Traditional holiday books make great gifts for children of all ages. Children who are too young to read on their own will love having these great stories read to them. There are some excellent holiday books to choose from, including classic stories that parents will likely remember from their own childhoods. Do you remember any of these?
'Twas the night before Christmas is a classic poem that was written by Clement Clarke Moore. It was first published in a newspaper in the 1800’s, and later became one of the all time favorite holiday books to read on Christmas Eve. The updated version, titled The Night Before Christmas is a pop-up version written by Robert Sabuda that injects further humor into this charming tale.
Do you remember A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens? Who could forget Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future? Mr. Scrooge is offered a rather harsh look at life through his “Bah Humbug!” attitude and is shown the true spirit of Christmas. A Christmas Carol is one of the many holiday books that will touch the entire family.
Other charming holiday books to add to your collection include Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinch goes out of his way to ruin Christmas but soon learns that gifts and treats are not what makes Christmas so special. The Whos down in Whoville show us how the spirit of Christmas can melt even the coldest of hearts.
Here’s a new take on an old story, written by Jimmy Hawkins, the man who once played Tommy in the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. Another example of lovingly illustrated holiday books, this tale is the sequel to the traditional story. Look for it under the title It’s a Wonderful Life for Kids!
The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg is considered a modern classic in holiday books. This delightful adventure describes a boy’s enchanting journey by train to visit the North Pole on Christmas Eve. This story, like the others above, has also been made into a movie, although the book has its own unique magic.
If you celebrate a holiday other than Christmas, or perhaps you simply want to include other cultural celebrations in your festivities, you may also enjoy holiday books on Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Look for titles such as I Have a Little Dreidel by Maxie Baum, an adorable pop-up book based on the traditional song of the same name. Also, look for My First Kwanzaa, a picture book by Karen Katz.
