What gets you in the spirit of Christmas more than reading a good seasonal book? Whether it’s an old classic, a new romance, or even a Christmas cozy mystery, Christmas books will warm your Grinchy heart and get you in the mood for hot chocolate, Christmas trees, and time with your family or worship.
Advent Readers
My advent readers are perfect for family readings. Grab a chocolate from the advent calendar, snuggle up in some fuzzy socks, and listen to a short passage of A Christmas Carol or The Life of Our Lord (or both) each night from December 1 to December 24. Footnotes will help guide your family through some of the more obscure passages. A devotional scripture and discussion question are included at the end of each reading to encourage you to really ponder and discuss the daily reading. Don’t forget that if you buy a print copy, you can get the Kindle edition for $0.99 under the Kindle Matchbook program.
There are three unabridged readers available:
A Christmas Carol – Yes, Charles Dickens’ much-beloved tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge’s visit by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. You’ve seen the movies. You keep saying that you’re going to read it. Put your plan into action this year by reading A Christmas Carol in 24 nightly readings throughout the advent season.
A Special Christmas Gift
How about a little something free for your stocking? Download this beautifully formatted copy of A Visit from St. Nicholas to frame, give as a gift, or read Christmas Eve with your children or grandchildren.
More Christmas fun
Yuletide Lights: Holes in the Christmas Stocking, by Lenore Plassman
Fifteen tales of love, laughter, giving and warmth. The stories are drawn from the richness of the author’s experiences and tell of strength in the midst of adversity, generosity amongst poverty.
Walk in dark and lighted places of street, island, and farm, and know that the spirit of the holiday is there in all its forms.
Here is the magic of the holiday as seen through the eyes of children, working mothers and the elderly. Here also is kindness for the weak and compassion for fellow travelers.
Contains two guest tales by the author’s husband and daughter.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson
One of my favourites!
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.
None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale — the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating — has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.
A Christmas Song, Mark Heiner
Merry Christmas! Or is it? Take a holiday journey with Thomas G. Pemblin and Ebenezer Scrooge as they examine the state of Christmas and its questionable future.
The Christmas Box, by Richard Paul Evans
The Christmas Box has become a holiday classic, a tale so touching that it continues to “tug families’ heartstrings” (USA Today). His exquisite prequel, Timepiece, and The Letter completed the glorious trilogy of the Parkin family. Now all three magical stories are compiled in one extraordinary treasury that -reaches into that place where all broken hearts will forever be made whole” (The Star, Chicago).
The Last Christmas Letter, by M. J. Goulart
Patti has dreamed of the mail since she was a little girl. So, she is delighted when she receives her first letter to deliver…all the way to The North Pole! Will the letter make it to Santa in time? How?
Curl up with a cup of hot cocoa and find out in this heart-warming Christmas tale.
*Includes “My Christmas Letter” page. Don’t forget to fill it out and mail your letter to Santa!
The Shepherd, by Frederick Forsyth
It is Christmas Eve, 1957. Flying home, on leave from Germany, he is alone in the cockpit of the Vampire. Sixty-six minutes of flying time, with the descent and landing – destination Lakenheath. No problem, all routine procedures.
Then, out over the North sea, the fog begins to close in. Radio contact ceases and the compass goes haywire. Suddenly, out of the mist appears a World War II bomber. It is flying just below the Vampire, as of trying to make contact…
Christmas Tango, by Aislinn Kearns
It’s nearly Christmas, and the last thing Duncan wants is to be dragged to a fancy party and made to play nice. And yet Mandy—his business partner and bane of his existence—somehow convinces him to attend a charity auction with her so they can scout potential clients.
Duncan is looking for an escape from the festivities when vicious armed men take over the building, trapping Mandy in a deadly situation. With no way to call for help, Duncan is the only one that can save her.
No weapons, a bad leg, and a growing realisation of his feelings for Mandy.
Yippee-ki-yay.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, by Dr. Seuss
“Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot . . . but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!” Not since “’Twas the night before Christmas” has the beginning of a Christmas tale been so instantly recognizable. No holiday season is complete without the Grinch, Max, Cindy-Lou, and all the residents of Who-ville, in this heartwarming story about the effects of the Christmas spirit on even the smallest and coldest of hearts. Like mistletoe, candy canes, and caroling, the Grinch is a mainstay of the holidays, and his story is the perfect gift for young and old.
The Daughter Claus, by D. Thrush
Tina Claus has daddy issues. Santa is a workaholic who has focused all his attention on her brother assuming he’ll take over the family business. But Nick just wants to be a rock star. Santa’s wife frets about his health and urges him to retire to their condo in Florida. But who will step into his boots? Tina just wants to finish college and have her own life. But a family emergency forces her to return to the North Pole while Nick’s band is on tour. Now she has to deal with a long distance crush, an irresistible old boyfriend, belligerent reindeer, her best friend’s drama, and too many Peppermintinis at the pub. And then there’s her father’s resistance to everything she does! Christmas is quickly approaching, and she’s counting on her undependable brother to do the delivery. It’s not easy being Santa’s daughter! Fun, girl power, and a little magic make this a merry story any time of year!
A Perfect Christmas, by Nora Cook Smith
Christmas isn’t always gingerbread houses and mistletoe.
Sometimes it’s opening the present you don’t want only to find out it’s just what you need. It’s turning yesterday’s leftovers into today’s holiday feast.
Nora Cook Smith adds her own special twist in this collection of short stories surrounding our most celebrated holiday. A slacker college student comes to the aid of a difficult feline and his life takes an unforeseen new direction. A young woman must bless her past before she can move on as a minister, and a coyote’s howl in the forest helps a young widow discover life still has possibilities.
Whether it’s getting along with an ex-wife’s child or savoring that rare moment when a malefactor gets his just desserts, these stories are not so much about surviving the holidays. They’re about jumping headlong into the mess and celebrating the miracles.
