I love to establish and practice traditions. One of my favorite traditions is reading our Christmas books each December. They are enjoyed each year now by my grandson and they bring back memories of which were my children's favorites. I keep a box of Christmas books in
the closet and every year right after Thanksgiving, I take out the box and they become the preferred reading with my grandson. At first when I had a grandchild, the box had favorites that I read with my children. But there are lots of new books and a Christmas book collection always needs updating. Don’t wait for Christmas to
start your library of Christmas books.
Kids enjoy reading about Christmas throughout December. There are a couple on this list that I am eyeing for my 2 year old grandson and 1 year old granddaughter.
In no
particular order, here are some Christmas theme book recommendations. I have chosen these particular books because
I think they all have that special something which will make them want to be
read every year….even after they are presumably outgrown.
National Geographic Kids Weird but True
Christmas
My grandson is in the third grade and this
is the first year he has Social Studies so he is learning about places and
people from all over the world. This
book has fun facts and Christmas customs from all over the US and the rest of
the world. Older kids will enjoy flipping through this book over and over again
throughout the Christmas season and will find lots of things to share with
friends. I received a review copy of this book and my grandson really enjoys
it. Here are some sample fun fact pages:But that's not all there is a video to compliment the book at the National Geographic website and on youtube. Check it out here.
The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by
Emma Randall
When
my kids were little we celebrated the 12 days of Christmas – exchanging a gift
or doing something special every day. So
this song and books based on it always have a soft spot in my heart. This hardcover version is a new publication
and beautifully illustrated. It will be
enjoyed for a lifetime of Christmases and makes for a great family and group
read.
The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving
There
is always a lesson in each of the Berenstain Bear books and the stories are
always told in such a way that they are enjoyable. Remembering that at Christmas there is joy in
giving not just receiving is an important message for us to teach our kids and
grandkids.
Llama Llama Holiday Drama
The
Llama Llama books are one of my favorite series. And this brand new one is especially cute. Llama Llama doesn’t like all the waiting for
Christmas and is getting impatient. But
there is a gentle an loving lesson in values to be told among the beautiful
illustrations and fun.
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
The
Little Blue Truck is a favorite book with toddlers and this Christmas version
will also be a hit. The Little Blue
Truck delivers Christmas trees to his animal trees and at the end the lights on
the tree light up. Yes there are batteries,
but The Little Blue Truck is probably one that you will want to revisit every
year.
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas
Every preschooler and kindergartner is familiar with and loves the Pete the
Cat books. They are a staple at school and must have at home. The award winning book series is also now an Amazon TV series. This book tells Twas the Night Before Christmas with a Pete the Cat spin. This book is a guaranteed winner for many years to come. An extra - beautiful foil jacket. I bought this for my grandson when he was in kindergarten and he was super excited to receive it.
Christmas Day in the Morning
By
Pearl Buck Illustrated by Mark Buehner
This
classic heartwarming story of a boy with very little money who wants a special
gift for his father will come alive in this beautifully illustrated book. This is a book which stands the test of time
and will be read every year as a Christmas tradition.
You can get all of these books at Amazon. Click on the pictures below to go directly to Amazon.