He’s coming, He’s coming! Santa is coming!
There’s only a couple of days left now, but as the Grinch would say, there’s a lot more to Christmas than you can buy at the store. The Icelanders seem to have it right with their Christmas traditions, eschewing toys for an entire Christmas industry based around reading and literature and with our suggestions you could create your own version, reading with the family as the Christmas hours tick down on Christmas Eve.
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
It’s not strictly a children’s book, but in our house we like to pour a drink, sit in a circle and each read a little and pass along. It’s a great way to bring the whole family together and people can read as little or as much as they want to before passing it along.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr Seuss
The brilliant rhyming assonance of the Grinch makes it an easy read and fun for both reader and listener, but like most Seuss classics this one has an important message and this can be the perfect introduction to talking with your children about the consumerism of the season.
The Smelly Sprout – Allen Plenderleith
It’s safe to say that mum and dad don’t like sprouts! All the Smelly Sprout wants is somewhere to spend Christmas, but mum and dad have sent him packing. This funny and heartwarming tale is great for small children and fun to read too.
Stick Man – Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson writes some magical books and Stick Man is no different. This winter tale was a favourite with my own children and could become a favourite in your house too!
I Saw Three Ships – Elizabeth Goudge
This is actually a carol, but was reimagined as a children’s book by Elizabeth Goudge. This magical short story is the perfect read together, as Polly Flowerdew awaits a Christmas miracle!
The Nutcracker – E. T. A Hoffman
The tale of Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share and that makes it the perfect Christmas Eve read.
The Night Before Christmas – Clement Moore
We couldn’t have a list of magical Christmas Eve books and not include The Night Before Christmas. This book should be on the shelf of every household and Christmas Eve is the perfect time to pull this illustrated poem from the shelves and read it with the kids.
The Polar Express – Chris Can Allsberg
This lovely tale about a young boy who goes on a magical Christmas Eve adventure has stood the test of time and is a Christmas favourite! Take your kids aboard the Polar Express this Christmas with this beautiful Christmas Eve read.
We hope you find some good suggestions there and we’ll be back with more recommendations lists soon. If you want to ensure you never miss any of these, subscribe now.
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