Purpose of this Blog...

You may have noticed that not all books are equal in capturing children's imaginations and in cultivating those innocent, tender souls. My goal is to help you find the ones that do!
(Painting by Mary Cassatt: "Mrs Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren" -1888)




Monday, November 15, 2010

THE CHRISTMAS BOOK LIST

O-V-E-R-W-H-E-L-M-E-D!  Most of us feel that way at some point during the holidays.  To avoid feeling un-prepared and un-organized, I pray, keep my calendar handy, and try to make lists - gift lists, shopping lists, to do lists, and Christmas card lists.  So here's a list you don't have to make!  I wanted to post this on the first day of Advent, so that you'll have plenty of time to find some of these good books to share with your children - or give as gifts - this hol(y)day season.

The fact that I observe 40 days of Advent as an Orthodox Christian led me to come up with a list of 40 books.  You by no means have to read them all!  You can tailor the books to your own family.  I tried to find books for all ages, some that capture all the beauty and meaning of Christ's birth, and some just for fun.  Several are by authors and illustrators that you'll have come across in my past blog posts.  There are picture books, poetry, and classics.  Most, I'm sure, are available at your local library.

I listed books for younger children and the more secular stories first.  The books I assigned to  December are those that are especially meaningful leading up to the Holy Nativity.  Many of these were our family's favorites, but some are recently published.  Do you have any to add? Please let me know!

IDEAS FOR MAKING AN "ADVENT CALENDAR OF BOOKS":
-My sister puts a basket filled with all her kids' Christmas books by her fireplace and they read a book each night of Advent (or each night of December) until Christmas.
-My niece told me that she and her husband started a tradition of wrapping books in Christmas paper and either putting them in a basket or under the tree so their twin girls can take turns opening one book each night during Advent (or December) to read aloud - you can supplement with library books - just mark the outside somewhere, so they are read early on and won't be overdue!

40 BOOKS FOR 40 DAYS LIST
November 15 GOD GAVE US CHRISTMAS by Lisa T. Bergren
November 16 MY FIRST CHRISTMAS, by Tomie DePaola
November 17 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Dr. Suess
November 18 WHO IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE? by Joseph Slate
November 19 THE TOMTEN by Astrid Lindgren
November 20 I SPY CHRISTMAS
November 21 THE JOLLY CHRISTMAS POSTMAN by Allan Ahlberg
November 22 LOOK ALIKES CHRISTMAS by Joan Steiner
November 23 CHRISTMAS TROLLS by Jan Brett
November 24 BABAR AND FATHER CHRISTMAS by Jean De Brunhoff
November 25 CHRISTMAS IN NOISY VILLAGE by Astrid Lindgren
November 26 THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY by Ezra Jack Keats
November 27 THE NUTCRACKER by Susan Jeffers
November 28 MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHEEPS! by Julie Stiegemeyer
November 29 CHRISTMAS MICE By Richard Scarry
November 30 CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Walter Wick
December 1 ONE WINTER'S NIGHT by John Herman, Diane Dillon, Leo Dillon
December 2 UNCLE VOVA'S TREE by Patricia Polacco
December 3 LETTERS FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS by J.R.R. Tolkien
December 4 THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: A MAGICAL CUT-PAPER EDITION, Niroot Puutapipat
December 5 SANTA, ARE YOU FOR REAL? by Harold Myra
December 6 (St. Nicholas Day) THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS by Demi
December 7 CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER by Nola Buck
December 8 B IS FOR BETHLEHEM, by Isabel Wilner
December 9 THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY
December 10 THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, by O. Henry, illustrations Lizbeth Zwerger
December 11 THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson
December 12 THE FIRST CHRISTMAS; THE FIRST NOEL by Jan Pienkowski
December 13 BABUSHKA AND THE THREE KINGS by Ruth Robbins
December 14 THE FRIENDLY BEASTS by Tomie DePaola
December 15 CHRISTMAS NIGHT FAIR AND BRIGHT by Julie Stiegemeyer
December 16 THE MIRACLE OF ST. NICHOLAS by Gloria Whelan
December 17 TAKE JOY! TASHA TUDOR CHRISTMAS BOOK
December 18 WE THREE KINGS by Gennady Spirin
December 19 ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (Children's version) by Frank MCourt
ANGELA AND THE BABY JESUS (Adult Edition)
December 20 THE NATIVITY by Ruth Sanderson
December 21 CHRISTMAS POEMS Edited by Hayes and Laughlin
December 22 CHRISTMAS! by Peter Spier
December 23 CHRISTMAS ANGELS by M.J. Hummel
December 24 (Christmas Eve) PREPARE O BETHLEHEM By Niko Chocheli
December 25 (Nativity) THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD by Mother Melania

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8 comments:

  1. Melissa BraunMonday, November 15, 2010

    I love your list, Wendy! As you may know, all it takes to make the Gary and Melissa Braun family happy is a few good books! (I may be the only parent in Goleta who had to use taking away reading privileges as a disciplinary action for my kids...which horrified the school principle.) We still have quite an Advent/Christmas collection of books that gets read every year to the "new" Brauns in the family. One I still love is "The Christmas Day Kitten" by James Herriot. I love his stories!
    Keep up the wonderful blog, Wendy. you do good work-
    Love, Melissa

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  2. WendyLady@GoodBooksMonday, November 15, 2010

    Thanks, Melissa! I love his stories too. Haven't read that one - sounds really sweet!

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  3. AnonymousMonday, November 15, 2010

    Hi Miss Wendy,

    Thank you for the Advent reading list. We will be going to the library tomorrow to try and get some of the books on the list!!

    Thanks Cybil

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  4. AnonymousMonday, November 15, 2010

    I can't wait until James is old enough to read these to him! (I mean I know I can now, but when he can understand them). :-)

    Some of these I read when I was little, but there are some Christmas ones that aren't on the list. I'll ask my mom for the titles and get back to you.

    Claire

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  5. B. SchaeferTuesday, November 16, 2010

    Hi Wendy - I didn't know you had a blog - GREAT! I can’t to wait look through it all. Just last Advent we learned that Gennady Spirin and Ruth Sanderson were Orthodox, which was neat, as we already had some of their books and were big fans! Spirin's The Christmas Story is BEAUTIFUL too! We bought it for Joel last year in Spanish La historia de Navidad, when he was down at St. Innocent's Orphanage. The illustrations are AMAZING! Spirin’s Twelve Days of Christmas is neat too – again w/ incredible illustrations.

    Another favorite of ours which you don't have listed is One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham - Billy Graham's wife. It's a bit longer - not able to be read through in one sitting, but worth it! It goes back through salvation history, from Creation forward. Definitely a treasure to be shared year after year – I know you’d appreciate it. The illustrations are breathtaking!

    Have you seen the new St. Lucia book which came out last year – Lucia, Saint of Light? It’s very nice for Dec 13th. Two others worth mentioning are An Icon for Christmas – Sophia’s Gift which we know some church schools have made into a play for Nativity, and for very young children, Jesus is Born by Sergia Clare Anatolios which slowly builds the icon of the Nativity through this wordless book. Also good for the 12 days of Christmas, specifically St. Stephen’s Day (on Dec 27th) is Good King Wenceslas by John M. Neale, illustrated by Ladwig, which tells the story behind the famous carol.

    As you can see, the Schaefer’s are a bit nutty about books too! Sorry for going on and on. Blessed Advent and Nativity to you and your precious family!

    Much love,
    Barbi

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  6. WendyLady@GoodBooksTuesday, November 16, 2010

    Thanks, Barbi!! Yes, I've been in contact with Ruth Sanderson (she's on FB now, which is fun). I did a whole post on her beautiful books. I assumed Genadi was Orthodox - just did a post about him, too, in November.
    I'm going to do a separate post for the 12 Days of Christmas - thanks for the recommendations. I have another Wenceslas favorite, but I'll google yours! I think my mom has One Wintry Night...I forgot about that one. These are all great!! Thank you and blessed Nativity Fast!!!!

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  7. KristaTuesday, November 16, 2010

    I enjoy reading "The Birds' Christmas Carol" each year -- sweet story

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  8. WendyLady@GoodBooksTuesday, November 16, 2010

    Thank you, Krista - I had never heard of The Birds' Christmas Carol, and just looked it up on Amazon. I can't wait to check it out from the library - sounds precious! I'll have to do a new list next year, I'm getting so many good suggestions! :)

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