Come December and there is a nip in the air. The anticipation of Christmas fills the air. As children, we often dreamt of Santa and gifts in the stocking, or under the tree. As adults, we start thinking about the varied gifts we can give our kids in their stockings and under the tree. Well, this is just the right time to indulge in some classic Christmas books for children.
Here are just a few curated timeless picks…
The Book: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Age Group: Ageless! Get an abridged version for children, and the original for adults!
The Gist: An old and bitter man named Ebenezer Scrooge, learns the true meaning of Christmas. Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who take him on a journey through Christmas in the past, present, and future.
The Why: A poignant lesson on how to live a fulfilling and happy life, and the true meaning of Christmas!
The Book: Christmas Around the World by Katie Daynes
Age Group: 6 onwards
The Gist: A non-fiction book about Christmas traditions in different places around the world.
The Why: Christmas is much more than gifts and Santa…and it is not celebrated in the same way everywhere. This book has beautiful pictures and simple text to bring out the different ways of celebrating Christmas.
Age Group: 4-9 years
The Gist: Grinch is a nasty creature with ‘a heart two sizes too small’. Now, he hates Christmas and he wants to steal Christmas. Will he succeed? Or, is there something else in store for him?
The Why: Hilarious rhymes and beautiful illustrations tell the tale about what Christmas really means. This is a classic that has been entertaining generations of children!
Age Group: 2 – 5 years
The Gist: Santa goes off to deliver presents for Christmas. But, poor Bear is left behind. Will he make it to Tom’s house by the morning?
The Why: The book has witty rhymes and lovely illustrations as it follows the story of Bear’s adventures to Tom’s house. The pop-up element is great fun for kids. In addition, they can lift flaps and there are pull-outs as well. Children will have a lot of fun interacting with this book!
The Book: Enid Blyton’s Christmas Stories
Age Group: 6-10
The Gist: Enid Blyton needs no introduction. These short stories take one back to innocent times and pure celebrations in a world where children played out, there were no gadgets and all they had were adventures, good food and loads of fun!
The Why: Blyton’s stories are very simple but take the child into the true spirit of Christmas. As the children encounter their Blyton counterparts, they will hopefully absorb the magic of a simple but beautiful childhood…all wonderfully packaged in the spirit of Christmas!
There are many Christmas books for children, and the ones above, though timeless classics in their own right, are but a drop in the ocean. However, the takeaway here is the idea of giving in a sense, the gift of reading. And, if it is Christmas themed, that is just the cherry on the cake! So, what are you waiting for? Christmas?
Some other Christmas books for children
