1975)
This charming story is making a come-back and available on Amazon now. 🙂 Based on a true story, this short book describes the Christmas of a poor immigrant family in New York City in the turn of century. The children are ingeniously making Christmas from the little they have when a mysterious box is delivered to their door step.
……………………………………………….
7. Turkey for Christmas
By Marguerite de Angeli (1944)
If you had to choose between turkey for Christmas dinner and presents, what would you decide? And what do you do when all your siblings vote for the other option? This is another sweet story from the author of The Door in the Wall and a lovely addition to your Christmas library if you can find it!
…………………………………………….
8. I Saw Three Ships
By Elizabeth Goudge (1969)
This beautiful children’s story by one of my favorite 20th century authors describes how a little girl insists her elderly aunts’ home be ready to welcome the three wise men one Christmas Eve. When three mysterious ships sail into the little town’s harbor, the stage is set for a beautiful lesson in faith and hospitality.
Christmas Collections
9. Christmas with Anne
By Lucy Maude Montgomery
If you love Anne, then you will cherish this little book of holiday chapters from the Anne of Green Gables series and other, stand-alone short stories from Montgomery. This lovely little anthology also makes the perfect gift for literature lovers!
……………………………………………..
10. Louisa May Alcott‘s Christmas Treasury
By Louisa May Alcott, edited by Stephen Hines
The author of Little Women wrote many novels, but her short stories are even more numerous. Editor Stephen Hines has gathered some these unknown treasures together with a few excerpts from her novels intermixed. After each short story, a note is included, giving insight into the possible origin of the story and any autobiographical elements hidden within.
…………………………………………………………………
11. A Literary Christmas
By The British Library
This is my go-to anthology for Christmas poems and short readings and excerpts which can appeal to both children and adults. Charming pencil sketches are sprinkled among the stories, and it’s the perfect edition to pull out for Morning Time or bedtime stories.
……………………………………………………………………..
12. Winter Fire: Christmas with G. K. Chesterton
By Ryan Whitaker Smith
This book is a collection of various writing from Chesterton on the Christmas season. It is set up as a set of thirty readings for adults and includes essays and poems, stories and recipes. It is a beautiful book and a wonderful gift idea as well!
The Unusual But Unforgettable
13. The Long Christmas Dinner
By Thornton Wilder (1931)
Wilder is most famous for his play “Our Town” and his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey. This earlier play also encapsulates his eternal questions, hearkening us to think of deeper truths amidst the awkward and sentimental moments all of us encounter as we visit with family over the holiday. Wilder’s intended audience is older here, but this is still a striking drama to share with older children and friends in this season where the eternal touches the ordinary. (New edition coming next summer!)
…………………………………………………………….
14. The Ariel Poems
By T. S. Eliot (1927-1931)
These Christmas poems from the renowned poet of The Wasteland and The Four Quartets tell of the Incarnation’s meaning at the time of Christ’s birth and now. Eliot links birth and death – and even Christ’s future coming – to the familiar images of the Wise Men and the Christmas tree in his profound modern poetry. (These poems can also be found in various editions of Eliot’s collected works.)
Fabulous Favorites
Some of these I have already recommended, but I could not omit them as they are the quintessential classics for me and my family!
15. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
By Barbara Robinson (1972)
The Christmas pageant seems doomed when the wild Herdman children unexpectedly insert themselves into the production. They have no idea what the true meaning of Christmas is, and the other children watch in dismay as their hopes for a stunning, meaningful Christmas show seem to disintegrate. Of course, charity and grace triumph, and good comes out of even this holiday fiasco – with many laughs along the way. This book is readily available and a must if you have elementary aged children! (Also available on Audible.)
………………………………………………………
16. Letters from Father Christmas
By J. R. R. Tolkien (1920)
What could be more enchanting than a series of letters from Father Christmas himself? These are the tidbits left by Father Christmas as he visited the children of J. R. R. Tolkien. Each yearly installment contains hilarious tales of the adventures of the inhabitants at the North Pole: the bumbling Polar Bear who is always getting into trouble but ever wanting to help; Ilbereth and the other elves who are cleaning up the messes and disasters at the house unless they are distracted by snowball fights; and, of course, Father Christmas himself who must deal with invading goblins, snowstorms, and constant Christmas preparations.
………………………………………………
17. The Gift of the Magi
By O. Henry (1905)
This delightful story is told in such a poignant fashion and reminds the reader – with bittersweet humor – that love and sacrifice truly are the best presents. This particular edition features gorgeous illustrations and an excellent abridged text. You’ll often find the film adaptation “The Gift of Love” to be the backdrop for my own present-wrapping nights.
18. The Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens (1843)
I am sure we all have a copy of this novel somewhere in our homes – or at least in digital form. I love this edition though, because it is a facsimile of the original edition! This is a treasure for collections and all literary lovers. )
…………………………………………………………
Do you have any beloved Christmas classics I’ve missed? Let me know! My bookshelves may be bursting, but we’d never turn away a newly discovered treasure. 🙂
