Remember how I said I haven’t been online much lately because when there are a few spare moments I’d rather read a book? I was thinking you all might like to know what some of my Christmas favorites are.
I’ve gathered up ten of my favorites—which you need to know was really hard because we have probably 150 or more Christmas books in this house. But these are the ones I’m especially loving this year. These are great Christmas books — fiction, nonfiction, devotional, advent … a little something for everyone.
10. The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.
I imagine this book will end up being a classic one day. Ann writes with such poignancy using Scriptures to guide us through Advent to the wonder of the manger. We don’t do the Jesse Tree but this book uses passages from the Bible to correlate with that tradition. But whether you do or don’t, this book is a sweet reminder of the true gift of Christmas.
9. 12 Stories of Christmas by Robert J. Morgan.
Scott put this little book in my Thanksgiving stocking this year and I am loving it. Each of the stories is full of the wonder and hope Christmas brings. Morgan is a pastor who shares a new Christmas story with his congregation in Nashville every year on Christmas Eve. This book is a collection of twelve of those stories. Reading them has made me want to drive up to Nashville for Christmas Eve at Morgan’s church.
8. 25 Days, 26 Ways to Make This Your Best Christmas Ever by Ace Collins.
This is one of Scott’s most favorite books. {And since he isn’t as much of a reader as I am, that basically means this is one everyone should read!} Packed with meaningful ways to refocus your heart this holiday season. It’s part devotional and part practical and completely fabulous.
7. Everything I Need to Know about Christmas I Learned from a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow.
Another Thanksgiving stocking inclusion this year, this compilation is full of images and words from many different Little Golden Books. This one made me smile and cry at the same time. If your childhood included books with the beautiful gold foil spines, this is a book you will cherish.
6. A Christmas Gift for Rose by Tricia Goyer.
Last year Tricia sent me this book to read and I loved it. The back cover says it best, “Inspired by a true Story, A Christmas Gift for Rose is a heartwarming story of sacrifice, deep love, and discovering one’s true identity.” I loved reading it again this year. And it will surely have a place in my holiday reading list for years to come. {You can read the review I wrote about A Christmas Gift for Rose here.}
5. The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado and his daughters.
Y’all, this book? Oh my word. The illustrations are amazing, truly art! The story is simple and sweet. And I cry every time I read it. If you ever question the special place and plans God has for you, read this tender story for a precious reminder. And be sure to have some tissues nearby.
4. The Shoe Box by Francine Rivers.
Another one that will make you cry. We have the grown up novella version and the illustrated child’s version of this book. One year when Christmas fell on a Sunday, Scott read this book to the children in our church. There was not a dry eye in the house. Christmas isn’t easy for everyone. Some people have really difficult lives and face struggles we cannot possibly imagine. Rivers does a masterful job (as always) of reminding us how much God loves us and how attentive He is to every detail of our lives. Trust me, you want this book.
3. God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas.
In January 2012, my friend Kristin sent me this book saying she’d read it the previous December during Advent and knew I’d love it. I packed it away carefully with all the Christmas stuff and pulled it out before Advent began later that year. Y’all … this year is the third where the readings of God With Us have helped me mark the days toward Christmas. It is so good, so rich. I love the explanations of all the feasts tied to the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Full of gorgeous artwork and written by some of the most incredible poets of our day, God With Us is just one of those books everyone should have and read.
2. The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs.
Scott gave me this one last year for Christmas and I added it to my must reads for 2014’s holiday season. I have not been disappointed. I’ve read and underlined and written in the margins of this beautiful telling of the stories of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna. Higgs has captured the essence of these women and helps us grasp the beauty and wonder of their unique roles in the Christmas story. I’m savoring this one … a few pages a day to help me refocus and ponder the treasures of the baby born in the manger.
1. The Christmas Story by Jane Werner.
The classic Little Golden Book first published in 1952 holds a treasured spot in my Christmas library. It is simple and beautiful and reminds me of my childhood when Christmas centered around big family gatherings and matching pajamas for all the cousins and listening to the nativity story read aloud from the Gospel of Luke.
So, there you have it … my favorite Christmas books {at least for this year}. Have you read any of these?
If you were making a list of your favorite Christmas books, what would be #1 for you?
Merriest of Christmas wishes to you all!
TL
These images are affiliate links with Amazon. If you choose to purchase through them, I will receive a small commission which helps me keep buying books! 🙂
My #1 Christmas book would be The Christmas Box – Richard Paul Evans. I read it every year when I unbox my decorations.