Hello and Happy December, friends! I am in complete denial that this month is a third over already. Nope. I refuse to believe it. We are busy holiday-ing it up over here and pretending like January doesn't exist. The garland is hung, the cookies are baking, the terrible renditions of carols on the piano have started, and the tree is up! And sometimes down, thanks to the toddler. No seriously. I am going to have to tie that thing to the wall.
I have been meaning to put together a little post on some of my favorite new holiday books for aaaaaages, but then I missed Thanksgiving and Chanukah completely and wondered if I should even bother with Christmas, because here's the thing about Christmas books: they're just...not very good. As a whole. Now, don't get me wrong! They are often beautiful, and they tug at our heart strings (because: CHRISTMAS) and there are thousands to choose from, but there's not a whole lot of original content out there. And even those that retell traditional stories tend to use such cliched language, that it's no wonder some folks (my husband) prefer the Grinch.
I'm not saying there aren't some real gems out there. You've got your Christmas Magic, your Gift of the Magi, your Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, and so on, but you've also got a whooooooole lot of other formulaic stuff designed by the book-publishing industry to simply rake. in. dough. Those are not the books I want to give to my little fella this Christmas. Those are not the books I want to read to him in front of the tree that will likely be completely bare by the 25th thanks to his ornament thievery. We have decided to read one special book each Sunday of Advent this year, and I am trying to be intentional about choosing books that actually mean something.
So I thought I'd put a little list together of some of my favorites this year (both silly and spiritual), if you're interested. or still looking for gifts to give in the coming weeks. There are a few re-releases, but for the most part these are all newer titles well worth checking out of the library or buying at your local bookstore. I was actually shocked at the number of quality books that were released this year. I had originally intended to compile a list of four or five titles, but you guys I could hardly narrow it down to SIXTEEN. Maybe things are turning around in the world of holiday publishing? It's like a Christmas miracle! Check out the full list after the jump:
The Night Before Christmas, illustrated by Hollie Hobbie (original story by Clement C Moore)
Little Santa, by Jon Agee
The Christmas Wish, by Lori Evert
My Wonderful Christmas Tree, by Dahlov Ipcar
Woodland Christmas: A Festive Wintertime Pop-Up Book, by Yevgeniya Yeretskaya
The Smallest Gift of Christmas, by Peter H. Reynolds
The Christmas Quiet Book, by Deborah Underwood
Santa Goes Everywhere, by Brian Biggs
The Birds of Bethlehem, by Tommie dePaola
Gifts of the Heart, by Patricia Polacco
The Message of the Birds, by Kate Westerlund
Good King Wenceslas, illustrated by Omar Rayann
Christmas Farm, by Mary Lyn Ray
The Velveteen Rabbit, illustrated by Charles Santore (original story by Margery Williams)
Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker, by James Mayhew
Christmas Mouse, by Anne Mortimer
So what about you guys? Do you have any family favorites? Polar Express? Olive the Other Reindeer? Or the classic Christmas Carol? I can never choose between Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum. Do you have any book-related traditions? Please feel free to share in the comments! I do love a long list of good books.
P.S.
I am saving all those marvelous snow books for the Book-Scout Winter reading list. Which will happen. One day. Fingers crossed.
