Christmastime is one of my favorite seasons to visit my local library. I love bringing home a bag full of books every few weeks full of new Christmas stories to try, gathered from browsing the bookshelves, reading reviews, or asking the librarians for suggestions.
Last year my librarians gave me a list of their favorite Christmas books, and you will see several of their recommendations reviewed below. What really warmed my heart this year, though, was when I opened Pippin the Christmas Pig and found a red envelope tucked inside with my name on it. Yes, my first Christmas card of the season was covertly delivered to me by my three sweet librarians, inside one of their favorite Christmas books from last year!
I hope you also have sweet surprises in store this season, including perhaps some that you will discover in the list below. Merry Christmas!
Red Sled / Lita Judge—This is a diverting picture book. The animals’ expressive faces and the onomatopoeic narrative is perfect for a read-aloud for young audiences. This little book is another reminder of how picture books can pack a lot of fun into a short, simple story.
Pippin the Christmas Pig / Jean Little (illustrated by Werner Zimmermann)—Pippin and the other animals in her barn learn about the gift of giving in this adorable children’s book with whimsical illustrations.
The Spider Who Saved Christmas: A Legend / Raymond Arroyo (illustrated by Randy Gallegos)—This glowingly beautiful picture book tells a Christmas legend that you may not have heard before, involving an unlikely hero. Fun fact: the name of the spider (Nephila) is the scientific name for the golden orb weaver species and means “lover of spinning.”
The Trees of the Dancing Goats / Patricia Polacco—In this childhood memory, Patricia Polacco shares tidbits from her family’s Jewish Ukrainian culture in a story that feels like the opening of Little Women but is even sweeter because it’s true. Once again, Polacco does an incredible job sharing about other cultures in a way that is warm and colorful. As the citizens of Ukraine celebrate Christmas this year in a time of oppression and danger like what Polacco hints led to her grandparents’ flight from the USSR, this book seems all the more timely. It’s a reminder of when family and friends pull together during hard times to remember the past and celebrate the blessings of the present.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas / Agatha Christie—A dysfunctional family comes together for Christmas at the insistence of aging patriarch and manipulative millionaire Simeon Lee. The pretense of gathering for warmth and goodwill quickly evaporates as the family members find themselves at odds with each other and baited for Mr. Lee’s personal amusement. But a Christmas Eve murder, mysterious identities, and puzzling family dynamics leave the local police in need of outside assistance. Enter Hercule Poirot.
My favorite part of the mystery is the layers of intrigue within the family and the strong female leads. Mr. Lee’s three daughters-in-law and granddaughter defy the stereotypes commonly in the murder mysteries of the golden age of detective fiction, and this break from the norm makes for a refreshing change.
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room / Nancy Guthrie—Once again Nancy Guthrie strikes gold. I only discovered her this year, but I have already read many of her books and was therefore excited when I discovered she had written an Advent devotional.
This book is written for families to use together and is an easy reading level without being boring or oversimplified. Each chapter includes a discussion about a specific Christmas topic, a prayer for your family to pray together in response to what you have read, and additional Scripture for further reading about the topic, plus an occasional carol at the end with an explanation about its significance.
Something that surprised me about this book, but proved to be another positive, is that the readings last all 31 days of December, not just the standard 25 of an Advent calendar. Guthrie reminds us of what we should be thinking about, not only before and during Christmas, but in the days that follow. The last six chapters offer the perfect conclusion to the Christmas season in place of the empty feeling you get after Christmas is over. Christmas is just the beginning, after all, and dwelling on its significance and true meaning offers the perfect gateway into the new year.
Christmases Past
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