I try to be consistent with nightly read-aloud family story time in December. There are so many lovely books, both religious and secular, with charming and meaningful messages, lovely prose, and beautiful artwork. Here are some of our favorites. Most of these I get from our local library.
This first group are the fun-themed books with Santa, reindeer, funny characters, etc. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite.
Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Bruce Whatley
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Cheryl Harness
A Creature was Stirring by Goodrich
Click Clack Ho Ho Ho by Cronin
Snowmen for Christmas by Buehner
Christmas Wombat by Jackie French (My older boys think this one is hilarious and they can quote it.)
Gingerbread Pirates by Kladstrup
Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
Houseful of Christmas by Joosse
Too Many Tamales by Soto
On Christmas Day in the Morning by Swet
The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs by Conahan
Jingle Bells by Trapani (great for teaching about traditions in other countries)
Auntie Claus by Primavera
My Penguin Osbert by Kimmel
How do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas by Yolen
Olivia Helps with Christmas by Falconer
Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker by Englelbreit
The Polar Express by Van Allsburg
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea (ROAR!)
Oh, What a Christmas by Garland
A Homemade Together Christmas by Cocca-Leffler---really nice for talking about making gifts instead of buying them.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Next are the fun books, B list. Still good, especially for my younger two. Just not on my personal classics list. I wouldn't stretch myself to track these down, but they are worth checking out.
The Christmas Bears by Chris Conniver (The storyline is OK, but the illustrations are darling.)
The Three Bears Christmas by Kathy Duval
Merry Christmas Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
Christmas at the Top of the World by Coffeey
Santa's Stowaway by Dorman
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Dewdney
Christmas Magic by Stainton
These next books are about Christ's birth, and/or have themes like charity and giving. I save these for Sunday story time especially.
Asleep in the Stable by Hillenbrand
Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey by Byrd
Gifts of the Heart by Polacco
The Orange for Frankie by Polacco
The Little Fir Tree by Lamarche (This one makes me cry. Every. Single. Time.)
Spirit of Christmas by Tillman
Great Joy by DiCamillo
Room for a Little One by Waddell
The Crippled Lamb by Lucado
December by Bunting
Listen to the Silent Night by Mackall (artwork is lovely)
Christmas Is by Gibbons
Happy December! Happy reading!
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