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20 Living Books for Advent and Christmas

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Living books that are perfect for Advent and Christmas.

Charlotte Mason Advent Traditions

We are so incredibly excited for Advent this year! Preparing A Gentle Advent for you has warmed our hearts so much toward the coming season. We are delighted that so many of you have decided to join us, and there is plenty of space for your family if you haven’t committed to an Advent study yet! You don’t have to subscribe to the Charlotte Mason homeschooling method to enjoy it, either.

These living literature books are a Charlotte Mason inspired reading list and are all books recommended to help your family experience a delight filled, character building, historically rich Advent and Christmas season. Many of these take more than a day to read or listen to together, so I only included 20 instead of 24. Some of them are harder to find, but well worth the effort and since they are available used, it is easier to justify buying more 😉

For our family, we select our Christmas books for the season and place them around the base of our tree which usually goes up the day after Thanksgiving. We have made this a tradition in our home that involves carols, hymns, baking, and homemade hot cocoa. We add a new book every Saint Nicholas Day. Because we follow the 4 gift rule, we wait till Christmas Eve to put presents under the tree.

Creating an atmosphere of love and learning only sweetens the beauty of the season. Where they were available, I included audiobook versions as well since the holidays can mean lots of busy hands and lots of travel. I can’t wait to hear which ones your family adds to your holiday reading this year!

Living Books for Advent and Christmas

A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens – Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited miser, is visited by a series of ghosts who help him discover the true meaning of Christmas.

 A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol Audiobook

 

The Crippled Lamb – Max Lucado – Joshua is a young, crippled lamb who can’t run and play with the others. Though Joshua feels sad, God shows him that HE has a purpose for everyone’s life.

 The Crippled Lamb The Crippled Lamb [Board book]

 

The Legend of Saint Nicholas by Grun – This picture book tells the story of the life and miracles of Saint Nicholas. He was well known for his acts of kindness and generosity, and is celebrated with a feast on December 6.

 The Legend of Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas figurine

 

Jotham’s Journey – This exciting story follows Jotham as he journeys across Israel to find his family. He encounters thieves and robbers as well as wise men and shepherds before ultimately finding his way to the Savior who was born in Bethlehem.

 Jotham’s Journey

 

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters – A Coretta Scott King Award winning holiday book that describes Christmas on a plantation in the pre-Civil War era. This book describes Christmas from the viewpoints of both the big house family and those living in the slave quarters.

 Christmas In The Big House, Christmas In The Quarters (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)

 

One Wintry Night – Ruth Bell Graham – This unique version of the Christmas story takes readers on a journey from Creation to Resurrection as they listen to the story unfold with a young mountain boy who is hearing it for the first time.

 One Wintry Night

 

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey – Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the village, and he is lonely. No one knows of the sadness he has hidden away. One day, a stranger approaches him and what happens next is a Christmas miracle.

 The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Tailor of Gloucester – Poor tailor mouse is freezing in his workshop during a hard winter. He has a very important job to complete, but he is running out of thread – and out of time. Luckily, his friends pitch in to help save the day.

 The Tailor of Gloucester The Tailor of Gloucester Audiobook

 

Uncle Vova’s Tree – Patricia Polacco – Take a look at the Russian Orthodox holiday of Epiphany. Explore the traditions, costumes, and decorations that are associated with this special day.

 Uncle Vova’s Tree

 

The Tale of Three Trees – Hunt – Three trees growing on a mountain dream of what they want to become when they’re grown. Their wishes come true in the most unexpected of ways.

 The Tale of Three Trees

 

The Story of the Other Wise Man – Henry van Dyke – During the time of Jesus’s birth, a fourth wise man sells all he owns to buy a gift he wants to present to Jesus. Though he doesn’t get to journey with the rest of the wise men, he sets out on a quest that has an unexpected ending.

 The Story of the Other Wise Man

 

The Gift of the Magi – O. Henry – Della and Jim long to give each other Christmas gifts, but they can’t afford it. Each makes a sacrifice to get the other what they really want. While the gifts are useless, the couple’s love grows stronger through these acts of love.

 The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi Audibook

 

Silent Night: The Story of the World War 1 Christmas Truce by Weintraub (for older children) – Early on in World War I, troops on both sides laid down their weapons in order to celebrate Christmas together.

 Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce Silent Night: The Remarkable 1914 Christmas Truce Audiobook

The Glorious Impossible by L’Engle – The birth of Jesus was a glorious impossible. Celebrate the miracle of God’s love in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

 The Glorious Impossible

 

Letters from Father Christmas by Tolkein – Every December, Tolkein’s children would receive a letter from Father Christmas. They told tales of life at the North Pole. Children are sure to delight in these stories involving reindeer on the loose, clumsy polar bears, goblins and more.

 Letters From Father Christmas Letters From Father Christmas Audiobook

 

Christmas in the Country – Cynthia Rylant – This delightful story describes a snowy Christmas in the country. This book is a reminder that sometimes simpler is better when it comes to enjoying the holidays.

 Christmas in the Country

 

The Legend of the Poinsettia – Tomie dePaola – This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be a symbol of Christmas. It’s also a gentle reminder that it truly is the thought that counts when it comes to giving gifts.

 The Legend of the Poinsettia

 

A Song for Young King Wenceslas – Cecil Maiden – In 10th-century Bohemia, 14 year old Wenceslas has to fight for his throne against the pagan forces led by his mother and brother. This book is a bit harder to find, but well worth the effort!

 A Song for Young King Wenceslas

 

The Candle in the Window – Grace Johnson – It’s Christmas Eve, and Gunther misses his wife and son. When a stranger appears and encourages him to place a candle in his window. She says this candle will light the way for a visit from the Christ Child.

 The Candle in the Window

 

I Saw Three Ships – Elizabeth Gouge – Polly is sure that something special is going to happen this Christmas so she leaves her bedroom window open on Christmas Eve. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers that more than one miracle has taken place.

 I Saw Three Ships

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Comments

  1. This is a great list–We have done many of these, but a few new ideas to add to the list are always welcome. I have a list for moms on my site. I love Van Dyke–have you read “Keeping Christmas” by him?

    Reply

    • I haven’t read that one but I am going to look for it! Thank you for stopping by.

      Reply

  2. These are some great books! We love The Christmas Miracle… Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Happy Holidays Link Party. Pinned.

    Reply

  3. great list of books for the Christmas spirit! Thanks for sharing them.

    Reply

  5. The Tailor of Gloucestor immediately became one of my favorites when I came across it in a collection of Beatrix Potter stories given to us. I bring it out every Christmas season now. St. Nicholas brings us new books each December 6 too!

    Reply

    • We love adding new books on Saint Nicholas Day 🙂 The Potter stories are always a hit here, too. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  6. Super list! Thank you!!

    Reply

  8. This list is fantastic! Some I have read but many I haven’t. I am definitely looking forward to “Letters From Father Christmas” by Tolkien. Thank you also for the audiobook links too. We will be listening around our Woodstove this winter!

    Reply

    • I can’t wait to hear what you think, Clare! Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply

  9. This is a fantastic list of Christmas books. I know it probably was obvious story book, but I had forgotten about the Christmas Carol. I am going to have to add that to our read aloud time for Christmas!

    Reply

    • Thank you, Angela! Yes, it’s one of my favorites and it’s told so well. I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

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