The Christmas holidays are a great way to reconnect with family and friends. But the stress of coming up with presents for everyone on your list can quickly grow exhausting! Luckily for book lovers, it’s easy to escape that stress and enter another holiday world of your own.
So grab your thickest Santa sweater and curl up with one of these best Christmas books for all time.
In our list, we have included time-tested classics like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, holiday romances that can be read in a few days, light tales for fireplace read-alouds, and even kid-friendly options the whole family can enjoy.
Best Classic Christmas Books (and spinoffs, too!)
Nothing beats the classics when it comes to feeling nostalgic during the Christmas holidays. Many of us are probably familiar with these stories from when we were younger, and rereading them year after year brings back that warm, fuzzy feeling.
1. Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will surely delight your senses during the holidays with this collection of letters Tolkien himself wrote to his children—but from the point of view of a talking polar bear and Father Christmas! Enjoy the vibrant colors of this amazing calligraphy picture book.
2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
What’s Christmas without revisiting this classic tale of miser Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation, spurred on by visits from the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future? Try a different illustrated version every year to experience the story anew!
3. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
Nothing beats this tale penned by O. Henry when it comes to remembering the true meaning of Christmas. What does gift-giving look like when the people involved are on a shoestring budget? Enjoy this story of love and sacrifice as husband and wife try to find the perfect Christmas gifts for each other, with the ironic ending that O. Henry is known for.
4. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
Samantha Silva explores a comical twist to Dickens’ classic story: Silva’s story imagines how the classic author might have come up with the idea for The Christmas Carol, beginning with writer’s block that sends him to London where he takes long walks and encounters the many details that soon become the well-loved tale.
5. The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford
Learn about the time when Charles Dickens himself only received debt-collecting greetings on Christmas, and as a very last recourse in saving his career, penned the book that would become the staple in family Christmas stories for generations to come.
6. Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker by Gregory Maguire
This spinoff from the Christmas tale of The Nutcracker will give you a fantastical glimpse of Drosselmeier, a one-eyed toymaker who will carve the enchanted wooden bauble that ushers Klara on her magical adventure.
Devotional Christmas Books
Another good choice for a Christmas book would be those that fall under the devotional category. Some of them come are designed like an Advent Calendar, with one story for every day leading up to Christmas.
7. The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp
Following the timeless Advent tradition called the Jesse Tree, Ann Voskamp shares one Bible story for each day, paired with a free download of 25 exquisite ornaments that you can hang on your own tree. She starts with the life of Jesse, the father of David, and traces the lineage leading to the birth of Jesus, the greatest gift to mankind.
8. The Max Lucado Christmas Collection by Max Lucado
Read through this wonderful collection of ponderings and musings on the mystery of Christmas with one of the best storytellers of our time.
9. Joy to the World: Daily Readings for Advent by Charles Spurgeon
In the middle of all the Christmas holiday rush, take a few minutes each day to warm your heart with the true meaning of Christmas, with these daily readings from the prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon.
Romance Christmas Books
If you want a love-story themed Christmas book, check out the following list:
10. Christmas in London by Anita Hughes
This wintry story brings you all the best things reminiscent of this holiday: cinnamon rolls and reality TV set in the bustling city of London. Louisa is a baker in Manhattan, whose gooey creations catch the eye of a local production company. They recruit her to be part of the team to be filmed for their yearly Christmas Eve dinner special, to be filmed at the luxurious Claridge’s hotel.
11. Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan
Take an imaginary vacation this Christmas on Mure, the icy Scottish island where this story is set, and follow the story of a Highlands woman pregnant by her former boss, and that of a Syrian refugee in asylum without his wife. Make it all the more real by trying out some of the recipes in the book!
Christmas Books to Read with the Whole Family
What’s better than gathering the whole family in front of the fire and enjoying a story read aloud together from an excellently-spun tale? Check out these books for a fun and memorable family time this Christmas:
12. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
Way before the all-time favorite Frozen by Disney was released, a similar story already charmed generations of children, with Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen, featuring Gerda and Kay as the main characters in this struggle between good and evil amid snowstorms.
13. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
This illustrated tale opens on Christmas Eve when a young boy takes a train headed for the North Pole. The book inspired a film adaptation starring an animated version of Tom Hanks.
14. The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
The beloved children’s author brings us another classic tale of a tailor mouse sewing up the mayor’s clothes in time for a wedding on Christmas Day, making it a great choice for reading aloud to the entire family while curled up in front of the fire with mugs of hot chocolate or cider!
15. One Wintry Night by Ruth Graham
This picture book traces the story of Christmas from the beginning of creation all the way to the birth of Jesus and even to his death. While you can buy this on Kindle, consider buying the hardcover version so you don’t miss out on the amazing illustrations!
16. The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
Master storyteller Max Lucado explores the extraordinary events surrounding the birth of Jesus through the eyes of a lame lamb, who gets left behind by the other sheep in the flock and ends up encountering the birth of the baby in the manger.
17. Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide
This exciting story follows 10-year-old Jotham as he searches for his family all across Israel, running into robbers, thieves, kidnappers, as well as the shepherds, wise men, and innkeepers before finding himself in Bethlehem, face-to-face with the baby born to be the Savior of the world.
Best Christmas Books to Share
Immerse yourself in the holiday season by adding some of these Christmas books to your reading list, and reconnect with the true meaning of the season.
These books also make great Christmas gifts, so if you’re wondering what to get for your loved ones, these books are a wonderful solution!
Do you have a favorite Christmas book or story? Share it with us in the comments below!
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- Season’s Greetings or Seasons Greetings? How to Spread the Cheer This Year
Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
