20 Favorites for a Bookish Holiday

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Have you heard of the "Four Gift Rule" for the holidays?

Something they want,
Something they need,
Something to wear,
And something to read.

This rule provides great structure and places a limit on the mountain of holiday gifts, while still allowing for plenty of delight on Christmas morning.


Over the years I found that I could stick with suggestion #1 and then give my kids experiences instead of more things... except for books.  My parents always gave me books, I always gave books, and I do to this day.  In Iceland, most people receive a book as a gift on Christmas Eve.  Then the whole family tucks into bed to read their books before sleeping.


Celebrate this month with some of the many, many holiday books out there.  Reading aloud in front of the fireplace (or with several lit candles* for cozy ambience) is one holiday tradition I love.  It's not too late to join in with some of my favorite selections.  Visit your library, purchase e-books, or order up a few classic volumes you'll want to keep and enjoy every year.


My list begins with picture books, continues with chapter books and children's novels, and ends with books for grownups.


* This blog is reader-supported, with no ads.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.  Thank you.


Santa mug and books


1.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 

The Grinch is a loner, grumpy and cruel, who hatches a nefarious plot to keep Christmas from coming.  He's in for a big surprise that's all about redemption, community, and the true source of Christmas joy.


2.  The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

A widow and her son ask a lonely woodcarver to craft them a nativity scene in time for Christmas, having lost theirs.  With messages of hope, kindness, and redemption, this touching story will win your heart.


3.  The Nutcracker

Introduce your kids to the story of the ballet with this version illustrated by Sheilah Beckett, who created the art when she was 99 years old!  Full of adventure and the magic of the season.


4.  The Trees of the Dancing Goats

Kindness and empathy bind a community together during a time of hardship in this tale of a Jewish family sharing the season with their Christian neighbors.  You'll love Patricia Polacco's nostalgic illustrations.


5.  The Little Drummer Boy

Ezra Jack Keats' artwork is gorgeous, and I love this song which carries the message that, rich or poor, we can all give talents, time, and love. 


Related post:  What Can I Give?


6.  Silent Night 

I love the illustrations created by Lara Hawthorne for this most beloved of Christmas carols.  Save this one for Christmas Eve.


7.  The Night Before Christmas

This beloved classic celebrated its 200th birthday last year, and has been illustrated by dozens of artists.  I loved Holly Hobbie's art back in the 1970s, when I collected anything that featured it (porcelain trinket boxes, dolls, stationery, wall art, and more).  Her watercolor illustrations for this poem are my favorite.


8.  Christmas Day in the Morning

From Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck comes this story about a father's love for his son, and the son's desire to show love for his dad.  How he does it is unforgettable, and demonstrates that the best gift can be so much more than just another thing you buy in a store.


9.  Letters from Father Christmas

Tolkien fans, rejoice!  These whimsical letters and gorgeous illustrations were created by Tolkien for his four children.  Beginning in 1920 and extending to 1943, here are stories of Father Christmas, the North Polar Bear, the elf Ilbereth, and even some mischievous goblins.  You'll want the beautiful hardcover edition of this book.


Christmas tree and illustrated book


10.  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Herdmans are the worst kids in town, and they've invaded Sunday school and bullied their way into the Christmas pageant!  The Christmas story is news to them, and their interpretation – the Wise Men were a bunch of dirty spies – has a lot of people up in arms.  But something unusual is happening, and everyone will be surprised by the result.


11.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

I don't care how many times you've read this, it's always worth revisiting around Christmas time.  From a cozy teatime with Tumnus, to the unexpected visit by Father Christmas, to the magnificent Aslan himself, this classic is a joy.


12.  The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Published two years after The Wizard of Oz, this classic tale by L. Frank Baum imagines a complete backstory for Santa Claus in a wonderful fantasy that the whole family will enjoy.  This edition has original illustrations and a vintage cover.


13.  The Gift of the Magi

Here's the classic story of love, sacrifice, and irony by O. Henry, beautifully illustrated by P. J. Lynch.


14.  A Christmas Memory

This lovely volume actually includes three stories by Truman Capote.  Travel back to the 1930s as Buddy and his much older cousin Miss Sook gather all the ingredients to make fantastic fruitcakes for friends and strangers (including the President).  Follow Buddy as he visits his estranged father with bittersweet results.  And finally, imagine inviting the bully who made your childhood miserable to Thanksgiving dinner.  Miss Sook doesn't lecture, she just shows you how to love your enemy.


15.  A Christmas Carol

Longing for some Christmas spirit?  This must-read story describes the redemption of one cold-hearted miser by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge.  Treat yourself to a beautiful hardcover edition with antique illustrations by the great Arthur Rackham.


16.  The Greatest Gift

Here's the story that inspired the classic film It's a Wonderful Life, a tale that came to the author in a dream.  It contains a message we need to hear – we all matter, and we can make a positive contribution to those around us.


17.  Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

Set of couple of days after Christmas, this tale features a worn-out hat, a holiday goose, and a priceless gem that comes to Holmes through a surprising set of circumstances.


18.  Hercule Poirot's Christmas

The holidays are anything but merry when a family party is ruined by murder!  Enter Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective, and you know you're in for a twisty and entertaining read.


19.  Skipping Christmas

Imagine a year without all the modern trappings of Christmas.  No busy malls, no over-the-top decorations, no office parties, no unwanted gifts.  (Sounds like minimalism.)  Accountant Luther Krank finds out that he and his wife could forget it all, go on a cruise, and still have money left over.  The theory is tested when everyone they know is horrified that they would even consider skipping Christmas.  Of course, nothing goes as planned, but the Kranks discover that it's not important to have a holiday that looks like a magazine photo shoot – what matters is your why.  When everyone pulls together to help them, all those traditions take on real meaning.


20.  The Story of the Other Wise Man

This 1895 novella tells the story of Artaban, the fourth wise man who set out from the East to find the newborn King of Kings.  However, he stops on the way to help a dying man, and is never able to catch up with his fellow travelers.  He goes through life doing many kindnesses, but is always just too late to meet Jesus.  Finally, he has no riches left – nothing to give the King.  The beautiful ending may leave you in tears.


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