Top 30 Christmas Books
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…and Christmas Book Advent Tree
We are again doing a Christmas Book Advent Tree (full image at end of post) and you can see last years tree here. The idea is that you open and read a book a day for the 25 days of December. I first saw this idea on the wonderful My Little Bookcase – Jackie has a whole host of literary themed Christmas ideas here. Last year I collected about ten Christmas themed books, and this year I’ve added a few more and some cheap and cheerful activity books. Being a teacher librarian who likes a SYSTEM, I put away all our Christmas books in January as I can’t bear books about Santa being read in May! Of course you do not have to construct your book tree entirely from Christmas book.
Below are my Top Thirty Christmas Books for 2013. Some are activity based, some are for shared or independent reading, some are religious and some are Santa based. They span the ages from early childhood to middle/upper primary. About half are under $5 so that an advent tree is viable option, but there are a few must haves in the mix as well.
Let me know if you plan on doing a Christmas Book Advent Tree and what titles you plan to add to it!
Top 30 Christmas Books
(Actually there is about 36…but ‘Top 36’ doesn’t have the same ring to it!)
To purchase these titles please click on the cover or title.
I’ve read and re-read this one already – without children! It so reminded me of wonderful Christmas times at my own grandads farm when I was a child! I’m purchasing this one for the gorgeous poppets who now live on that farm so they can share it with their grandad. If you have a farm you congregate at around Christmas, this one is a must. It’s a celebration of hot Australian summers, barbecues, utes, swimming in creeks and waking up together on Christmas morning.
I am so, so pleased to see another Blossom Possum book and Christina Booth has done a fabulous job with the characters originally illustrated by the late Kilmeny Niland. In this Blossom Possum tale, all the bush animals are trying to wake Koala Claws who is enjoying a nap that is just a tad too long!
This is a must if you are doing a Nativity play at school, or your child is to be in one. ‘The Nativity Play’ is a celebration of the event and a tribute to all those who perform miracles with wire coathangers and stripy towels!
Holiday Fashion Advice (from the desk of Nanny Piggins)
Christmas is the only day in the year when an elasticised waist is acceptable, indeed necessary, to fully enjoy the day’s eating. In fact I find, for optimum eating comfort, you cannot go past an all body wrestling leotard…it also means you are perfectly dressed is you get into a fight with one of your relatives over the last stuffing ball. (page 7)
Horrible History books are loved by middle – upper primary school aged males and females as well as their teachers…they bring history to life! They are history with all the nasty bits left in. In this one you can find out why making Christmas pudding used to be a crime and other horrible festive facts.
Okay so it is $24.95…however this is a book, it is home décor, it is art. It is amazing. Enough said. I adore it.
And then if you purchase the Pienkowski book/art above…well you must also have the Pienkowski ‘The First Christmas’ to accompany it. I can justify any book purchase, but really – books by Pienkowski are masterpieces and to be treasured. I have (please mum don’t be reading this) our childhood copy of the Easter version. This one uses the King James Bible version of the birth of Christ.
For a simple and child friendly nativity story, this one is $2.50 well spent.
Another board book edition of a classic tale by the creator of ‘The Rainbow Fish’ books.
Christmas is coming, and Olivia is incredibly busy. She has to wait for Santa, make sure Dad sets up the tree, watch Mum make the Christmas dinner, oversee the care with which the stockings are hung, and, of course, OPEN HER PRESENTS! Oh how I love Olivia! Let me give one last plug for the audio version read by Dame Edna which you can find in this post here.
Last board book I promise (but they are perfect for this advent tree and they last and last!). Who doesn’t love Spot?
I do not know why this one is currently $4.50 on Booktopia but I won’t argue! You can expect tears (from you)…but this is just lovely, lovely, lovely.
It’s Grug. It’s $3.95. What’s not to love?
Celebrate a Parisian Christmas with Madeline – or in my case dream of this! Seventy-five reusable stickers, you can decorate a Christmas tree, flick through pages of Christmas crafts and games, including an ornament to make, and the entire text of Madeline’s Christmas is also included. It’s super cute for Madeline fans.
PudStar hasn’t lost any teeth yet, despite wobbling them every night. You can read more about tooth fairy books here. Pud is really desperate for a lost tooth by Christmas…even she does manage to wobble one out I will have to get this one which also has a CD and toy. It’s a great little story.
If you or your child love all things froufrou then I’d be surprised if you don’t already know about Fancy Nancy. PudStar and I are BIG Fancy Nancy fans.
This was the top present on out tree last year as it just was the perfect shape…and PudStar loves nothing better than a set of books in a slipcase. They are simple stories but have been very much loved in this house.
Great selection, I have already wrapped our Christmas books for this years advent! But I there are some you have listed for older readers I think i’ll have to add.
I’ve been on the hunt for some Christmas books for older readers!
Gosh, your tree is stunning! I can’t believe you have it ready to go for Christmas 2013. You are incredible.
You’ve got quite a few books that we don’t have in our Christmas stash.
Thanks for linking to our post too- lovely 🙂
Oh, I also forgot to add that I adore your Christmas angel. You should publish a post just for her.
He he! Great minds think alike. I’m happier with the angel than I am the tree!!!!
One of my favourites is “The Christmas Caravan” think it may be published in New Zealand ( I am not at school today to check)
By MARGIE THOMSON
Simon and his mother live in a caravan park.
The local council runs a competition for the best-decorated house at Christmas and Simon, who can’t afford to buy decorations, collects lots of rubbish and makes his own decorations for the caravan.
It’s a lovely, local Christmas story about conservation and values that extend beyond material consumption.
Scholastic
I like it because it gives those students whose families are doing it tough a chance to see you can do things without a lot of money…
Margaret this is probably my FAVOURITE…but it seems to not be in print! I couldn’t find it so was waiting until I found it to add it…but I think I’m just going to add it in and say BORROW IT FROM YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. I truly love this book!
[…] I’ve done a short review of all these titles here https://childrensbooksdaily.com/top-30-christmas-books/ […]
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