Christmas Picture Books

Dear Precious Anna (my first daughter to marry and have children of your own):  You asked for a list of picture books to read to Jacoby this month so I thought I'd compile it here....  with all my love and joy in sharing the joyous journey with you!  Some are repeats from the post from December 2015

• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, is still a favorite! It's a beautiful story with lovely paintings!
•  Gift of the Magi, by O'Henry is a moving story.  There is generally quite a bit of text on each page, so look for a copy with worthy pictures.
• The Gift by Jan Haley is on sale here from Focus Publishing for $3.00.  I'll look for my copy to share with you.
• Twelve Days of Christmas in Minnesota looks like it might be fun....there are two copies available in our library...
• I Spy: Merry Christmas as with the other I spy books, it's fun to look for the details in the photos searching for items together.
• Have You Seen Christmas by Vicki Howie.  Looks like a good book....
• The Night Before Christmas Illustrated by Clement Clarke Moore.  I know this is a silly poem and isn't really about the real Christmas, but it's still fun - and this one looks like it might have nice artwork...
• Prairie Christmas by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk
• The Little Boy's Christmas Gift by John Spears looks like a book to check out.  It's about a little boy who follows three wise men to see the Christ child.
• Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne - Nice artwork and it explains the why behind the Christmas Tree....
• Christmas Candle Richard Paul Evans - On a snowy Christmas Eve, a young man named Thomas on his way home for a family celebration realizes that the candle in his lantern is about to expire. He stops in a chandler's shop filled with fantastic wax creations, but instead of admiring them Thomas scorns the chandler for wasting his time on sculptures that will only melt. The mysterious old chandler sells him a special Christmas candle. Back on the bitterly cold street, the young man is accosted by an old beggar woman. When he lifts his lantern to get a better look, the candlelight reveals that she is his mother. He gives her his cloak and only then sees the truth: She is not his mother after all, but a stranger. The candle tricks him again before he reaches home, cold and penniless, but richer for his newfound realization that we are all part of one family.   This intriguing original fable about charity is accompanied by lavish, mood-filled oil paintings by artist Jacob Collins. Together, author and artist have created an exquisite holiday gift book that will be treasured by the entire family.
• TheVery First Christmas by Paul L. Maier
• Rocking Horse Christmas by Mary Pope Osborne -- A rocking horse, outgrown by its little boy owner, faithfully waits by the attic window for his friend to return, in a holiday-appropriate story in the spirit of The Velveteen Rabbit.
• Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever by Katherine Paterson - Christmas is coming and Marvin is worried. He wants to make the best Christmas present ever for his parents. His sister May always makes great presents; Marvin's are never as good. This year Marvin is determined to make not only the best present, but one that will last forever. Katherine Paterson's heart-warming story and Jane Clark Brown's charming illustrations create a book that will keep the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the whole year.
• How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss - Silly but fun....
• Christmas in the Big Woods, this is a picture book based on Laura's telling from Little House in the Big Woods. If it stays faithful to her writing it would be a good book... if it's rewritten it might not be as wonderful.
• Just in Time for Christmas, Louise Borden -- A young boy, living in rural Kentucky, looks forward to the annual Christmas festivities, especially the traditional family cream candy; but, when his favorite dog disappears, he comes to realize that tradition and family have a deeper meaning.
• The Trees Kneel at Christmas by Maud Hart Lovelace -- After Grandmother explains why the trees in Lebanon kneel at Christmas, Afify and Hanna hope to witness a similar miracle in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.
• Newbery Christmas: Fourteen Stories of Christmas by Newbery Award-winning Authors
• The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot.
• The Christmas Box by Eve Merriam looks like it might be fun...
• Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble -- In 1881, when their apple tree is felled by a storm just before Christmas, a young farm girl and her family discover that the tree was important to each of them for different reasons.

By no means an exhaustive list, but a place to begin, a start for your Christmas book a day in December!  I'm so proud of you for how you are raising your children and enjoy sharing the joy of reading with you and with them!!