Guest post: Children's books for Christmas

Sarah Miller from the "Can we read?" Substack shares a banquet of holiday books

Hiya! Over the past year, I’ve been reading, and admiring, and learning from Sarah Miller’s brilliant children’s book Substack “Can we read?” It’s become a source of insight and inspiration to me, and I recommend it to anybody who treasures reading with kids.

Lucky for us, Sarah agreed to share her most recent post, a roundup of holiday books. Have a read, and afterward, take a stroll through her site.

It’ll do your heart good.

All the best to you and yours this holiday season.

Here’s Sarah. …

— Jeff

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Merry Christmas, lovely people.

I love this time of year — I love decorating (and spend not just hours and hours but days upon days doing it); I love making my house a haven of warmth and welcome (if not always calm) for our family and friends; I love all the light in the dark, literally and figuratively. I won’t take long here at the beginning painting a picture for you of me as an albeit female, world-wearier, Wisconsin version of Buddy the Elf (though if you want to conjure that in your mind, I won’t stop you), merely say: my wish for you this sometimes-complicated season is joy, pure and simple, whenever you can find it, however it arrives ❤️

A couple of things before we roll like a snowball picking up speed down the hill of these book reviews.

❄️ I’ve revived my Books for Christmas list on Bookshop.org. If you’re in the market for fresh reads for your family or holiday gifts for others, ordering from Bookshop.org is a fantastic and super easy way to support independent bookstores, and, in a small way, this newsletter. (If you use that link☝️or any of the others in this post to make a purchase, I receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.)

❄️ At the beginning of every special edition on Christmas, I mention that it’s an entirely secular holiday for my family — and this year is no different 😉 While we do read a few books that tell the story of Christmas from a Christian perspective, we belong to no specific religion or faith tradition, so they are not my focus in my home or here. (If a title contains religious themes, I always make note of it so you are aware.)

Alright, let’s jingle our way 🔔 into some of the best holiday books of the year!

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Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett (2001)

Every Christmas Eve, “high above the Arctic Circle in the land of ice and snow,” an irritation of trolls* descends upon Kyri and her family in their small, remote cottage. This year, her father vows to fend them off by going into the mountains to stop the trouble before it begins.

While he is away, a boy from Finnmark, traveling alone to Oslo with his “ice bear,” stops by the cabin to warm up. Kyri warns him of the trolls, but he and his bear are undeterred. Of course, the trolls eventually descend — wild, raucous, “bat-eared,” “bug-eared” trolls. The littlest one spies the ice bear sleeping under the stove, thinks it’s a kitty, and pokes it in the nose with a hot sausage.

Preschoolers through late elementary school-aged kids will delight in the havoc that ensues — and the long-lasting problem that’s solved — when the ice bear wakes up. Rendered brilliantly in Brett’s ultra-dense watercolor and gouache, this is a ferociously fun romp of a story — don’t miss it.

*“irritation” is, in fact, the correct collective noun for trolls

(For another highly recommended version of this story, check out Sister Bear by Jane Yolen, which I reviewed in my 2021 special edition on Christmas: Part 2.)

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The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illustrated by Ellen Beier (2011)

Virginia’s winter coat is much too small and she dreams of a soft, red one, but as the priest’s daughter, she knows she won’t get first pick from the box of “Theast” clothes that arrives from New England twice a year. When her friend receives the coat she covets, Virginia can barely stand it, but she knows that others have greater needs than she does, so she manages her disappointment. Christmas doesn’t look like it’s going to be very exciting this year until her mother produces a box reserved just for her family…including a long, awkward one full of something soft and red.

Beier’s watercolor and gouache illustrations bring this story of sacrifice and making do to vivid life, as do the thoughtful details about life on a reservation from Sneve, who grew up on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and is of Lakota Sioux heritage. This is a beautiful story with a strong message about selflessness, generosity, and the magic of Christmas.

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The Gift from Saint Nicholas by Dorothea Lachner, illustrated Maja Dusíková (1995)

St. Nicholas Day is December 6 — traditionally, children leave their shoes near the door or on the hearth (there are many variations) on the evening of December 5, to be filled with a variety of little things depending on your customs. St. Nicholas Day is a religious observance insofar as it’s a saint’s feast day — however, as St. Nicholas was the patron saint of Alsace-Lorraine, the cultural and historic region of France where both my family and my husband’s came from, we celebrate it in honor of our ancestral roots. (I am also one of those parents who stresses about the overwhelming commercial messaging of Christmas and strives to balance the tremendous receiving with very intentional giving, so I appreciate the story of a man who served, who helped those in need, who gave generously and without credit.)

The Gift from Saint Nicholas is, in my opinion, the best of these stories: when their village is snowed in, Anna and Misha send out a wish for St. Nicholas to come blow a path through. He hears them from far away, of course, and begins preparations immediately, choosing the perfect gift and starting his journey (on skis, which reminds me why I will buy literally anything illustrated by Dusíková, whose watercolors I find almost unbearably endearing, here included). In the morning, the villagers awake to a large mysterious package, which they unwrap to find an enormous teapot, big enough for everyone to enjoy and gather for warmth and togetherness, and a reminder of the wonders of Christmas.

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The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits by Ulf Stark, illustrated by Eva Eriksson (2014)

I reviewed this title in my 2020 special edition on Christmas: Part 1, but apparently forgot, despite a robust database for record-keeping and documentation 🤦🏻‍♀️ So now you get two reviews — which only goes to show how much we truly love this one.

In a house with many (many) Christmas books, you’d think it would be hard to choose any favorites, yet my children and I look forward to The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits every year. A very sweet, episodic chapter book about an irascible house tomte named Grump and what happens when he loses his beloved top hat and two little rabbits get lost in the snow, it’s really an Advent book without religious overtones — that is, it helps count down the days until Christmas. It is also both gentle and suspenseful, and pretty irresistible.

I started reading this to my kiddos when they were 4 and 2yo and four years later, I can report that they have adored it every year — it’s one of those enchanting gems (made all the more precious by Eriksson’s colored pencil illustrations) that can be read and enjoyed again and again.

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Happy Christmas Gemma by Sarah Hayes, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (1986)

If you’re not familiar with Gemma (see also Eat Up, Gemma, which I reviewed in issue No. 9), you’re in for a treat. Gemma is a lovable — and deeply loved — baby who does many of the things babies do: makes a mess while others are trying to decorate, pulls shinies off the Christmas tree, eats the icing off Grandma’s Christmas cake. And it’s the reality of her babyness that makes reading about her so compelling: babies love seeing her as a mirror (for their actual antics, or ones they’re only dreaming of) and toddlers and preschoolers love being reminded that they did these winsome (and also sometimes frustrating) baby things, too.

Gemma is a treat to relish.

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Star Mother’s Youngest Child by Louise Moeri, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (1975)

All alone in her life, a grumpy old woman asks the sky once, just once, for a real Christmas. And up above, Star Mother’s youngest child begs his mother once, just once, to “celebrate Christmas like they do down there.” When the two meet for the evening — the bad-tempered elder and the innocent, easily pleased young star child, who has come to earth in the ugliest possible human form — together they make a humble but rich Christmas that delights both of them and fills them up each in their own way.

Schart Hyman’s evocative black-and-white pen-and-ink illustrations are simple but somehow sumptuous, just like this quiet, engaging story for elementary-aged kids and above that invites readers (or listeners) to consider that whatever you have — or don’t — for Christmas, it’s enough.

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Father Fox’s Christmas Rhymes by Clyde Watson, illustrated by Wendy Watson (2003)

In this collection of 14 super sweet, interrelated untitled poems, Clyde Watson tells the story of the Fox family’s preparations for and enjoyment of Christmas. From riding snow horses to wrapping presents to finding the perfect tree to taking a candlelit walk, these tiny, end-rhyming verses are perfect for little listeners, or anyone of any age who loves words perfectly made and matched.

Life in this vulpine household is bright and cheerful, which Wendy Watson renders expertly in her marker and watercolor images, utterly adorable in their folksy, foxy charm (pun intended, of course). This is a family that loves Christmas as well as being together, and the reader is reminded often that it’s not really the things of Christmas that matter so much as the gift and magic of each other:

With eyes so wise
& a trusting heart
& a spirit that sings like a dove

Although you are little
You’re more than enough
A sweet little plenty of love

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Also highly recommended

• The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

• Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

• Mrs. Wishy Washy’s Christmas by Joy Cowley

• A Treasury of Wintertime Tales edited by Noel Daniel

• Little Fairy’s Christmas by Daniela Drescher

• Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker

• Christmas for 10 by Cathryn Falwell

• Corduroy’s Christmas Surprise, based on the character created by Don Freeman

• Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble

• Snow in the Garden: A First Book of Christmas by Shirley Hughes

• Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

• Maestro Classics: The Nutcracker by The London Philharmonic Orchestra (Maestro Classics are incredibly well done narratives set to music; all are available as a cd or MP3)

• Santa Claus and the Three Bears by Maria Modugno

• Coyote Christmas: A Lakota Story by S.D. Nelson

• Maple & Willow’s Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols

• Uncle Vova’s Tree by Patricia Polacco

• Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, narrated by Prunella Scales (available as a cd, MP3 or streaming on Amazon)

• The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler

(For more highly recommended titles, see the ones I reviewed in my special editions on Christmas in 2020 (Part 1 and Part 2) and 2021 (Part 1 and Part 2)

Poetry

• Christmas Presents: Holiday Poetry selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins

• Little Tree, poem by e.e. cummings, story by Chris Raschka

• Do Rabbits Have Christmas? by Aileen Fisher

• Under the Christmas Tree by Nikki Grimes

• Noel by Tony Johnston

• It’s Christmas by Jack Prelutsky

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Our favorite versions of “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore

Illustrated by Jan Brett

Illustrated by Holly Hobbie

Illustrated by Rachel Isadora

Illustrated by Loren Long

Illustrated by Mr. Boddington’s Studio

Illustrated by Gennady Spirin (this version is excellent for older readers who may more readily appreciate Spirin’s sophisticated work)

Especially for babies and toddlers

• Carl’s Christmas by Alexandra Day (wordless)

• Frosty the Snowman by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson, illustrated by Rebecca Thornburgh

• Count with Santa by Angela Y. Nixon

• Snowflake Kisses and Gingerbread Smiles by Toni Trent Parker

• Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle

• Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson

• Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Audrey and Don Wood

• My Baby Loves Christmas by Jabari Asim

For older readers, or read-alouds

• Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke

• Tumtum & Nutmeg’s Christmas Adventure by Emily Bearn

• The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab

• The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

• The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden (picture book)

• The Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig (the first in a trilogy, followed by The Girl Who Saved Christmas and Father Christmas and Me)

• Christmas Comes to Moominvalley by Alex Haridi and Cecilia Davidsson

• The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

• Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman

• The Nutcracker Mice by Kristin Kladstrup

• The True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan

• The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter

• Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas by Nora Surojegin

Singing books (it’s been awhile since I’ve avowed my love of singing books)

• The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett

• All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

• Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne (to the best of my knowledge, this is the only version of “Silent Night” that depicts Mary and Joseph with brown skin)

• Jingle Bells by Susan Jeffers

• Where Did They Hide My Presents? Silly Dilly Christmas Songs by Alan Katz

• The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats

• On Christmas Day in the Morning by John Langstaff

• A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas by Pat Mora

• Frosty the Snowman by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson, illustrated by Rebecca Thornburgh

• The Mother Goose Book of Christmas Carols by Laurence Schorsch

• The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown

Solstice

We celebrate each winter solstice (December 21 in 2022) by eating in total darkness, all the lights off in the house, with only candles at the table — it’s one of our most sacred family traditions and we look forward to it every year.

• Mother Winter by James Christopher Carroll

• Sun Bread by Elisa Kleven (I wrote a bit about making sun bread in my 2021 holiday activity survival guide)

• The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Carolyn McVickar Edwards

• The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer (nonfiction)

Everything else

• Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett

• The Gingerbread Friends series by Jan Brett (I reviewed the first in 2020)

• Home for Christmas by Jan Brett

• Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs

• Santa Mouse by Michael Brown

• Santa’s Secret Helper by Andrew Clements

• Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel by Shirley Climo

• Christmas Kitten by Vivian French

• The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet by Deborah Hautzig

• Alfie’s Christmas by Shirley Hughes

• The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers

• The Dog Who Found Christmas by Linda Jennings

• The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever by Steven Kroll

• Sleeping Moon by David Lewis Atwell

• Zelda and Ivy One Christmas by Laura McGee Kvasnosky

• A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe

• I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison

• Christmas with the Mousekins by Maggie Smith

• Can You See What I See? The Night Before Christmas: Picture Puzzles to Search and Solve by Walter Wick (a seek-and-find)

• I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles by Walter Wick and Jean Marzollo (a seek-and-find)

I hope you’ve found something fun and fresh to read this season. Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas! 🤶🏻

With love,

Sarah

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"Can we read?" is a weekly guide to children’s books, raising readers, and how to build a culture of reading in your home.