Our Little Adventure at Christmas by Tabitha Paige*

 Sarah Mackenzie recently interviewed Mrs. Paige on RAR. Mrs. Paige, a certified speech pathologist, a mother, and an artist/author, has written and illustrated numerous beautiful board books. 

Each Christmas a badger decorates his favorite evergreen tree.This Christmas, however, a storm tears through the forest and rips off his treasures. Badger is sad. His friend, Red Bird, witnesses Badger's reaction and summons other forest friends to gather treasures to redecorate the tree for Badger.

Rhyming text with provided activities in the back to revisit the story.

*Highly recommend. I requested at least one other book by her via ILL.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Little Silver House by Jennie D. Lindquist*

 Readers continue experiencing Nancy's year with Grandpa & Grandma Benson while her mother recovers from an illness. Even though spring in the country enthralled her, autumn and Christmas in the country offer their own wonders. A boarded-up house in the country captures her and her "cousins'" thoughts. Who lived there? Why is it boarded up? 

I especially related to Nancy's love for flowers and for the beauty of God's creation. I loved learning about the Swedish customs & traditions at Christmas. Although only the last 1/3 of the book is dedicated to Christmas, it would be a great book to read at Christmas. The Swedes know how to celebrate this season!!

I thought Nancy's character became a bit flat in this book (& was also flat in the 3rd book). I highly recommend it because of the delights mentioned above.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL. (It's almost $59 on Amazon!)

A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy*

 Peter and his mother live in Shantytown with many other squatters. The buildings are leaning, dirty, and ugly. People are despondent. Peter, who walks with a limp, fears everything. Then one day King Peter arrives and offers him hope and joy. Because of King Peter's encouraging words, small Peter transforms Shantytown.

A sweet story that reinforces the power of beauty and of hope.

*Highly recommend. . .I am not sure if modern readers will appreciate this story, but it is worth sharing and trying!

-Borrowed via ILL.

Star Mother's Youngest Child by Louise Moeri illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

Although this Christmas story is quite odd, it is well-written and engaging. 

An old, lonely woman longs to experience Christmas "just once" in her life. Meanwhile, in the heavens, the exasperated Star Mother, sends one of her star children to earth to experience Christmas "just once". The two spend Christmas day irritating the other one, and yet at the same time, enjoying the special day.

-Borrowed from the library.

The 13th Day of Christmas written & illustrated by Adam Rex

 Mr. Rex demonstrates via a picture book the results of the 12 Days of Christmas. Although humorous and at times, sweet, this book places the woman as the leader in the relationship. She is the one who gives the gifts and asks him to marry her.

-Borrowed from the library.

One Christmas Wish by Katherine Rundell illustrated by Emily Sutton*

 Theo, a lonely boy, is left alone on Christmas Eve because his parents are more dedicated to work than home and family. Left with a neglectful baby-sitter, Theo spies a "shooting star" and wishes not to be alone. Suddenly, old ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree come to life and give Theo an incredible Christmas Eve.

Substantial length-(64 pages)

The illustrations look old-fashion. Quite a few two page spreads are included. Beautiful.

*Highly recommend.

Considerations/discuss: parents who love work more than child (but this is resolved by the end), the word a** when referring to donkey at the manger

-Borrowed from the library

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever-DVD**

 My sister-in-law recommended this movie to me (the 2024 one).

When my boys were younger, I would read aloud this short book to them at Christmas. This movie production adheres to the story and even enhances and illuminates the theme. 

The acting, the music, and scenery is superb.

I loved how the producers share what each Herdman is "currently doing" during the credits. Very creative! Lauren Graham, from Gilmore Girls, is the adult Beth narrating as she remembers this specific pageant.

Considerations: If you have read the story, you know that the Herdmans are awful-fight, cuss, smoke cigars. No swear words are uttered. Taking God's name in vain is audible. 

**Highly, highly recommend. It caused me to focus on Christ and how He came for us all-while we were yet sinners. 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Christmas Sweater by Jan Brett

 On Christmas Day Theo and his dog, Ari venture out to Echo Lake- Theo, wearing his new snowshoes, and Ari, wearing a new sweater (made by Yiayia-Grandmother in Greek). Ari does not like the sweater. But when the snow flutters down and covers their tracks, the yarn from the sweater leads them home!

I like the Greek allusions.

I find that Ms. Brett's illustrations of people are not very crisp. But her illustrations of animals and setting are still stunning!

-Borrowed from the library.

The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggins

 Carol Bird was born on Christmas Day. Celebrating her birthday on Christmas each year delighted her and her family. Even though years later she becomes ill and bed-ridden, she continues to bring joy to those around her. Her last Christmas on earth she invites a less fortunate family to join her festivities. 

I liked reading this shorter story but did not like how sadly it ended. Carol is an inspiring character, though. First published in 1886.

 Spoiler alert & consideration: She dies that last Christmas.

-Borrowed via ILL.

The Holly Hedge and Other Christmas Stories by Temple Bailey

 Five short stories that center on the love and hope that Christmas brings

Perfectly delightful stories   The kind of stories I want to read this time of year!  Well-written

  I especially liked the last one, "The Holly Hedge" as the two marriages are juxaposed.

Considerations: the names give to a group of people   This book was published a hundred years ago, so if one considers when it was written, one understands the context.

-Borrowed via ILL (the copy I read was one hundred years old!)

Only photos avaiable are a spine or are too large for this page.

Christmas on Exeter Street by Diana Hendry illustrated by John Lawrence*

 What a fun & delightful story!

The Mistletoe Family welcomes grandparents, uncles, friends, and strangers on the two days before Christmas. Every space is utilized for sleeping arrangements. Readers will chuckle at the creative spots Mrs. Mistletoe finds for her guests. I loved the two page spread that requires the reader to flip the book vertically to view it-a cutaway of the house where everyone is sleeping.

Consideration: Father Christmas arrives to bring gifts to the 18 children!

If  I find this book, I would like to buy it! 

The author & illustrators are British.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

The Old Peabody Pew-A Christmas Romance of a Country Church by Kate Douglas Wiggin

 Another delightful Christmas story by Ms. Wiggin!

The orthodox meeting-house in Edgewood, Maine is the center of this story's action. A group of women, the Dorcas Society, determinedly advocate for its upkeep and renovations. During this Christmas, the women decide to carpet certain sections and scrub the pews. Nancy Wentworth volunteers to oversee the Peabody Pew. Secretly, she longs for the young man who used to sit in this pew, Justin Peabody. Ten years ago he vowed if he could earn some money he would return for her. 

I loved escaping to this village during its Christmas season and experiencing reconciliation between two lonely people.

-Borrowed via ILL (my copy was 125 years old . . each page had a beautiful Christmas-themed border. The pages were thick paper! Such a treasure!).

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

 Bill Furlong contemplates life as he continues his daily, seemingly mundane tasks-delivering coal to the people in his Irish village and being a faithful husband and also father to his daughters. During his reflections, readers learn about his unusual upbringing, which factors into his decision that will impact his family's life. 

Ms. Keegan's writing immerses the reader into 1985 Ireland with an ordinary man who realizes that he can make a difference. I really appreciate and like her writing style. Readers who like an action-packed plot will not enjoy this story. On the other hand, those readers who like reflective characters and a contemplative mood/theme, will enjoy this story.

Ms. Keegan bases this story on a Catholic church cover-up about the Magdalen laundries (not closed down until 1996).

-Borrowed from the library.

 

American Girls Collection-Molly's Surprise-A Christmas Story Book Three by Valerie Tripp illustrated by Nick Backes

 I am giving my niece the American Girls Collection-Molly for Christmas this year. I decided to preview a couple of the books in the series.

Molly and her family are missing their father, Dr. McIntire, this Christmas. He is serving as doctor in England during WWII. Without their dad at home, Christmas would not be full of surprises. Their dad loves surprises, especially at Christmas. 

Girl readers will relate to Molly's excitement over Christmas and a big snowfall and her exasperation over her older sister Jill trying to be overly mature. 

A great series for transitional girl readers

I like how in the back the author shares specific facts about Christmas in 1944.

Consideration: The older siblings mention something about Santa that may cause readers to doubt his existence. 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Romance of a Christmas Card by Kate Douglas Wiggin*

 As I read through Glad and Golden Hours by Lanier Ivester a few months ago, I jotted down Christmas book recommendations. This book was one of them. When Mrs. Larabee draws and creates a poem for a Christmas card, she has no idea it would restore two young men to their home town and their loved ones. I loved this simple and sweet Christmas story.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL (my copy was published in 1916!!)

All Creation Waits-The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss illustrated by Sharon Spitz

 Children's Edition 

This beautiful book celebrates animals' ways to survive the winter. Two-page spreads feature detailed illustrations and a poetic verse about the animal's unique survival methods. At the end of each day, the repeated phrases are included: "The dark is not an end. It's a door. It's the way a new beginning comes."

The introduction illustration displays each creature except the trout, bees, and fireflies. It would be fun before beginning the book to count and name each of the animals with the child who is listening. December 24 has Christ in the manger with the stable animals surrounding Him. Although this book exhalts animals, I am glad it ends with Christ (BUT it does not focus on His salvation explicitly). 

In the back the author includes more facts about each creature-very interesting facts and questions to ponder.

Considerations: animals are the focus not Christ

A Christmas Like Helen's by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock illustrated by Mary Azarian*

 I am partial to woodcut illustrations. Ms. Azarian, a Vermont resident, depicts Helen's life in rural Vermont. The author, Ms. Kinsey-Warnock, a Vermont native, bases this story off of her grandmother's childhood. Readers will learn about the time period and Christmases long ago. Although most of the story takes place during Christmas, a few times the reader is transported back to a different season in which the family was preparing/harvesting something that they will use at Christmas.

--Ms. Azarian is the illustrator for Snowflake Bentley.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Good King Wenceslas verses by J.M. Neale illustrated by Jamichael Henterly*

 The illustrations bring this old carol to life. I think the story and its appeal to children is lost in the sophisticated, haughty singing that sometimes accompany it.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

How Many Miles to Bethlehem? by Kevin Crossley-Holland illustrated Peter Malone

 I loved the lavish, rich paintings in this book. This book is truly an art museum in your lap. Different people who are part of Christ's birth share their perspective-from Mary to the innkeeper to an ox to shepherds to wise men (to name a few). Some of the phrasing is poetic.

-Borrowed from the library.

 

Louisa May Alcott's Christmas Treasury-The Complete Christmas Collection edited by Stephen W. Hines illustrated by C. Michael Dudash

 RAR is featuring one of these stories in their Christmas School 2025 for high schoolers/teenagers.

I read the first two stories and enjoyed them. The endings may be too perfect for some readers, but at Christmas, don't we long for happy conclusions? Reading the introduction, I understood why the stories feature orphans, convalescing soldiers etc. Louisa's mother was one of the first paid social workers in America. She instilled compassion for the less fortunate in her daughters.

I am not officially highly recommending it since I did not read the entire collection. 

-Borrowed from the library.