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Christmas is just around the corner, and to celebrate this magical season, we’ve curated a follow-up to our popular “Top 10 Christmas Books” list. This time, we’ve chosen lesser-known stories to broaden your holiday reading options. Dive into these picks and have a joyful Christmas!
10. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
Written by the author of The Wizard of Oz, this enchanting tale envisions Santa Claus as a human orphan raised by mystical forest creatures. Surrounded by elves, Knooks, and Ryls, Claus dedicates his life to bringing happiness to children through handmade toys. His generosity earns him immortality. The story weaves rich fairy lore, a clash with the malevolent Awgwas, and imaginative origins of Christmas traditions like hanging stockings.
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9. Christmas In The Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House series has captivated readers for generations. This book offers a fresh retelling of her Christmas memories: “In the past, a young girl named Laura lived in a small house in Wisconsin’s Big Woods with her family—Pa, Ma, sisters Mary and Carrie, and their loyal bulldog, Jack. As winter approached, Laura helped prepare their home for the chilly season. Frost covered the windows, and snow blanketed the ground, but the family remained warm and content in their cozy Big Woods home.”
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8. A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Including this book was effortless for me, as I hold Dylan Thomas’s writing in the highest regard. A masterful poet and storyteller of the 20th century, Thomas beautifully captures a child’s perspective and an adult’s nostalgic recollections of a wondrous season filled with gifts, relatives, icy seas, and, in the most perfect moments, freshly fallen snow. A timeless classic, this book has remained in print for over five decades and is a cherished addition to any family’s library.
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7. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus by Francis Church
The editorial titled 'Is There a Santa Claus?' was published in the September 20, 1897, edition of the New York Sun. Featuring the iconic response, 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,' it has become a timeless piece of American Christmas tradition. In 1897, Dr. Philip O’Hanlon, a coroner’s assistant in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, was questioned by his eight-year-old daughter, Virginia (1889-1971), about Santa Claus’s existence. Skeptical due to her friends’ doubts, Virginia was encouraged by her father to write to the New York Sun, a leading newspaper of the era, with the assurance that 'If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.' Francis Church, an editor, penned the heartfelt reply, which deeply resonated with readers. Over a century later, it remains the most widely reprinted newspaper editorial in the English language.
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6. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
Jim Dillingham Young and his wife Della, deeply in love, struggle to make ends meet in their modest one-room apartment. Determined to give Jim a meaningful Christmas gift, Della sells her long, beautiful hair to purchase a chain for his cherished pocket watch, a family heirloom. Unbeknownst to her, Jim sells his watch to buy Della a set of exquisite tortoise shell combs for her hair. Though their gifts become impractical, the couple finds joy in the sacrifices they made, symbolizing their profound love. This touching story has been adapted numerous times for television and film.
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5. Letters From Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien
Letters From Father Christmas is a delightful compilation of letters and illustrations created by J. R. R. Tolkien for his children from 1920 to 1942. Written as if from Father Christmas, the letters recount the whimsical adventures and mishaps of Father Christmas, the North Polar Bear, and his cubs, Paksu and Valkotukka. A must-read for Tolkien enthusiasts, this book offers a glimpse into his storytelling beyond Middle-earth, showcasing his creativity in a festive, family-friendly context.
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4. Village Christmas by Miss Read
In Village Christmas, a newcomer family to Fairacre faces skepticism from their elderly neighbors, the Waters sisters. However, a surprising event on Christmas Day brings warmth and unity to both households. In a parallel tale, The Christmas Mouse, Mrs. Berry from the nearby village of Caxley encounters an eventful Christmas Eve when she discovers two unexpected guests seeking shelter from a winter storm: a mouse and a disheveled runaway boy. Both stories are masterfully resolved in Miss Read’s signature comforting style, evoking the cozy glow of a cottage fire and the true essence of Christmas. Miss Read, the pen name of Dora Saint, a former schoolteacher, is celebrated for her heartwarming portrayals of English rural life, particularly in the fictional villages of Thrush Green and Fairacre.
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3. The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen
Though set on New Year’s Eve, this poignant tale captures the essence of Christmas as the little girl peers through a window at a festive tree and a lavish holiday meal. Afraid to return home after failing to sell enough matches, she lights them to fend off the bitter cold. A shooting star reminds her of her grandmother, who once said such stars signify a soul passing to heaven. Tragically, the girl succumbs to the cold, but her face bears a serene smile, as her final thoughts were of her grandmother, the only source of kindness in her life.
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2. Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, penned by E. T. A. Hoffmann in 1816, tells the enchanting tale of Marie Stahlbaum, whose beloved Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, springs to life. After vanquishing the seven-headed Mouse King, the Nutcracker takes Marie on a journey to a fantastical realm inhabited by dolls. In 1892, this story was adapted into the iconic ballet The Nutcracker by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. The ballet has since become one of Tchaikovsky’s most celebrated works and a global favorite.
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1. The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
The Tailor of Gloucester, a beloved children’s book by Beatrix Potter, was first released in October 1903. Often read to children on Christmas Eve before bedtime, the story follows a tailor who becomes too ill to finish a crucial Christmas order. Upon returning to his shop, he discovers the waistcoat nearly completed, save for one buttonhole due to a lack of thread. The work was miraculously finished by grateful mice, whom the tailor had previously saved from his cat.
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+ The Bible
Including the Bible in this list is essential, as it recounts the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 1:18 – Matthew 2:12 and Luke 1:26 – Luke 2:40), the very foundation of the Christmas season. While the Bible does not specify Jesus’s birthdate, early Christians celebrated it in March or May, depending on the region. The first recorded mention of Christmas being observed on December 25 appears in the Calendar of 354 AD, created for a Roman named Valentius, suggesting the date was rooted in Roman tradition. As Rome was the heart of Christianity, this date eventually spread globally. The Calendar is historically significant, documenting Easter celebrations, the anniversaries of past Popes, and early martyrs’ commemorations. Notably, it distinguishes the pagan Sol Invictus festival from Christmas, debunking the modern myth that Christmas was borrowed from pagan traditions.
Purchase it on Amazon. This article is licensed under the GFDL as it includes excerpts from Wikipedia. Certain summaries are provided courtesy of Amazon.
