I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all year.
– Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Christmas Traditions
One thing I have tried to instill in my children is the love of reading. One way I tried to do this was to purchase each child a classic book each Christmas. At the same time, I also bought myself a Christmas book that I wanted. Usually, it would be in the form of a coffee table book; something pretty to sit around but also available to readers.
Today I thought I would share with you some of the Christmas books I have purchased over the years.
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A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
This has probably been one of my favorite Christmas stories all my life. I determine to what at least one form of the story in movie form every year. It’s really the story of what salvation can do in the heart of a new believer.
Christmas in Harmony by Phillip Gulley
Gulley is a Quaker minister who writes stories about being a minister. Especially for those in the ministry, his Harmony books will give you so much joy as you relate to all the antics that happen in and around the church. The first in the series is Home to Harmony which at this writing is free on Kindle! Click here You will especially love the Christmas in Harmony.
Christmas in Mitford by Jan Karon
I am a lover of Jan Karon’s Mitford series, another set of stories about a minister living in a small town. At Home in Mitford will get you started on the series. Or just get the boxed set of volumes 1-4.. But you might want to pick up the Christmas gift set to get a taste of Jan’s fun writing style.
Or Jump right in the middle of the series and read the Christmas book, Shepherds Abiding. No matter which you choose, you will love, love, love them.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
Another favorite is from popular author, Ann Voskamp. Her book, One Thousand Gifts changed the way I look at life. She has a beautifully illustrated family advent book which I fell in love with immediately upon holding it in my hands. Unwrapping the Greatest Gift brings you through the ancestry of Jesus using the Jesse Tree based on the scripture promise in Isaiah 11, ” Out of the Stump of David’s family will grow a shoot- yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root ….. In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.” For 24 days a story from the Bible is told in reference to the birth of Jesus.
Each day’s devotion end’s with discussion questions for the family and then activities suggested for the family to do during the Christmas season.
For more information about Jesse Tree Devotions
If you would like an adult version of this, pick up The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.
The Night Before Christmas
Every family needs to have a colorful copy of the Night Better Christmas a poem by Clement Moore. I picked up this classically illustrated book by Jan Brett. It’s a great book to use for the family reading on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Stories Keepsake Collection
If you would like a book containing several Christmas short stories, you might enjoy this one. This collection has many favorites interspersed with many favorite Christmas Carols. Some of my favorites included are:
- the First Christmas story straight from the Bible,
- A Visit From St. Nicholas,
- A Christmas Carol
- The Gift of the Magi
- The Nutcracker
- Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Clause
- and more
The Tiniest Tree By Ann Banco Reade
A couple years ago we moved across the street from a budding children’s author. She gave me one of her new books called The Tiniest Tree. The story takes a trip with a Christmas tree from the forest to the city. The little tree learns many lessons along the way. You will find my review here.
Christmas Stories by Max Lucado
Finally, who wouldn’t want a couple of Max Lucado stories around? Lucado is one of the best storytellers around. He has a long list to choose from but here the one we have.
What do you have in your Christmas book collection?
Click on of the links above to get started or add to your collection. You won’t regret it.
Christmas Movies
8 Christmas Movies You May Have Missed
The Joy Of Including Jesus In Christmas
Pastor’s Wife (retired) & Chronic Pain Warrior blogs about how to make it through anything by relating her own life experiences to her writing. She is passionate about her love for the Lord and desires to spread that passion to others. She has a great desire to encourage women who are following behind her.
The Christmas Carol is one of my faves! Thanks for this awesome list. Blessed to be your neighbor at the linkup.
Tara,
Yes! I love A Christmas Carol. I have a Bible study of it but have never gone through it!
Ironically, we just finished watching “The Man Who Invented Christmas”, the story (maybe fictionalized) of Charles Dickens when he was writing the book. It prompted me to order the book because I am afraid to say that is one classic novel I haven’t read. I will now! I have read all of the Mitford and Father Tim books. I even got the cookbook for Christmas one year but haven’t tried the orange marmalade cake!
I’ve not watched that movie. Will have to check it out. I never finished the Mitford Series. I may need to start over