Top 10 Christmas Reads

One of my friends just asked me to recommend five holiday reads for her family (ages 4 and 7.) This, as you can imagine, was m u s i c to my ears! It would be impossible to narrow it down to five though, so I am going with my top ten! I am doing Christmas, because that is what this family celebrates. Maybe I'll do Hanukkah next!


Please know these are in no particular order. :)
 Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant
My heart sings just thinking about this beautiful story. "In Appalachia each Christmas, a boy named Frankie waits beside the tracks for the Christmas Train, which will bring presents to the children who live in coal towns and hollows. Year after year, Frankie hopes that one particular gift, a very special gift will be tossed to him from that train. It is this enduring hope that will guide him to the true meaning of the season." THIS IS A MUST READ!!!!


    Santa Mouse by Michael Brown
T and I just picked this up from Bookmiser. Sweet! I had always wondered why some of my firsties would say they were leaving a little cheese for the Christmas mouse. To be honest, I thought maybe a few of their parents were using that to justify the mice in the house. I mean, who am I to judge? Short and sweet story......that will lead to cheese being left out on Christmas Eve!


      Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh
You may know Olive, the friendly pup, from her other book, Olive My Love. Here is an excerpt from the Amazon review, "You won't understand the premise of this book if you've never sung "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," so let's start there. The carol begins, "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer / had a very shiny nose / and if you ever saw it, / You would even say it glows / All of the other reindeer / used to laugh and call him names / They never let poor Rudolph / join in any reindeer games." If you notice that "all of the other reindeer" sounds suspiciously like "Olive, the other reindeer," you've discovered the source of Olive's adventures! Olive is a dog. But when she hears this holiday tune, a bit of an identity crisis sets in. She decides she must be a reindeer and heads to the North Pole to see if she can join Santa's reindeer team." I couldn't have said it better myself! 
  The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Being a first grade teacher, I am often asked if I believe in Santa Claus. I always say yes. I do, in fact, believe in Santa Claus. To prove this, put a bell in front of me and let me listen to it ring, ring, ring! If you don't know what I am talking about-you need to read this beautiful book. SIDE NOTE: The book is 1,000 times better than the movie! 


   Dream Snow by Eric Carle
I know what you are thinking--'she loves anything by Eric Carle.' You're right. This one though was introduced to me by a kindergartener and I have loved it ever since! Snapshot from Amazon, "It's almost Christmas and it hasn't snowed yet. As the farmer naps on his small farm, he dreams of being covered in a gentle blanket of new snow. Then, one by one, he dreams of each of his five animals (aptly named One, Two, Three, Four, and Five) being covered as well. When he awakens, he discovers that real snow--not dream snow--has fallen. And "Oh my! Oh my! I almost forgot," the farmer shouts, and, bundling up, hurries out to his tree (named Tree) with a box and a sack, looking remarkably familiar in his white beard and red suit. After decorating Tree, the farmer shouts "Merry Christmas to all!" and pushes a button for a surprise Yuletide jingle."

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
Snowmen at Night was a huge hit in my classroom, so of course, this one is too! T loves almost as much! He laughs and laughs at the silly snowmen on every page. He loves the rhymes and the hidden pictures! Clever, clever artwork! For more snowman action, visit www.wegivebooks.org to read a book online for FREE! 


 The Jolly Christmas Postman, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
If you have never read the Jolly Postman books, stop what you are doing and RUN, don't walk to the local bookstore! The book is written in rhyme with beautiful word choice. The postman delivers mail to nursery rhyme and storybook characters we all know and love. Must have!


 It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon
I <heart> David Shannon! This simple story is short, sweet, funny and might even be an eye opener for your little one. If nothing else, the pictures will delight!


 Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert, Marla Frazee
A first grade fave! Amazon review, "How does Santa know how to match the exact right toy with the exact right kid every December?

He knows because he's the world's number one kid and toy and gift expert, and he works long, long hours the whole year through, taking notes, compiling his research, thinking and testing and changing his mind. Then, at last, he gets it all figured out, and on Christmas morning, he makes magic happen."

And number 10.......any version of The Night Before Christmas! 

Merry Christmas to you and your readers!