Christmas Books

We have a tradition we started when Ethan was just a tiny boy.  I love this tradition for a few reasons, chief among them is that it requires little to no effort from me.  We wrap all of the children's Christmas books we own and put them under the tree, then we open just one a day to read during the month of December.  (I've taken to having the boys wrap the books and, boy, do they look like a 7- and 4-year-old wrapped them. I've decided to not be bugged by it.  I'm happier when I lower my expectations.  By the way, I'm having t-shirts made with that credo, if you want one.) The boys take turns choosing the package to open.  Toward the end of the month we sometimes open 2 per day because there's inevitably nights when we don't get to read together.  Even babysitters are instructed to open a Christmas book with the boys.

I don't need to tell you that children's books are not created equal; man, there are some lame ones out there.  Same goes for Christmas books: there are some we (by "we" I mean Landon and I) love to open and some we groan aloud at having to read.  Here are some of our favorites:

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner; illustrated by Mark Buehner.

Of course we add Snowmen at Night and Snowmen All Year even though they're not specifically Christmas.  We know and love the author and illustrator which helps us love the books even more.

Another plug for the Buehners (pronounced Beaner, by the way):  Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck, but illustrated by Mark.  Lovely story with an even lovelier backstory involving Mark and Cara's kids.

A Wish for Wings That Work and

Red Ranger Came Calling, both by Berkeley Breathed (he did the Opus cartoon strip.) We love, love his illustrations and his stories are original, funny, and touching.  (We own all of his children's books and I HIGHLY recommend them, particularly Pete & Pickles and Mars Needs Moms.)

Another author we love for Christmas (and non-Christmas books):

Mike Reiss, who wrote:

Santa Claustrophobia

and also How Murray Saved Christmas.  Both of these are pretty funny.

The Tale of Three Trees.  A Christian folktale that I actually really like, retold by Angela Elwell Hunt and illustrated by Tim Jonke.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (familiar? he wrote Wizard of Oz). Our friend Joni gave this to us this year; she read it to her boys every years growing up.  It's a little long and Henry couldn't stay with it (our copy doesn't have pictures).  We had to read it over several days.  It's a great classic to have.

The Nativity illustrated by Julie Vivas.  I adore her illustrations; we have several books of hers.  What I wouldn't give to have a Vivas hanging in my house.  More from her book:

Happy Christmas reading.  Add them to your stack.