Christmas Books for the Kids

In our house I always bring out a big basket of holiday themed books for the kids.  Christmas, Easter, Halloween, St. Patricks Day - that basket is always full.  Even though my kids are getting older, and the books don't hold the same "oh" "ah" factor they once did, my kids actually get angry with me if I don't put the basket out.  They like leafing through their favorites from years past.  Proves they actually have a sentimental streak, even though they won't wear the fuzzy footy pajamas with candy canes I was sure they would be crazy about this year!  Go figure.

Well with Christmas upon us, I thought I would pull out a few from the basket that are our perennial favorites.  Hope your family enjoys a lovely holiday and many hours of happy reading!

Title:         Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury

Author:     Jan Brett

This book is a collection of Jan Brett’s favorites holiday stories.  It includes her classic The Mitten and well as The Night Before Christmas and of course, The Trouble with Trolls.  Being Scandinavian, this book resonates with our family, but you don’t have to have relatives from the cold northern countries to appreciate the gorgeous illustrations, with hidden details throughout.  If you are unfamiliar with Brett’s work, let me just say that you and your children will be enchanted by these pictures and you will be able to pour over them for hours, as our family has.  If there is one book that gets me in the Christmas mood, it is this one!

Title:         What am I? Christmas!

Author:     Alain Crozon

This book is a guessing game that delighted my children when they were young.  With rhyming clues and flaps to lift to see if your guess was correct, this interactive story keeps little ones engaged.  “We work for Santa, No time to play, Making toys, for Christmas Day.  Who are we?”  Santa’s elves of course!  The illustrations are vibrant and cleverly done so that it is also a joy to look at.

Title:         The Latke who Couldn’t Stop Screaming:a Christmas Story

Author:      Lemony Snicket

Is this a Christmas story or a Hanukkah story?  Well a little of both.  But it is ultimately a clever and funny story that teaches kids about Hanukkah.  This book will teach your kids that Hanukkah is not a Jewish Christmas and that a Latke is not hash browns.  But the message it delivers is the best, “It is very frustrating not to be understood in this world...everyone and everything should be welcomed somewhere.”  Now if that isn’t a message for the holidays, I don’t know what is!

Title:         My Penguin Osbert

Author:     Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

This book is a tribute to all kids who want a puppy for Christmas, but then realize how much work it is to take care of.  Joe never seems to get exactly what he wants for Christmas, but when he asks for a penguin, lo and behold the stars are aligned and he gets his wish.  The only problem is that taking care of penguin is a lot less fun than he expected, so he is relieved when his penguin Osbert decides that life at the zoo might be better.  But of course, Joe is not about to reign in his imagination for next year!

Title:         Priscilla and the Great Santa Search

Author:     Nathaniel Hobbie

I am a huge Priscilla fan.  The illustrations are just fabulous and the story, which is told all in rhyme, always delights me.  In this story Priscilla and her best friend Bettina are in search of the real Santa, so they decide to make a trek to the North Pole.  While they don’t actually see the big bearded man, they are surprised to find he has made an appearance in the most unusual of places.  These books always have me smiling and my daughter and I always have fun reading the latest Priscilla offering!