The Book Basket: It's Christmas Time Again
Good books to share in December
Hi there!
It’s time for more Christmas titles! You can find previous lists of Advent and Christmas books here, here, and here. If you’re a library user, I’d encourage you to get some on your waiting list as soon as possible. The teachers are probably in line in front of you already.
There is nothing better to do this time of year than turn on the twinkly lights, make a mug of something hot, and settle in with some books. Soak it up and enjoy some favorites, new and old.
A Christmas Memory, Truman Capote. Yes, that Truman Capote! This is an autobiographical picture book about Capote’s 1930s childhood in rural Alabama. It’s probably best suited for middle schoolers and up—it’s quite long! But I, a grown-up person, found it charming and nostalgic. It describes his friendship with an elderly cousin. They have an annual tradition of making fruitcakes together. (I read the version illustrated by Beth Peck, which was beautiful.)
On Christmas Eve, Margaret Wise Brown. You know Margaret Wise Brown from Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. This book captures a brief moment on Christmas Eve when children creep out of their beds and hear carolers nearby. This seems to be out of print, but still easy to find—look for a good illustrated version!
Great Joy, Kate DiCamillo. You know Kate DiCamillo from The Tale of Desperaux and Because of Winn-Dixie. This is DiCamillo’s first picture book (and it’s beautiful!). A story of a little girl’s desire to help a needy neighbor.
Star Bright: A Christmas Story, Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds. This is a story of a tiny angel’s desire to give a good gift to the new Christ-child. She decides to go right where she’s needed—lighting the way to the stable in Bethlehem.
The Story of Holly and Ivy, Rumer Godden. Illustrated by Barbara Cooney (a favorite here!). The text of this story originally appeared in Ladies’ Home Journal in the 1950s. This is a longer story, good for a few sittings as a read-aloud. It tells the story of an orphan girl and a forgotten doll, and how they find each other. “A story about wishing.”
Mary’s First Christmas, Walter Wangerin Jr. Wangerin is the author of The Book of the Dun Cow. This is a retelling of the entire Nativity narrative from Luke, told in the form of Mary recounting it for young Jesus. I know The Chosen is not for everyone, but if you like The Chosen, you will probably love this book. It’s faithful to Scripture, but at the same time, it adds color to the story. It’s on the long side, told in several chapters.
Christmas Day in the Morning, Pearl S. Buck. Buck is the author of The Good Earth. This is a sweet story about a father, a son, and the Christmas when the son’s work became a gift to his father.
Little Christmas Carol: the Illustrated Edition, Charles Dickens. Illustrated by one of our favorites, Joe Sutphin. You might know Joe from The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. I’d be remiss to leave this one out! Joe released this one earlier this fall, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. His characters are always so human, even when they are animals. They are reminiscent of Garth Williams’ work. This would be a fine one to add to your collection.
Happy reading and to all a good night!
A note on purchase links: I’m a happy supporter of independent bookshops, so the links I provide will almost always go to my affiliate link at bookshop.org. For my local readers, I heartily recommend you buy them through our favorite, Goldberry Books, but you might have a shop closer to you. Of course, you can always find these selections on That Big Website That Ships Quickly, But Not As Quickly as It Used To, and Remember How They Sucked Us All In By Being a Bookstore to Begin With? I’m also a big fan of saving money and patronizing your local library. Happy reading!
Great Joy is a favorite for our family, as is Holly and Ivy!