Top Ten Christmas Reads

"The Christmas Stories of George MacDonald" - I read these every year. Whenever I find this book at the thrift store, I buy it for someone.

"Angels and Other Strangers - Family Christmas Stories" by Katherine Paterson - I bought this from one of my children's book clubs at school years ago. I read these stories the week before Christmas. Although, one of them I've only read once. It is just too sad. Very "real" writing in all of them.

"The Manger Is Empty" by Walter Wangerin, Jr. - Twenty-two examples of why Walter Wangerin, Jr. is one of my favorite writers.

"The Birds' Christmas Carol" by Kate Douglas Wiggin - A great little story about Carol Bird. Gotta love her.

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson - One of the best ever opening paragraphs of all time - "The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse." How could you not finish that story?

"The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore - I'm collecting this book by various illustrators. It's the story I read (past tense) to my kids every Christmas Eve.

"When All the World Was Waiting - An Advent Book for Children" by Dorothy Van Woerkom - This book has a short reading, mostly from the Old Testament, for every day leading up until Christmas. My children have happy memories of this book. It made the Christmas season more meaningful to us, to know that everything didn't just somehow magically happen. There was A PLAN.

"Christmas from the Heart of the Home" by Susan Branch - This is actually a cookbook, but it is beautifully illustrated with Susan Branch's original watercolor artwork. Interspersed are stories of her family, which are delightful. I've only ever made one recipe from the book, but her writing and the quotes sprinkled throughout make it a favorite I return to again and again.

"Kneeling in Bethlehem" by Ann Weems - I love this book! It contains thoughts about Christmas. Some of the best writing about advent I've found anywhere. And I have looked! For years we would use these for worship during advent. I wish I owned it. But, I borrow it every year from the church library.

"A Christmas Treasury of Yuletide Stories and Poems" - I just picked this up last year, but the stories are 'of old' and all are good. I bought it because it contained "Christmas Every Day" by William Dean Howells. A truly great story.