For the Love of Books: Christmas

Hey, y'all!  I'm just stopping in with this month's For the Love of Books pick a little earlier than usual; as I also wanted 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, I've got a favorite, seasonal treasure for you all.

The Crippled Lamb, written by Max Lucado and illustrated by Liz Bonham, is the story of a crippled, little lamb named Joshua.  He "had been born with one leg that didn't work... [and] felt sad and alone" watching the other lambs run and jump and play in the grass.  His best friend, a cow named Abigail, always encouraged him with her words of comfort and reassurance, "Don't be sad, little Joshua.  God has a special place for those who feel left out."  One day, the shepherds took the sheep to the next valley; but Joshua was not permitted to go along and sent to the stable to rest.  The strange noises of a crying baby woke him that night.  The baby was cold, but the stable blankets had been taken by the shepherds on their trip.  Joshua, with "his own soft, warm wool, timidly... walked over and curled up close to the baby... [who] stopped crying and went back to sleep."  Joshua now "understood why he had been born with a crippled leg."  Abigail was right.  God did have a special place for him.  He was "among the first to welcome Jesus into the world."

Now, on to that list.  The last one has been added since last year.  We've also removed a couple of Christmas board books in an attempt to get rid of some of the stories that my children are no longer reading.

1. Nate the Great and the Crunchy Christmas by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
2. The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs (LOVE all of Liz's parable stories!)
3. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (a favorite of mine)
4. The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola (another favorite of mine... It never fails to bring tears to my eyes, though.)
5. Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki (yet another favorite of mine)
6. The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree by Jan and Mike Berenstain
7. Clifford Celebrates the Year: Clifford’s Christmas by Norman Bridwell
8. Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
9. God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren
10. Winnie the Pooh: The Merry Christmas Mystery by Betty Birney
11. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston (another one for which you'll need the Kleenex box)
12. Dream Snow by Eric Carle
13. Snow Happy to be Here: The Slightly Silly Story of the Snowblatt Family by Cheryl Hawkinson
14. You Can Do It, Sam by Amy Hest
15. The Dinosaurs' Night Before Christmas by Anne Muecke (super fun music CD with it) 
16. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Anne Geddes
17. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (This one will always be a classic.)
18. The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg (still another favorite of mine)
19. The Snow Must Go On: A Way, Way Off-Broadway Adventure by Molly Wigand
20. The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne (great history here)
21. Merry Christmas, Curious George by Cathy Hapka
22. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff
23. Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney (great rhyme)
24. It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon
25. The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt
26. On This Special Night by Claire Freedman
27. My First Read and Learn Countdown to Christmas by Mary Manz Simon
28. Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson
29. Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson (Adina's favorite)
30. The Christmas Star by Marcus Pfister
31. Charlie and the Christmas Kitty by Ree Drummond (Kaden's favorite)
32. The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck (Ezekiel's favorite)
33. Little Golden Book: Christmas Favorites
34. A Very Marley Christmas by John Grogan (So glad we have a good dog ;)!)
35. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
36. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell! by Lucille Colandro
37. Grace at Christmas by Mary Hoffman (Christmas is changed forever for a little girl reluctant to welcome strangers into her celebrations.)
38. Tacky's Christmas by Helen Lester (Gotta love that Tacky!)
39. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz
40. The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans
41. The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
42. 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 for Christmas 2013.)
43. Tallulah's Nutcracker by Marilyn Singer (such a tender lesson in humility)
44. Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
45. Disney's Mickey's Christmas Carol
46. The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas by Justine Korman (a Little Golden Book)
47. The Animals' Santa by Jan Brett
48. Santa is Coming to Kansas by Steve Smallman
49. Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini
50. The Legend of the Christmas Cookie by Dandi Daley Mackall
51. The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving by Jan and Mike Berenstain
52. The Nutcracker from the story by E.T.A. Hoffman
53. Christmas Is Here illustrated by Lauren Castillo (words from the King James Bible)
54. Goodnight, Manger by Laura Sassi
55. A Christmas Wish for Corduroy by Don Freeman
56. Gingerbread Christmas by Jan Brett
57. Santa Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Thanks so much for reading!  I hope you found something here to gift or add to your own bookcases this year.  We've already got a great start on our mission to, once again, get through every one of our titles before Christmas.  Wish us luck!  And have a truly blessed, Christmas season!  Hugs!