Beautiful Christmas Stories
The other day I was visiting the library and I picked up this story for my eldest son. I had seen it before at Barnes and Noble and had flipped through it, but I’d never actually read it.
It made me cry. In a good way.
It’s one of those stories that you read very differently as an adult. A child will see the story of a bitter, lonely woodcarver who carves a Nativity scene for a widow and her son. As a mother, I read it as a man who was finally able to face the grief of losing his own wife and son, and by carving the figure of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, was able to move forward with his life, toward a new happiness. If you’ve never read it before, go grab a small child (preferably your own) 
and read it to them. Most libraries will have it, but I’m going to buy the book, it was that heartwarming.
There are a few holiday books that I like reading to my kids. “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” is always a favorite, but I also enjoy “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.”
Do you have any recommendations for other books I could read to my kids? Any other classics that I’m missing out on?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 8:02 am | Viewed 2825 times
Rene Says:
You might want to find “Santa Claus, the World’s Number Toy Expert” by Marla Frazee. The story itself isn’t all that dramatic or impressive but the illustrations are. “Merry Christmas, Strega Nona” by Tomie dePaola is a favorite with my daughter. The kids love Strega Nona.
Tori Lennox Says:
I always read 101 Dalmatians at Christmas. The original book not a movie adaptation. It’s set during the holidays. I’ve read it every Christmas since I was in grade school.
Kacey Says:
Wonder if my boys would sit and still let me read to them…
Michelle Styles Says:
If you can get hold of Tasha Tudor’s Take Joy or any of Tasha Tudor’s Christmas/holiday books, the illustrations are wonderful. Take Joy has some lovely recipes in it as well as carols…
Polar Express is good. The christmas reindeer. First Snow by Kim Lewis. What I do is to put away all the Christmas themed books with the decorations and then the children have the delight and pleasure of rediscovering them each year. Even now that they are teenagers, the books come out and they look through them…
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey Says:
You might also like to see our film of The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey starring Tom Berenger and Joely Richardson.
Michelle Says:
Rene–thanks for the recommendations!
Michelle, I love that idea of putting the holiday books away with the ornaments and bringing them out once a year. I may do that.
Anonymouse–I haven’t seen the movie, but I’d like to!
Kacey–I’m thinking …probably not.
Tori–I’ve never read the original 101 Dalmations story–just the Disney version. I’ll have to try that!