Get Ready for Christmas with Books!

Can you believe it? Christmas Eve is only 3 weeks away! Time to read Christmas books! I found so many great books this year, I have 3 weeks of them.

  The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola

Las Posadas is an old Spanish celebration about Mary and Joseph when they were looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem. In this book, a town acts out the story as they walk through their town. But the couple who are to play Mary and Joseph are delayed because of car trouble. This is a story of Christmas mystery.

Minnie and Moo: The Night before Christmas by Denys Cazet (sorry, no link)

Believe me, this is NOT your regular version of The Night Before Christmas! Minnie and Moo save Christmas when the farmer forgot where he hid the bag of Christmas presents for his grandkids. Funny stuff.

Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Christmas by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller (sorry, no link)

If you know Mrs. Wishy-Washy, you know she’s very big on clean. But really, is it reasonable to ask her cow, pig and duck to take their Christmas bath in ice-cold water? No, and the animals don’t think so either. They have a much better idea…

  Away in a Manger by Thomas Kinkade

The first 3 verses of this Christmas carol is the text, with Thomas Kinkade’s paintings as the illustrations. It's a lovely book. Also by this author: Silent Night.

Santa Retires by David Biedrzycki

Santa is tired after a long Christmas Eve of delivering toys. Mrs. Claus takes him to Mistletoe Island to rest up. They had a great time. When Santa decides to retire there, the reindeer and the world mourns…

  Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel

As I’ve said many times before, I’m a big fan of ABC books, especially the clever ones. Well, this one is amazing. There are 3 different ABC verses, all quite clever, combined with 2 versions of The Night Before Christmas. You have to see this book.

  What Am I? Christmas by Anne Margaret Lewis, illustrated by Tom Mills

Each double page spread has a riddle (My ears are pointy, and I wear a bell on my hat. I love to make toys.), followed by What am I? Lift the flap and get your answer. This is a perfect book for the very young.

  Monster Christmas by Lewis Trondheim

Two little kids and their parents are spending Christmas in the mountains. But they are bummed when their parents tell them they can't bring their monster, Kriss, along. This is the beginning of a very weird graphic novel. It’s like a dream that gets odder and odder. Weird, but with a lot of laughs.

  Christmas in the Big Woods adapted from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This would be a good introduction to the Little House books. It shows a warm and cozy Christmas with Laura and her family.

  Secret Santa by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Mike Gordon

It’s Secret Santa Day in Katie’s classroom. She’s all excited until Andrew says something mean to her. Now she doesn’t want to give him his Secret Santa present. This is a Robyn Hill School Ready-to-Read Level 1 book.

Be sure to check back next week for the second set of Christmas books!

Gail