With only a week left before the big day arrives, I am doing my best to make the most of each day leading up to it. In our home that includes lots of holiday baking, Christmas tunes, taking long car rides through the cold and falling snow with the heat blazing inside the cab, to gaze at the lights that transform rows of everyday houses and trees into a magical glowing wonderland, popping up a heaping bowl of delicious buttery popcorn and staying up late to watch all of the Christmas classics, making hot cocoa from real cacao bars and stirring it with peppermint sticks until they melt into the warm, sweet liquid infusing it with just the perfect hint of Christmassy goodness, and last but not least and most definitely one of my favorite holiday pastimes…bundling up in soft, cozy blankets by the splendor of a crackling fire, and reading Christmas stories. Each year we purchase a new book which becomes part of a treasured collection that we read over and over again all throughout the season.
Today I’d like to share with you three of the best-loved books from our collection along with a brief summary of each. It’ll be jolly-good fun. Sorta like an episode of Reading Rainbow, without the Da-na-dunt!
The Tale Of The Three Trees-Retold by Angela Elwell Hunt-Illustrations by Tim Jonke
In this traditional Christian folktale, three small trees stand upon a mountaintop and share with each other their aspirations for when they grow up. Years pass by and the three trees are surprised by the way that their dreams come true. This very touching tale is told quite simply, with a compelling reminder that although things don’t always go according to our own plan, God is always thinking of something better to give us.
Christmas Oranges-Retold by Linda Bethers-Illustrated by Ben Sowards
If it were for the gorgeous illustrations alone that you buy this book, it would not disappoint. They are so spectacular that I’ve often thought of buying another copy so that I could take and frame the pictures. The story itself is also beautifully written and terrifically heartwarming. Rose, a young girl who has spent her life as an orphan, experiences some difficult circumstances when the unexpected death of her loving caretaker forces her to be moved to a new orphanage where she is treated with cruelty. On Christmas Eve she breaks a rule and consequently is punished by having the only gift to be received by each of the orphan children, and the likes of which Rose has never sampled, a single fragrant orange taken from her on Christmas morn. What happens next is nothing shy of a true Christmas miracle.
Once Upon A Christmas-Compiled by Alice Gray-Paintings by Laurie Snow Hein
The cover says it all…”Holiday Stories to Warm the Heart.” Mingled amongst sixteen short-stories and illustrated with colorful paintings that draw you in at first glance, are several thought-provoking quotes, songs and poems for all ages to enjoy. I’m not entirely certain but I think the stories are true as well…at least I like to think they are. If you happen to know otherwise, please don’t reveal its truths to me—deal? We like to start reading this one a bit early in the month so we can enjoy one each evening, as they really should be savored one tender story at a time.
What’s your favorite Christmas story?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Can I send my boys to your house for the holiday season. It sounds like youguys have too much fun. We have been doing our fair share of making treeats and watching Christmas classics, but our Christmas book selections are quite lacking. I am going to start buying one every year just like you. That is such a good idea. Thanks again for the insight. You are just full of them.
How Ironic!! I ordered a new Christmas book for my family as well from Usborn books. A rendition of Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. I got it out last night and it scared the puwadens out of the three year old! I thought it wouldn’t be frightening for a younger book but the illustrations were quite scary!
Mother Of The Year.
so I went and took out one of favorite one’s, Santa’s New Job. It is a beautiful poem with amazing illustrations. It talks about how Santa is tired of the same ‘ol and feels like he needs a real job, one with pay.
Then a little boy comes with nothing on his list but things for his family. He sets out to help him enlisting the help from past children and realizes the gifts they had received as kids helped them become what they are today. He then comes to realizes that he loves the job, and the pay.
It is a very sweet story. My neighbor gave it to us last year, it was a great gift.
Thanks for the suggestions Candace as now I believe I will have to put away the new book and head to the book store, darn it.
I’ve read several of the books mentioned above and we love those too! Since I have a 7 and 5 year old I also have found that they enjoy a bit longer books. For the past two years we have read “The Best Christmas Pageant ever” and this year we found a book titled, “The Family Under the Bridge”. Both are chapter books that we read during the month of December that help us remember to serve others, judge less, and be grateful for what we have.
I like this idea of collecting Christmas story books. I need to get these ones. We have a good one called “The Story of the Candy Cane” It is a christian look at how the candy cane was shaped like a crook of a shephard, the letter J for Jesus and the stripes for the blood of Christ when he was whipped before he was crucified. It’s a touching little book.
I’ve decided this is a tradition I want to do with my family. So this year I bought “I believe in Santa Claus”. I hope you had a great birthday today. Thanks for being such a good example to all around you!
Love the Gift of the Magi. Warms me to the very core of my soul.