A Collection of Reviews: Christmas Books

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat (or the ham, for my family), and school vacation is a perfect time for a bookworm. Here are a few holiday books that have been and continue to be enjoyed by my family!

This is a favorite among younger children. There are several versions of this story, but this one is probably the best one I've seen. Completely Christian and very sweet.
The Legend of the Candy Cane: When a stranger comes to a small town, everyone hopes for him to turn the abandoned store building into a different kind of store; and when the stranger shows his wares to the small girl Lucy, she learns more than just what this man plans to sell in his new store.

Let's now turn to some books for 8-12-year-olds. These family stories for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide have long been some of our favorites. 
Jotham's Journey: When ten-year-old Jotham becomes separated from his shepherd family, he searches for them across Israel, escaping robbers, making new friends, and all the while learning about the Messiah to be born. 
Tabitha's Travels: When ten-year-old Tabitha attends her father on their way to trace a small boy who has been kidnapped, it's only the beginning of an exciting adventure in which she must try to save the boy (a new friend of hers), rescue her father from the Romans, and help everyone she can, whether it's a Roman or the young woman giving birth to a special baby.
Benjamin's Passage: When ten-year-old Bartholomew's family was captured by the Romans and he was sent to be a slave, he never dreamed he'd find himself alternately rescued by helpful new friends and captured by greedy thieves, or that he'd ever meet his family again, especially in a stable in the little town of Bethlehem.

This sweet family story from Madeline L'Engle is another favorite.
The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas: As recounted by seven-year-old Vicky, the Austin family joyfully celebrates the gradual arrival of Christmas with their special traditions, longing for snow, and preparing for Vicky's major role in church's Christmas pageant -- and hoping that Mother won't have to be in the hospital over Christmas to have her baby.

For teenagers and up, this short story by O. Henry is a must-read. 
The Gift of the Magi: In this tale of sacrifice, the young, poor couple Della and Jim decide that all costs they must give each other Christmas gifts, and the results are... well, I can't tell you what happens. If you want to know, you'll have to read the story. 

Classics are called classics for a very good reason. Let's add in some Charles Dickens. 
A Christmas Carol: Cold and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge never celebrates Christmas and fails to see why he should do so or even behave with kindness to those around him; but all this changes when several Spirits visit him and show him the Christmases of the past, present, and future, along with his role in them.

And now, a bonus -- two Christmas movies! 

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Peanuts gang are celebrating Christmas, or trying to; they can't seem to organize their Christmas pageant just right, their tree is too small, and chaos reigns until they decide to learn about the reason for the season and what love can do.

It's a Wonderful Life: When a disastrous mistake causes struggling businessman and father George Bailey to wish that he'd never been born, his "guardian angel," Clarence, must find some way to change his mind.

Enjoy! :)