Favorite Christmas Books

Little feet pitter patter toward me.  A hand grasps a book, and a face wears a wide smile.
I know what is next...

"Mommy, would you read to me?"
I smile a yes in response.

We move to an over sized chair.
Arranging the blankets just right, we snuggle deep into the folds.
Our toes warm.


The lit Christmas tree casts a slight glow on the pages.
An overhead reading lamp lights the words for my tired eyes.

One arm gently squeezes my child in a slight hug, and another holds open the chosen book.
Little fingers help turn the pages and point out pretty pictures.

An ending arrives too soon for both of us.
Little hands gather the book, and cast off the blanket.

Cool air rushes over me.
I wait as little feet run for more books.

This time the arms are full, and we settle back in our warm chair.

Strewn books weigh upon our laps, but we don't mind.
Instead, we open another book, and settle in to read that arm full.


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Curled up with a child, or children, enjoying written words accompanied by good illustrations,
thumbing through familiar stories, wondering anew, being touched deep down with the spirit of Christmas, and creating a shared memory...these are blessings to me.


We all have favorite Christmas books.  Those are the ones that we love to share with our children year after year.  Our family is no different. 

A listing of our favorites, in no particular order:

Once Upon a Christmas: Holiday Stories to Warm the Heart, compiled by Alice Gray
A Little House Christmas: Holiday Stories from the Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Jacob's Gift, by Max Lucado
One Wintry Night, by Ruth Bell Graham
Christmas Is For Me! by Christine Tangvald
The Pine Tree Parable, by Liz Curtis Higgs
Solomon and Friends Learn About Christmas, published by AWANA Clubs International
Little Porcupine's Christmas, by Joseph Slate
A Charlie Brown Christmas, by Charles M. Schulz