As the holidays draw closer, here are some of my favorite books to share with your family, to give as gifts, or to enjoy for yourself.
There’s something magical about reading books around the holidays. It quiets us, slows things down and can even remind us of what really matters.
When my kids were little we started the tradition of reading a holiday story each night leading up to Christmas. It is one of my favorite ways to be intentional about connecting with my family during the busy season.
One of the most beautiful books for doing this each night is Unwrapping the Greatest Gift. My friend Julie and I chat about it here because it is such a simple way to be intentional during the holidays.
There are countless books we love, but here are a few favorites:
Perfect for the Whole Family
The Littlest Angel – This is a truly touching story that I can never get through without crying. It is beautifully told with stunning illustrations that every child (or adult) will love!
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey – A sweet tale focused on the softening of the hardest of hearts with one magic ingredient: LOVE.
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree – Courage, family, and tradition are all wrapped in this Appalachian tale.
The Legend of the Candy Cane – This legend looks at the holiday candy cane as more than a sweet treat. It reminds us of what Christmas is really about: Jesus!
Holiday Treasures for Adults
The Greatest Gift – This book is a beautiful long-form devotional to set your heart on the things of the season that really matter. It is a truly lovely book.
The Women of Christmas – Explore and prepare your heart for Christmas through the eyes of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna. This book is a scripture based treasure that women will love.
The Christmas Box – I love a great holiday story, and this novel is just that. This fictional series will leave you turning pages and remind you of what Christmas is all about. Even through immense hardship and even hurt hearts you can see the beauty of Jesus in each person.
The Shoe Box – This book is a true Christmas treasure, perfect for anyone who doesn’t know Jesus (or needs a little reminding). The Shoe Box a beautiful tale about a foster boy, holiday traditions and recipes, and the complete Christmas story from the Bible.
Do you have a favorite holiday book to share?
Check out these great sites I’m linking up with: Literacy Musing Mondays, Purposeful Faith, Tea & Word Tuesday, Abounding Grace, Tell His Story, Porch Stories, Let’s Have Coffee, Worth Beyond Rubies, Moments of Hope, Tune in Thursday, Dance with Jesus, Fresh Market Friday, Faith ‘n Friends, Blogger Voices Network, Grace & Truth, Heart Encouragement
Our favorite is the Best Christmas Pagent Ever- we read it just yesterday!
I’ve never read that one! I’ll have to check it out!
me, too!
What a lovely collection of holiday books, Rebecca. I hope your December is full of special days with your husband, kiddos and family! Merry Christmas!
Pinned & tweeted.
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
It’s funny, I am embracing a much simpler mindset about the holidays and trying to make space to just exist in the season. So far so good!
What a wonderful collection of books to read for the holidays! I agree. Reading a book helps to slow me down during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and to just savor.
Thanks for sharing.
Isn’t it amazing?! Hope you find something perfect to read in the coming weeks!
Rebecca,
I love Ann Voskamp’s, “The Greatest Gift”. I read it every year and hang the ornaments on my Jesse Tree. Reading a wonderful book, “Advent – The Story of Christmas” by Sherri Gragg…loving it so far. Thanks for the recommendations.
Advent blessings,
Bev xx
I’ve read Voskamp’s book, too. It is beautiful!
Thank you for the book suggestions. We have a an adopted granddaughter who came to us last December. I think the book, The Shoe Box may be a good read for her.
Awww, how special. I hope she loves it!
These are lovely, Rebecca.
A favorite of my family has been The Remarkable Christmas of the Cobbler’s Sons. Sweet pictures and just the right mix of magical story and family love.
And I always come back to Luci Shaw’s poetry collection and John Piper’s Advent devotionals every year.
Those sound magical! I imagine sitting inside reading one of these treasures by a warm fire!
We grew up on The Littlest Angel. A lovely collection. Thanks, Rebecca!
Isn’t it the best?!
I love the Best Christmas Pagent Ever :).
So good!
Thanks for this list. I think The Women of Christmas looks intriguing and like something I’d enjoy!
I hope you like it!
I loved The Women of Christmas. A couple of my favorites were written by Nancy Guthrie. One is a family devotional called Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room (but I read it on my own). The other is Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus, a compilation of writings from everyone from Augustine and Spurgeon to Keller. Gospel Meditations for Christmas by Chris Anderson, Joe Tyrpak, and Michael Barrett was good, too. The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a sweet story.
I can’t wait to check these out! Thanks!
I’m hoping to read ‘The Women of Christmas’ next year. I’ve never heard of ‘The Christmas Box’ sounds good! Thanks for sharing these recommendations!
such great choices! I love each one of these too!! thank you for sharing this review!!
So glad you liked them!
I agree with you on the magic of Christmas books. We put all ours in the attack every year and get them down with the Christmas decorations and they go in a basket under the tree for us to look at. This tradition was started by my mom and dad when I was young. Something about reading them by Christmas tree light brings my childhood back. I was all set to tell you that I didn’t know Francine Rivers had a Christmas book, but when I went to add it to my goodreads list, it said I have already read it. Hmmm. Maybe I need a refresher read?
I do things like that all the time! And yes, we have our collection that comes out every year with the Christmas decorations, too!
I haven’t done much Christmas reading. Karen Kingsbury has some nice Christmas reads, but I haven’t read any of them since I was a kid. 😐 Maybe I should give a couple of these a read…The Greatest Gift and Women of Christmas look intriguing. 😀
They’re great!
Thanks for sharing this great list! I don’t have a favourite holiday book, maybe now it’s the to me to choose some:)
It’s so hard to pick a favorite, but we can keep trying!
Rebecca, thank you for the reminder of some great Christmas books for all ages. I seem to forget about some once I have read them so need that nudge.
I do the same thing!
Love all the suggestions!