Top Ten Favorite Christmas Books

Whether your a fan of Dickens or Dr. Seuss Christmas books are an integral part of the Holiday season for many of us. We all have our favorites and this year I figured I'd share mine with all of you.

#10 The New Evil (Cheerleaders #7) by R.L. Stine
Corky and the Shadyside cheerleaders are sure that the evil spirit is destroyed. The terror is over.

Then Hannah is mysteriously thrown through the car window. And Naomi is nearly burned to death. One horrifying accident after another. And now Corky can no longer keep her greatest fear to herself — the evil is back!

But where is it?

Corky, Kimmy, and Debra aren't waiting to find out. They have a plan to draw the evil out. Draw it out and destroy it for good. Unless, of course, the evil destroys them first..





OK don't laugh but I really loved this one when I read it years ago. You see plenty of Christmas based Horror when it comes to movies but books not so much. I think that is why this one has stuck with me so long. 


#9 How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
For 53 years, the Grinch has lived in a cave on the side of a mountain, looming above the Whos in Whoville. The noisy holiday preparations and infernal singing of the happy little citizens below annoy him to no end. The Grinch decides this frivolous merriment must stop. His "wonderful, awful" idea is to don a Santa outfit, strap heavy antlers on his poor, quivering dog Max, construct a makeshift sleigh, head down to Whoville, and strip the chafingly cheerful Whos of their Yuletide glee once and for all.



No Christmas would be complete without reading the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas. While I'm not an overly huge Seuss fan this one has been a staple in my home since I was a child. 

#8 The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
The Nutcracker is a Christmas story about a little girl named Maria and her wooden doll, the Nutcracker, who becomes alive to fight the evil seven-headed Mouse King.







This is the book the famous ballet is based on. The story is quite long considering it's a children's book but it's so wonderful I doubt many will mind. At least I know I didn't which is why it's on my list in the first place!

#7 The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson
The wares of the poor little match girl illuminate her cold world, bringing some beauty to her brief, tragic life.

When I was very little my mother bought me a Little Match Girl porcelain doll one Christmas. It came with a little book telling her story and I remember reading it and crying horribly. After all it isn't that happy in fact it is anything but. However, my mother told me that the story serves as a reminder to be compassionate to the plight of the poor. If someone had been kind to her she would've survived to see another day and not been left to die alone in the cold. 

#6 The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton
Meet Jack Skellington. He's in charge of making Halloweenland the coolest creepy place around. But when Jack suddenly grows bored with tricks and treats, he goes searching for new ways to celebrate...and he finds them in Christmas Town! Christmas, Jack decides, is just what Halloweenland -- and the world -- needs! He sets out to take over the role of Santa. But can anything good come of a tall and lanky skeleton dressed up as everyone's favorite jolly old elf?

Obviously this is based on the movie of the same name. If you love the film than you simply must own the book because it's great as well! Plus it does expand the world a teeny bit which is always nice to read about. It's like getting to read deleted scenes instead of watching them.

#5 Black Christmas by Lee Hays
When the sisters of Pi Kappa Sig begin clearing out for Christmas break, three friends decide to stay behind, only to be terrorized by obscene phone calls that chill them to the bone and lead them to suspect someone dangerous may be stalking them.







I found a copy of this at a thrift store when I was younger and read it before ever seeing the film. I really like how it expanded on the lives of the characters and the killer more. Also for me it was way scarier (as most books tend to be) than the film ever was. It's a shame I don't have that copy anymore as it's been nearly impossible finding another one. Still a great Christmas based Horror book should you ever get the chance to read it.

#4 The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist its ruler, the golden lion Aslan, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.







After seeing a BBC miniseries of the book on TV I begged my parents to buy me a copy of the book for Christmas to read. Of course they did and it's remained a favorite of mine ever since. I've probably read tthis book a dozen times and almost every time it's been near Christmas. That is why The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is near the top of my list.

#3 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
In picturesque nineteenth-century New England, tomboyish Jo, beautiful Meg, fragile Beth, and romantic Amy come of age while their father is off to war.








If were talking Christmas books than the classic story Little Women must be included on the list.  No real other reason besides that. It's simply a great book with a great message.

#2 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Cruel miser Ebeneezer Scrooge has never met a shilling he doesn’t like...and hardly a man he does. And he hates Christmas most of all. When Scrooge is visited by his old partner, Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, he learns eternal lessons of charity, kindness, and goodwill. 






Hands down one of the best Christmas books ever written. I loved how this story unfolds and cry every single time when I come to the end and Tiny Tim says his famous line. Great book all around. 

#1 The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
A stuffed rabbit sewn from velveteen is given as a Christmas present to a small boy, but is neglected for toys of higher quality or function, which shun him in response. The rabbit is informed of magically becoming Real by the wisest and oldest toy in the nursery.










I can't talk about this book without wanting to cry it is so near and dear to my heart. Not only is it a lovely Christmas story but it also is one of if not my favorite book of all time. Oh gosh I'm getting teary eyed. Must stop typing. My feels. 


Sorry about the length of this post.  If your still with me I hope you have a Merry Christmas. 
Care to share your favorites? Leave me a comment below!

Comments

  1. These are some amazing picks :) The Little Match Girl broke my heart so many time and I love it. Little Women is amazing read too. Great list.
    Merry Christmas :)

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    1. Thanks! I hope you had a Merry Christmas as well.

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  2. What a great list! I completely agree with you about The Velveteen Rabbit. I hope you have a very happy Christmas.

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    1. I love that story so much. Always hits me right in the feelings.

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  3. THERE'S A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS *BOOK*?!? How did I not know that? I remember seeing that movie in the theater for the first time and just adoring it. My daughter has it on DVD and watches it about 100 times from Halloween to Christmas. =)

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