Best Christmas Books

If you are like 98% of the population you are a Pinterest fan or shall I just call you a User.  You use.  Use Pinterest for ideas that is.  Hey I do it to.  We're all users... or at least 98% of us.  

If you like 98% of the population you probably like books.  Now, 98% of those 98% enjoy Christmas books. (All percentages are completely made up, but I am sure they are close to being accurate)

If you're a "User" and you like books then you might have seen the Advent Christmas book Pinterest idea where you wrap a book for every day in December leading up to Christmas.  Therefore, each day in December you (if you love unwrapping) or your kids get to unwrap a book and read it together as a family.  It's a cute idea! Cute families do it.  My sister does it, and from what I hear many others do it and love it as well.  They are the cute ones.

I don't do it, but that is not b/c it isn't a great idea or that I don't love reading Christmas books or even that my kids don't like to unwrap gifts.  It really is the fact that I am kind of lazy and I didn't want to wrap up that many books.

For years, before Pinterest even (crazy to think of the B.P. days), I have always pulled out my large, and ever expanding, pile of Christmas books and put them by my Christmas tree to enjoy all season long.  They are a great Christmas decoration, and for the numerous Christmas parties I've thrown, even in my single days, that stack of Christmas picture books is always a hit.  No matter the age the young, old, and not as young as we once were, love reading a good Christmas picture book.   

Plus, I love reading the books; it makes me happier than watching the cheesy Christmas movies on the Hallmark or ABC Family channel.  Also, my kids are all about grabbing these books.  We seriously read at least four of these books a day, and the kids "read" (they are only 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old so when they "read" it's fabulouslyt entertaining) The Christmas Alphabet  and Bad Kitty at least three times a day on their own.  Books, especially Christmas books are great!  

Now, you may be reading this and thinking I want to do the Advent Christmas books deal, but it's already too late for the 1st of December.  Why not just do picture books wrapped up for the 12 Days of Christmas?!   That way you can start this Friday and it will totally look like you planned it, you only have to find 12 books, and everyone will think you are brilliant and the best mom ever for getting your kids to read in such a fun way.  Seriously tho, do it!  Plus, 12 days can be a warm-up if you want to do the real deal next year.  Think of the 12 days like running a half-marathon before you go the full-marathon distance next year.  Everyone needs a warm-up/test run.    

To make your life easier, and b/c my little sister who is on the ball and asked me way back in October, I have a list of the best Christmas picture books for you.  Try to get them from the library (unless other "On the Ball Moms" already took them) and or pick them up from Amazon or your local bookstore.  Personally, I'm a book hoarder, LOVE to buy way too many books, and can always justify buying a book or twelve of them.  Ask me if you need help coming up with reasons to purchase so many at once.     

The 31 Best Christmas Picture Books

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
2. A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel- Such a great book for the young and old. 
3. 'Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement Moore (This is a classic, but find an illustrator, they all do this story, that you like)  I think Henry Fisher's illustrations of this story are great. 
4. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
5. Auntie Clause by Elise Primavera- It's a bit long, but it's a great story
6. Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas by Elise Primavera- It's long, but cute. 
7. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson- The bear books are great fun, rhyme, and good for the young
8. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
9. Snowmen at Christmas by Carol Buehner
10. Santa Clause, the World's Number 1 Toy Expert by Marla Frazee
11. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
12. Wombat Divine by Mem Fox
13. Christmas Cookies by Amy Rosenthal
14. Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda - Is a fun book b/c iof the fancy pop-ups, but it can break easily from too much love. 
15. Twelve Days of Christmas by Robert Sabuda- The above statement goes for all of the Sabuda books.  
16. The Hat by Jan Brett- It is a bit wordy like all of her books, but the pictures are beautiful!
17. Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon- It's a fabulous historical fiction book that is set during WWII.  
18. The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola
19. The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell- More of a religious one. 
20. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston- Especially great for those North Carolina fans like me. 
21. Tacky's Christmas by Helen Lester- For all of those Tacky the Penguin fans. 
22. Christmas Magic by Michael Garland
23. Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh- The play on the words/song is fun.  Not the best written book. 
24. The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola- Another great book but it is also wordy.  Though it'd be fun to read if you always got a Poinsetta plant.  
25. Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco- It is fabulous and touching but long like all of hers.  It would be better if your kids were at least middle to upper elementary age. 
26. The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett- A bit long with beautiful illustrations, but it is of course great.  Basically a lot of Christmas books are long... but great. :)
27. Jacob's Gift by Max Lucado
28. Drummer Boy by Loren Long
29. The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson- Love the illustrations and the story is fabulous!
30. The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever by Steven Kroll
31. Santa! by Rufus Butler Seder- A fun scanimation book; the pictures are great and fun like all of his scanimation books, but the text is definitely lacking in this one.