Is there a better time to read aloud than at this holiday season? Many of us have traditions to watch Christmas movies at this time of year, but what about also listening to an audiobook or reading aloud instead? Here are some of my favorite short and iconic Christmas stories that you might consider.
For Grownups:
The Greatest Gift by Phillip Van Doren Stern (inspiration for It's a Wonderful Life)
Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Christmas Letters by Lee Smith
One Man's Christmas by Leon Hale (a Texan's take on Christmas)
For Children:
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez
Tree of Cranes by Allan Say
Yoon and the Christmas Mitten
Waiting for Christmas
The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll by Patricia C. McKissack and Jerry Pinkney
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy
Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree
Night Tree by Eve Bunting
The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folk Tale
Any Age:
A Christmas Carol
The Night Before Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Polar Express
On my YouTube channel, I posted some children's holiday picture book readalouds we did several years ago at my primary school. I linked all these on my first post for the 2020 Virtual Advent: Let's Read Some Wonderful Holiday Picture Books.
Have I missed some of your favorites?
Add them in the comments.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
It's actually a good idea, I was thinking about listening to PG Wodehouse while trying different Christmas recipes, but Christmas stories would be good :)
ReplyDeleteLovely rec’s Deb
ReplyDeleteThe children's Christmas features are beautiful picks. There are a few unread ones for me from the grownups list that might delight as well. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGift of the Magi is such a classic.
ReplyDeleteMy post.
Yes, these are timeless classics! Aaah The little Match Girl. I loved that story so much since I was a little girl. Gift of the Magi, I actually forgot about that one!
ReplyDeleteLovely post Debbie.
Elza Reads
How about Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden?
ReplyDeleteExcellent suggestion.
DeleteThe Polar Express has always been my favorite to read out loud during the holidays to my daughter -- even as she gets older.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see Lee Smith's Christmas Letters on your list. I used to read that book annually for a number of years. I don't think I have a copy any more, but I should check. Great idea to read some Christmas stories.
ReplyDeleteThese all look lovely - the Little Matchgirl is so sad though!
ReplyDeleteOh, you've got some GREAT books on this list! There are some I haven't had the pleasure of reading, though! Great list!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I still remember when my very strict, scary 3rd Grade teacher read us THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER. She laughed so hard she was crying and had to hand off the book to a student to read. Up until that point, I hadn't seen her smile much let alone laugh like crazy. Any book that can do that is worth reading aloud. The movie's pretty great too.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Polar Express are definitely two favorites in my home. Fantastic list!
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing so many favorites on here, I love it! Especially that absolutely haunting version of The Little Match Girl.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely twist on the topic. Thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteANd thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.
There are so many amazing children’s Christmas books! I’m excited for my baby to be older. Right now, she has no attention span.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Wonderful list. I see quite a few of my favorites on there.
ReplyDeleteEach year I read aloud Twas the Night Before Christmas and we listen to the recording of Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales. I love this season.
ReplyDeleteI always read my sixth graders The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever. They LOVED it and laughed and laughed.
ReplyDelete