Best Christmas Books of All Time

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 3 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #263 in Books, #18,532 overall

Time to get cosy with a good Christmas Book!

As the winter nights draw in, there's no better time to snuggle up in front of the fire with a good Christmas book. Whether you're looking for fun, adventure or a heart-warming tale, there's plenty of choice to be found in your local library, bookstore or online.

Get ready to stoke up that festive mood by tucking yourself under that blanket, pouring a small sherry and stacking up a pile of the best Christmas books ever. This selection includes some great classics and also some surprises which you might like to check out.

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens 

"Humbug!"

Probably the most famous Christmas book after the Nativity story. This famously recounts the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge as he learns to value the true spirit of Christmas and of life itself. The novella is essentially a ghost story with some chilling moments, but it is still one of the most popular festive reads of all time.
A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

by: Charles Dickens

Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

The Box of Delights - John Masefield 

"The wolves are running"

The Box of Delights was written for children, but is as equally enjoyable for adults. It is a fantasy novel and follows the adventures of Kay Harker as he returns home for Christmas from boarding school. On the journey home, he becomes the guardian of a magical box and unwittingly finds himself at the centre of a battle to possess the box's power.
The Box of Delights (New York Review Children's Collection)

The Box of Delights (New York Review Children's Collection)

by: John Masefield

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

""Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all""

Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Agatha Christie 

"Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"

Whilst this may not be automatically considered within the best Christmas books of all time, it is certainly a very well-plotted Christie novel which will keep you guessing until the end. The story surrounds the murder of a tyrannical patriarch, Simeon Lee who is murdered on Christmas Eve, whilst the family gathers downstairs. A great who-dunnit for the festive season.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas

Hercule Poirot's Christmas

by: Agatha Christie

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Dr.Seuss 

"...Stink, stank, stunk!"

Another classic Christmas morality tale and again, one of the best Christmas books ever, but from a completely different perspective. Enter the weird world of Dr.Seuss and discover a strange land of fuzzles and bingle balls. Kids love this one even though the Grinch is a bit scary!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

Must-Haves for the perfect Christmas Read

Log Fire
Glass of Port
Warm Cardigan
Comfy Slippers
Some peaceful background music
No distractions (v.important!)
Big box of chocolates
Stack of great books

The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder 

"... perhaps the clock hands had become so tired of going in the same direction year after year that they had suddenly begun to go the opposite way instead..."

The Christmas Mystery is a wonderful book which blends magic with the Nativity story. A young boy called Joachim finds a magic advent calendar which contains pieces of paper describing the journey of a girl called Elisabet, as she goes on a journey to witness the birth of Jesus. Each chapter follows the days running up to Christmas and makes this a perfect book to read with the whole family.
The Christmas Mystery

The Christmas Mystery

by: Jostein Gaarder

Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

The Night Before Christmas Pop-Up - Clement Clarke Moore (Author) and Robert Sabuda (Ilustrator) 

"T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."

This seasonal tale has been a firm favourite for many years. It tells the story of Santa doing his rounds on Christmas Eve. There are lots of different versions, but I've picked this edition because it is so fantastic. The pop-ups are truly magical - ensuring it's status as one of the best Christmas books ever.
The Night Before Christmas Pop-up

The Night Before Christmas Pop-up

by: Clement Clarke Moore

Amazon Price: $15.78 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season - Jo Robinson and Jean C. Staeheli  

"If most people are longing for such a simple celebration, why are their holidays so complicated?"

If Christmas excess isn't your bag and you're aiming for a simple and more spiritual Christmas then you might like to try reading this book. Now in it's 13th reprint, it contains advice for getting the best out of the festive season without resorting to materialism and last-minute stress. The emphasis here is on family, fun and joy. One to read even if you do enjoy your Christmas presents!
Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season

Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season

by: Jo Robinson, Jean C. Staeheli

Amazon Price: $11.07 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

"Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal."

Lenore Hershey

The Snowman - Raymond Briggs 

"Walking in the Air"

A beautifully-illustrated classic which follows the friendship between a boy and the snowman that he has made in his garden. The book is more about the pictures than the words, and is perfect for younger children, but it still touches the heart of everyone who reads it.
The Snowman

The Snowman

Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S.Lewis 

"Aslan is a lion%u2014the Lion, the great Lion."

Not necessarily an obvious choice, but this has all the hallmarks of a classic Christmas book. The children walk through the wardrobe and find themselves in an eternal winter which can only be broken if they defeat the White Witch by liberating the mighty lord, Aslan. The beauty of this story is that it can be read as simple fantasy or with the religious undertones that C.S. Lewis intended. Pure escapism.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia)

by: C. S. Lewis

Amazon Price: (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

Gawain and the Green Knight - W.S.Merwin 

"Gawain gripped his ax and heaved it up on high.."

Gawain and the Green Knight is an ideal Christmas book for those who enjoy a literary adventure. This traditional 14th century English tale of life and death is written in verse form. Gawain's journey to seek the Green Knight takes place during Christmas Eve and New Year and explores the thin line between decay and renewal. There are also allusions to Christianity and paganism throughout the narrative. A more difficult read, but ultimately rewarding.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 11/12/2009) Buy Now

Are there any Christmas Books that aren't on here - please share your favourites! 

Lensmaster

femelas wrote...

Everytime I relax I always open any book and it refreshes my mind. I might look for those christmas books you have recommend.

ReplyPosted December 12, 2008

Lensmaster

rms wrote...

Excellent choices! I'm lensrlling this on to my best Christmas cookbooks lens!

ReplyPosted December 06, 2008

by Meloramus

Meloramus is a bit of an information junkie, which you can see from her Melography.

Her current ambition is to build 100 lenses and see what happens....

(more)

Explore related pages

Our Favorite Childrens Christmas Books
My wife and I love to read and reading around the holidays is a special treat fo...
Cajun Night Before Christmas
Did you know that Santa once moved to Louisiana and that there is a book called,...
Take Time to Enjoy Christmas
I love the holidays! There is always so much going on. They are only stressful i...
Rose's Christmas Cookies, A Rose Levy Beranbaum Cookbook
Rose's Christmas Cookies is a beautiful and popular cookie cookbook by autho...
'Twas the Night Before Navidad or Christmas?
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa Not a creature was stir...
Kid Lit! Holiday Story Books
There are so many ways to make a holiday special, from decorations, to treats, t...

Related Topics

Create a Lens!