
Our favorite Christmas tradition is also the absolute simplest. It’s a collection of books that sit in a basket beside our tree. Throughout the month we read them during “cuddle reading” sessions on the couch. And generally a new one is gifted during Christmas. In case you’re on the hunt for the simplest of all Christmas traditions, here are a few book suggestions. Blog post note: don’t forget the classics like “The Night Before Christmas” (so Dad can read it on Christmas Eve) or Polar Express! Even as an aunt, I think it’s so fun to have these under your tree! A friend from church shared that their family reads this book during their advent activities and then shares a chocolate orange (isn’t that so cute?).
- 01Snowflakes Bentley
The Caldecott Medal winning story of Wilson Bentley and how he used his camera to capture snowflakes – I love the observation it encourages.
- 02Sad Santa
We’ve always downplayed Santa a bit in our home – but this book by graphic designer, Tad Carpenter, about how Santa feels on Dec 26th makes us smile so big.
- 03The First Noel
It only has a few pages but they’re beautiful cut scenes. More appropriate for hands that are a bit older, I always see Audrey open this book up the day we trim our tree and our books go out.
- 04The Snowman
This books makes me feel like winter is just outside the door when I turn it’s pages.
Audrey is so enamored with nativity scenes that we added this little white one to her room a couple years ago. It’s so inexpensive but sweet. Tell me your favorite Christmas traditions and books in the comments! I can’t wait to have new ones to check out!
Hi Melanie! While waiting for dinner to cook, I’m catching up on your blog posts that I mysteriously missed in my inbox, and I can’t refrain from mentioning one of our all-time favorite Christmas books…Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo. Do you and Audrey know it?! It’s absolutely beautiful and makes me cry every time we pull it from our basket of books under the tree…xo
Great Joy is totally unknown to us – although I’m super familiar with the author! Your recommendation makes me super excited to check it out! Can’t wait to add a new one to our familiar favorites!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Molly, I read Great Joy yesterday and it’s wonderful!! I wish the mom was a little more receptive to the sweet daughter’s pleas for kindness but the page about the play and her exclamation did me in while i waited to pick up Audrey from school! Indeed a definite addition! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo