Christmas Read-Alouds 2017

Every year I add more books to our “Wrap the books up and read a package every night”. First there was one book, then two in each package and this year most packages had four books. 

I think there were too many this year because we are still reading “new” books and Christmas passed a few days ago. I’m not sure what the solution is, I just can’t help myself from bringing more great books home. I’ll ponder this for next year. Maybe I just keep the favorite books in the wrapping and keep the rest of the books out in bins.

For now, here’s another updated list. Alphabetized by author now because the other way was making me crazy when I was requesting books from the library. For this list, I also put a *next to books that are becoming interwoven with our family Christmas

"Make it Yourself" theme: Nice for the beginning of the season.
A Homemade Together Christmas by Cocca-Leffler
The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
Shall I Knit you a Hat? by Klise

Traditions in Other Countries Themes
Jingle Bells by Trapani
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaloa
The Legend of Old Befena by Tomie dePaloa
First Dog's White House Christmas by Lewis (A pleasant surprise, I was initially put off by the title.)

"Don't Get Too Carried Away/Remember What Christmas is About" theme
The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza by Shannon
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Dewdney

Fun Non-Nativity themed books

Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett
The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve by Jan Brett
Snowmen for Christmas by Buehner
The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs by Conahan
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Cronin

Strega Nona’s Gift by Tomie dePaola
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Dewdney

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker by Englelbreit
Olivia Helps with Christmas by Falconer

*Christmas Lights by Fearrington—I like to start the season with this book and talk about the symbol of light.
Christmas Wombat by Jackie French
Oh, What a Christmas by Garland
A Creature was Stirring by Goodrich
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Cheryl Harness
Houseful of Christmas by Joosse
My Penguin Osbert by Kimmel
Gingerbread Pirates by Kladstrup
Redheaded Robbie's Christmas Story by Luttrell
Dear Santasaurus by McAnulty
The Christmas Ship by Morrissey (Amazing illustrations!)
Auntie Claus by Primavera
Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea (ROAR!)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Too Many Tamales by Soto
Twelve Lizards Leaping by Stevens
On Christmas Day in the Morning by Sweet
The Polar Express by Van Allsburg
How do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas by Yolen
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Next are the fun books, B list. Still good, especially for my younger two. Just not on my personal classics list.

What's Coming for Christmas by Banks
Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton

Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett

Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
Grumpy Badger's Christmas by Bright (This has the word "piffle" in it and it's fun to read.)
Merry Christmas, Old Armadillo by Brimner

When Cows Come Home for Christmas by Dori Chaconas

Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo
The Christmas Bears by Chris Conniver (The storyline is OK, but the illustrations are darling.)
Christmas at the Top of the World by Coffeey
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell by Colandro

Mrs Wishy Washy’s Christmas by Cowley
Carl's Christmas by Day
Santa's Stowaway by Dorman
The Three Bears Christmas by Kathy Duval

Christmastime by Alison Jay

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Susan Jeffers
Tacky's Christmas by Lester

Santa Claus and the Three Bears by Modugno

Santa’s New Suit by Rader

Christmas Cookies by Rosenthal

Together at Christmas by Eileen Spinelli

Inside, Outside Christmas by Spowart
Christmas Magic by Stainton

The Christmas Quiet Book by Underwood
Merry Christmas Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood

These next books are about Christ's birth, and/or have themes like charity and giving. I save these for Sunday story time especially.

December by Bunting
Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey by Byrd
Great Joy by DiCamillo
Christmas Is by Gibbons
Asleep in the Stable by Hillenbrand

Our Very Own Christmas by Annette Langen
The Little Fir Tree by Lamarche (This one makes me cry. Every. Single. Time.)

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones
The Crippled Lamb by Lucado
Listen to the Silent Night by Mackall (artwork is lovely)
Gifts of the Heart by Polacco
The Orange for Frankie by Polacco
All the the Newborn Baby by Phyllis Root

The Friendly Beasts by Rebecca St. James

The Donkey’s Christmas Song by Tafur
One Starry Night by Thompson
Spirit of Christmas by Tillman

Room for a Little One by Waddell

Other Books not for the Wrap and Read tradition, but fun to have around

Here Comes Santa Claus by Mary Englebreit

Red Sled by Rita Judge

The Snowy Day by Keats

The Strega Nona books by dePaolo, to understand the Strega Nona story
The Snowmen books by the Buehners, tis the season