It was such a delight to pull out our Christmas picture books every December. Of course we picked out holiday books at the library, too, but the following books are the ones we own. Hopefully, there are some on this list you've never heard of and can add to your own collection by either checking them out at your library or purchasing them from Amazon.
Once There Was a Christmas Tree
My kids LOVED this magical snow globe book when they were little. It was definitely a favorite!
(The front cover contains a pouch filled with liquid and glittery Christmas decor.)
Mr. Bear cuts down a tree that is too big for his and Mrs. Bear's home. They decide to share part of their tree with Mr. Fox who shares with Old Rabbit who shares with the Mouse family. So, "once there was a Christmas tree -- but sharing made it four."
Richard Scarry's Best Holiday Books Ever: The Best Christmas Present Ever!
This book is from my kids' great pawpaw and grandma.
My kids used to watch The Busy World of Richard Scarry cartoon, so they enjoyed listening to me read in the character's voices. (At least I tried to sound like them.)
Father and Mother Cat can't be home with their children to celebrate Christmas. Sally, Huckle, and Lowly are confused on Christmas morning when they can't find their parents, but Nana drives them to the hospital for a big Christmas surprise -- a baby!
A Charlie Brown Christmas
We own two of these books. One is a beautiful, red-cloth hardcover that my sister didn't want anymore. The other, perfectly worn around the edges, belonged to my husband when he was little. I probably don't even need to blurb about it since most of us are familiar with this timeless classic. :)
Snowmen At Christmas
I only recently obtained this lovely book from my sister's garage sale. My kids have outgrown picture books, but I remember checking it out at the library and loving it! I just couldn't pass it up. Oh my goodness! This is such a magical tale of snowmen coming to life to celebrate Christmas in the center of town while everyone is sleeping. Rhyming text and BEAUTIFUL illustrations bring this literary treasure to life!
Small, Medium & Large
I had the privilege of reviewing this book many years ago
. It's a super sweet book in which the main characters are based upon the author's own pets.
Except for a letter to Santa at the beginning and a thank you note to Santa at the end, words do not tell this story. Gorgeous pictures tell of a little girl who receives three of the best Christmas presents ever: one small cat, one medium dog, and one large pony. They have wonderful adventures in the snow, bake Christmas treats, play games, and sit by the fire. At the end of the day, they all pile into one big bed and fall fast asleep.
Piper's Night Before Christmas
A fun family favorite for a long time. Grandparents gave it to my oldest and only child at the time way back when in 2001. Our copy came with a read-along CD featuring Mark Lowry's voice.
Piper is a hyper mouse, and he WAS stirring the night before Christmas. While trying to peek into one of his presents, the ribbon catapults Piper right out the window! He flies into a church during a Christmas play. Moved by the Christmas story, Piper retrieves his own present and gives it to the baby Jesus. He learns a valuable lesson that it's better to give than to receive.
The Crippled Lamb
Another book we've had in our Christmas library for a long time. It's a keeper written by popular Christian author, Max Lucado. Joshua, an orphaned lamb, can't jump and run with all the other little lambs. He's often sad, but his friend, Abigail - a big, brown cow - always reminds him that "God has a special place for those who feel left out." When Joshua has to stay in a stable while all the other lambs travel to a new meadow, he has no idea what miraculous event is about to unfold. It's Joshua who first welcomes the Savior to our world and helps to keep him warm. Joshua finally realizes that God does have a special place for him.
Spot's Magical Christmas
This is another book from my kids' great grandparents. It's a bit wordy, but if your kids love all the Spot books like mine did, then I'm sure this one will be a hit as well.
Spot and his friends help two reindeer find Santa's lost sleigh. After he and his friends find the sleigh, the reindeer fly Spot all the way to Santa's workshop.
If He Had Not Come
I received a copy of this book a couple of years ago to review for the Schoolhouse Review Crew. This book was originally published in 1938 by Nan F. Weeks and has been reintroduced to a new generation by David Nicholson. You can read a detailed review here if you wish.
Through the eyes of a young boy named Bobby, readers see what it would be like on Christmas morning if Jesus had never come. The world is a sad place, and no one in town seems to know what Bobby is talking about when he mentions Christmas. When Bobby opens his Bible, the New Testament is blank except for the faint words, If I had not come. In the end, it's all just a bad dream, but Bobby is gladder than ever that Jesus really DID come.
Bear Stays Up For Christmas
Another wonderful hardcover treasure that I found at my sister's recent garage sale. I've never read this one to my kids, so I guess I will have to wait for grandkids. :) I read it and loved it, though!
Bear's friends wake him up and keep him busy so he doesn't sleep through Christmas. Even though Bear is sleepy, he and his friends have all kinds of fun: hunting for a tree, decorating the tree, and singing Christmas songs. All of Bear's friends fall fast asleep, but he stays up! All night long Bear wraps and bakes to surprise his friends with Christmas goodies.
A Little Golden Book: The Christmas Story
Little Golden Books bring back my own childhood memories. The Pokey Little Puppy was my favorite one that my mom would read to me. I still have it and some of the others in the collection, but I don't remember owning The Christmas Story. I think my oldest was a toddler when he got this book at Trinity Baptist Church's Christmas Alpine Village.
With classic Little Golden Book illustrations, this story follow the original Christmas story found in the Gospel of Luke.
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