You all know by now that I love Christmas! It’s my favorite time of year, it’s my favorite holiday, it has produced some of my favorite books, movies, stories, music, foods, clothing, LEGOs . . . everything is just better at Christmas! I know that I’m very blessed and lucky to be able to say that, and I’m grateful every day.

This year has has lots of wild highs and lows, but mostly highs! Boy graduated from high school and started college, Baby Girl was in a musical (Newsies) something really out of her comfort zone! Baby Roo has become an expert on dinosaurs! A doctor was able to give me a correct diagnosis, and I have been slowly getting my health back! I went to Golden Grove Retreats and spent an amazing four days in the most nurturing environment I’ve ever experienced!

And. . . my dog died. That was a real low.

But you know what won’t let me down? Christmas books! So let’s talk about those! This past year has brought some of the most charming Christmas books ever. I know I say that every year, but it’s TRUUUUE. Now, some of these are older, and just perennially on my lists, but some are new, or maybe just new to you! And then of course we’ve got the movies and the music and all the good things! So raise a mug of peppermint hot chocolate, and get your plate of gingerbread, and let’s have some Christmas up in here!

Picture Books:

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? - Jon Klassen & Mac Barnett

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! - Mo Willems

Moo, Baa, Fa La La La La! - Sandra Boynton

Last Stop on the Reindeer Express – Maudie Powell-Tuck, Karl James Mountford

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold- Maureen Fergus, Cale Atkinson

Refuge- Anne Booth

The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits- Ulf Stark, Eva Eriksson

The Christmas Magic- Lauren Thompson

The First Christmas- Jan Pienkowski

Merry Christmas, Mr. Mouse- Mark & Caralyn Buehner

 Best Read Alouds:

A Child’s Christmas in Wales – Dylan Thomas, illus. by Chris Raschka

A Christmas Carol- Charles Dickens, illus. by PJ Lynch

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Barbara Robinson

The Story of Holly & Ivy- Rumer Godden, Barbara Cooney

 Middle Grade:

Juniper’s Christmas - Eoin Colfer

Winterfrost – Michelle Hout

A Boy Called Christmas, The Girl Who Saved Christmas, A Mouse Named Miika - Matt Haig

Whispering to Witches - Anna Dale

Nancy and Plum- Betty MacDonald

Millions- Frank Cottrell Boyce

Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf- Wendelin van Draanen

Wishes and Wellingtons- Julie Berry

Tinsel: The Girls Who Invented Christmas- Sibéal Pounder

 Young Adult:

Talk Santa To Me - Linda Urban

My True Love Gave To Me- ed. by Stephanie Perkins

Let It Snow – John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle

So, This Is Christmas- Tracy Andreen

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han

The Legend of Holly Claus- Brittney Ryan

Princess in Love- Meg Cabot

Adult :

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - Agatha Christie

The Secret History of Christmas- Bill Bryson

The Deal of a Lifetime- Fredrik Backman

A Lot Like Christmas- Connie Willis

The Last Devil to Die - Richard Osman

The Great Christmas Knit-Off- Alexandra Brown

Skipping Christmas- John Grisham

Miss Davenport’s Christmas- Marion Chesney

A Highland Christmas- MC Beaton

Miracle Creek Christmas- Krista Jensen

All Ages:

Knitivity: Knit Your Own Christmas Scene- Fiona Goble

 Letters From Father Chrismtas - J. R. R. Tolkien

A Literary Christmas: An Anthology- The British Library

Hard to Find Literary Gems:

The House Without A Christmas Tree- Gail Rock

The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman- Louise Plummer

Don’t Bite Me, I’m Santa Claus!- Tom Plummer

  Music :

A Christmas Cornucopia- Annie Lennox

Barenaked for the Holidays- Bare Naked Ladies

A Very She & Him Christmas– She & Him

On This Winter’s Night– Lady A

Happy Holidays- Billy Idol

Wintersong- Sarah McLachlan 

Other listening:

Christmas stories from the Vinyl Café – Stuart McLean

Movies:

The Muppet Christmas Carol (The best. I will die on this hill with a sprig of holly in my heart.)

Noelle

Klaus

A Boy Called Christmas

Shazam (Yes, it’s a Christmas movie. Yes, it’s wonderful.)

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Arthur Christmas

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus (1959)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Elf

A Christmas Story/A Christmas Story Christmas