The holiday season has arrived. It’s time to dust off your favorite Christmas books and find some new ones to enjoy this December.
A good read can be a great gift for a family member or friend, or it can be something to enjoy for yourself.
Books For Adults and Teens
Adults and teens looking for holiday reading favorites might look for entertainment, nostalgia, or a love story.
Some Christmas books will tell a story about love that you simply won’t get in any Hallmark movie. Although most of the best Christmas stories have film, play, or musical adaptations, there are some things that jump off a page that the big screen just can’t recreate.
New fiction books written for adults and teens come out every year. People looking forward to the big day have their pick of the litter. They should especially enjoy looking at yearly lists published every December.
Stories like A Christmas Carol and The Gift of the Magi account for some of the best literature in history. These two timeless tales (and many others) never go stale, and they’re good for one read every December.
Books For Children
Some of the best classic holiday stories can ignite the magical feeling of Christmas for children. The legend of Santa Claus, of course, creates some of the most memorable Christmas narratives written for children. The stories of magical elves, a workshop at the North Pole, and the romanticization of snowfalls provided the perfect setting for The Polar Express and some Dr. Seuss classics.
Children’s Christmas stories can also communicate the message of lessons learned during a season meant for giving. Religious stories about the birth of Christ can go a long way toward teaching about the real reason for the season.
12 Memorable Christmas Books To Spark The Holiday Spirit
'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens
There’s a reason A Christmas Carol has stood the test of time since 1843. The literary classic about the incredible epiphany of Ebenezer Scrooge deserves every one of its countless written, film, and musical adaptations.
'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King' by E. T. A. Hoffmann
You might think of a graceful ballet or a holiday decoration when hear about The Nutcracker. It actually originated as a short story in Prussia in 1816.
'Mr. Dickens and His Carol' by Samantha Silva
If you enjoy A Christmas Carol, you’ll probably enjoy a historical fiction novel about Charles Dickens writing the classic. Readers Digest complimented how readers can be “swept away by the old-timey Christmas feel” reading a book published in 2017.
'The Polar Express' by Chris Van Allsburg
“At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” –The Polar Express
A child’s “dream” about a trip to the North Pole on Christmas Eve is just a fantasy, but just like the bell Chris brings home, it reminds children of the magic of Christmastime.
'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss was the king of creativity, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas goes down as one of his all-time best. The innocence of Cindy Lou Who stops the Grinch from a horrible deed in all-time great for readers of any age.
Any Nativity Story
Let’s not forget why Christmas is a holiday. The original Christmas story belongs in the classic, adult, and children’s categories.
