Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Our Fifteen Favorite Read-Aloud Christmas Books

{This post is chock-full of affiliate links, but my intent here is not to sell you anything. I just want to talk about books. You should know, though, that if you click through and order, it doesn’t cost you any more but it could bless our family ever-so-slightly. And thank you!}

One of the highlights of our Christmas decorating is pulling out of the storage tub a stack of books that haven’t seen daylight for over ten months.

All activity ceases while children pile on couches and pillows, and Bigs read to Littles or Bigs read silently. It makes a mama’s Christmas joy overflow.



As you can see from our shelf, I think we have far more than fifteen Christmas books. J They range from simple board books to young adult chapter books that we read aloud through the Christmas season.


Here we go ~~




An Angel's Story  This little book is an amazing look at the spiritual warfare that could have occurred around Mary’s pregnancy and Jesus’s birth. We read it at bedtime the week leading up to Christmas, and the children beg for more at the end of every chapter.



The Candymaker's Gift: The Legend of the Candy Cane  There are many versions of this story that tells of the legendary meaning that the white of the candy cane symbolizes Jesus’s purity and the red symbolizes his blood. We usually need tissues for this reading. J



The Crippled Lamb  Joshua is a little lamb left behind in the barn when the shepherds go out to the field with the other sheep. But guess what happens in the barn? J Love the illustrations in this one.



The Promise: A Christmas Tale  A mute boy receives a promise from his mother on her deathbed that a king would need her shawl and the king would give him a voice. As you can guess, it takes place in Israel at the time of Christ’s birth. J



The Drummer Boy: A Christmas Tale  Ted Dekker could never be labeled a warm-and-fuzzy writer, and this book presents a look at a future in which it is illegal to say the word Christmas. But a young boy, with the help of a drum, takes a stand for Jesus.



A Christmas Carol  Does this one need a description? J {Although I can’t say I care for that cover.}

Deck the House by Andrea Pelleschi. There isn’t any spiritual message to this book, but it has adorable pictures of mice decorating their home and chubby toddler hands love lifting the flaps.



How the Grinch Stole Christmas!   Another classic. J

Teddy Bear’s Christmas by Linda Worrall. This and the next bear book I bought at a rummage sale when my 14yo was a baby. I have never seen them for sale, anywhere, since. I mention them because the Littles always enjoy the cute pictures of the bears giving gifts to the dog and making a Christmas cake.

Three Christmas Bears by Linda Worrall. Sometimes a book can be just fun without a heavy spiritual application. Maybe this would be a good book to follow Ted Dekker. J



I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles  I Spy is always fun, and there are several versions for Christmas. ‘Nuf said.



Can You See What I See?: The Night Before Christmas: Picture Puzzles to Search and Solve  Another fun book for afternoons on the couch under an afghan or for road trips to Grandma’s house.


 
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies  The mouse? Yes, please!



Merry Christmas, Mouse! (If You Give...)  Another great mouse story.

The Shepherd’s Christmas Story by Dandi Daley Mackall. This is the Christmas story from a shepherd’s point of view told in first person.


As school slows down, why not slow down other activities as well and take some extra time for reading? Feed your brain, grow your faith, and nurture relationships, all at the same time. What more could a person want? J







What are your favorite read-alouds for Christmas? I’m always looking for something new!





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18 comments:

  1. These books sound wonderful! It's been awhile since I last read aloud a picture book. I miss those days. I'm looking forward to being a grandmother some day in the future and then I can run out and buy some of these books!

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    1. Some of these you could enjoy now, Cathy. They aren't all traditional picture books, like An Angel's Story and the Ted Dekker books. Happy reading! :-)

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  2. Meghan, it is like Christmas at our house -- wait! It IS Christmas! -- every time we take out the Christmas books that have been boxed up for 11 months!

    I'm pinning your list because there are several books here we don't have yet. Thanks for sharing these with us! Also, sharing on Facebook & Twitter.

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    1. That's our favorite part of the Christmas decorations, I think -- the books! Thanks so much for all the shares, Keri! :-)

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  3. One of my favorite things about Christmas and homeschooling is pulling out all the books we love to read at Christmas. You listed some I have not read with my children yet. I hope to check into them soon. Thanks for sharing your favorites!

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    1. I'm so glad you found some new books, Melanie. Thanks for stopping in!

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  4. Fun list! I may have to check some of these out at the library.

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    1. Enjoy your reading, Jenni! So happy to see you here!

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  5. The Grinch & A Christmas Carol are two that we love as well! I laughed and had to do a double-take when I saw Ted Dekker on the list :) My husband has read (and tried to explain to me the appeal of) his other books - you have now piqued my interest and I may have to track his Christmas books down!

    Great list, Meghan! Thank you for sharing :)
    ~Lisha :)

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, Lisha. I haven't read Ted Dekker's adult books because they just don't appeal to me. But these books for children are pretty good, although a bit more intense than the others on the list. I'd love to know how you like them...or don't. :-)

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  6. Great List....we have read several of them to the grandkids!

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    1. Thanks, Paula! Merry Christmas to you and your family! :-)

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  7. Thank you for this list, it reminds me how important it is to read aloud. Life gets so busy. But this list reminds me of this little gift I can enjoy with my girls. Thank you .
    http://www.thehealthyandfithomeschoolmom.com

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    1. Opening a book is like unwrapping a gift, isn't it? Thank you for your kind comment, Katheryn. Merry Christmas! :-)

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  8. Thanks for the list. We have plenty of Christmas Stories, but only one of the ones from your list. I may have to add a new one to our collection.

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    1. I'm glad it was helpful, Suanna. Happy reading, and Merry Christmas! :-)

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I so much appreciate your time and effort in leaving a comment, and I try to respond to as many as time permits. :-)
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