For the Love of Books: Christmas

Hey, y'all!  I'm just stopping in here, as promised, to share the fantastic list of children's Christmas books that grace our own library shelves, just in case you've still got a little shopping to do.  But before I get to that, how about a For the Love of Books post honoring this treasured holiday?  The book Ezekiel wanted me to share with you all this month is written for children ages four to seven.  It is such a beautiful picture of the importance of showing one's gratitude for wanted AND unwanted gifts.

The Christmas Sweater is written by Glenn Beck and illustrated by Brandon Dorman.  More than anything else in the world, Eddie wanted a new bike for Christmas.  When Grandpa did some snooping on Christmas Eve and revealed that he didn't find a bike, Eddie melted with disappointment; and he wasn't at all thrilled at Grandpa's excited announcement of locating a homemade Christmas sweater under the tree.  With a groan, Eddie threw himself onto his pillow, closed his eyes, and drifted off into a winter dreamland.  It is there that he found everything his heart needed most for Christmas and where Grandpa's encouraging words rang truer than ever, "... when a gift is made by hand, all of that person's love is captured in it.  Once they give it to you, that love turns into Christmas magic..."

Now, on to that list.  The last three have been added since last year.

1. A Christmas ABC by Alice Gold
2. My First Treasury: The First Christmas by Leslie Lindecker
3. Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
4. The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs (LOVE all of Liz's parable stories!)
5. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (a favorite of mine)
6. The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola (another favorite of mine... It never fails to bring tears to my eyes, though.)
7. Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki (yet another favorite of mine)
8. The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree by Jan & Mike Berenstain
9. Clifford Celebrates the Year: Clifford’s Christmas by Norman Bridwell
10. Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
11. God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
12. Winnie the Pooh: The Merry Christmas Mystery by Betty Birney
13. When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan
14. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston (another one for which you'll need the Kleenex box)
15. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
16. Dream Snow by Eric Carle
17. Snow Happy to be Here: The Slightly Silly Story of the Snowblatt Family by Cheryl Hawkinson
18. You Can Do It, Sam by Amy Hest
19. The Dinosaurs' Night Before Christmas by Anne Muecke (super fun music CD with it) 
20. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Anne Geddes
21. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (This one will always be a classic.)
22. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg (still another favorite of mine)
23. The Snow Must Go On: A Way, Way Off-Broadway Adventure by Molly Wigand
24. The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne (great history here)
25. Merry Christmas, Curious George by Cathy Hapka
26. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff
27. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney (great rhyme)
28. It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon
29. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
30. The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt
31. On This Special Night by Claire Freedman (Ezekiel's favorite)
32. My First Read and Learn Countdown to Christmas by Mary Manz Simon
33. Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson
34. Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson (Adina's favorite)
35. The Christmas Star by Marcus Pfister
36. Charlie and the Christmas Kitty by Ree Drummond
37. The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
38. Little Golden Book: Christmas Favorites
39. A Very Marley Christmas by John Grogan (So glad we have a good dog ;)!)
40. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
41. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell! by Lucille Colandro
42. Grace at Christmas by Mary Hoffman (Christmas is changed forever for a little girl reluctant to welcome strangers into her celebrations.)
43. Tacky's Christmas by Helen Lester (Gotta love that Tacky!)
44. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
45. The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans
46. The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
47. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (This is a Hallmark recordable storybook read by Ezekiel to Adina.  It was his gift to her last Christmas.)
48. Tallulah's Nutcracker by Marilyn Singer

Thanks so much for reading!  I hope you found something here to give or add to your own bookcases this year.  We're on a mission to get through every one before this Christmas.  Wish us luck!  And have a truly blessed Christmas season!  Hugs!