The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas

Austin Family Chronicles #0.5

by Madeleine L'Engle, Joe E. De Velasco (Illustrator)

Vicky Austin's family does one special thing each day of December to prepare for Christmas. This year, they're also preparing for the birth of a new brother or sister, due after the New Year. Vicky is worried that the baby will come early―what kind of Christmas Eve would it be without Mother to help them hang up stockings and sing everyone to sleep with carols?

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Childrens, Holiday, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1984

About the author

Madeleine L'Engle was an American writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels: A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time. Her works reflect both her Christian faith and her strong interest in modern science.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice family Advent story that I enjoy more each time I read it. Apparently this book is part of a series, but it works very well as a standalone.

As the family begins to prepare their home for Christmas they do one small thing each day to celebrate the Advent season. They might bake cookies, set up the crèche, or choose the Christmas tree. Each day another tradition is observed and the house begins to represent all that means Christmas to them. I love how the book incorporates cultural, family, religious, and secular traditions as I think that is a true and accurate representation of holiday celebrations in homes across the world. People are not bound by only one set of customs, but rather they honor the traditions that have meaning to them.

This sweet and sentimental read will have you reflecting on your own family’s traditions. It’s a lovely and gentle reminder to celebrate and appreciate the season for all that it represents, as love and joy are often found in the small accomplishments and the small moments.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much, we liked this one more than Meet the Austins. It's a short read following Vicky Austin preparing for her Christmas play and the birth of a sibling which is threatening to take their mother away from them for Christmas. We enjoyed the detail of everday doing something special for Christmas, something we have always done in our house for Christmas. We loved the details of the nativity scene which was called a 'creche' which to us only meant pre-school daycare before reading this but made the connection as we have heard it called 'The Crib' in the Catholic church. The illustrations for our edition were hideous, like the cover, the characters had sinister smiley faces and hair that looked like melted plastic, my daughter found them creepy, I don't know why they get rid of the original ones. We loved hearing about the tree decorations and how the tree is put up a day or two before Christmas, just as we do. We loved hearing about the blizzard, we dream of such weather conditions, we haven't had snow properly in 4 years, fingers crossed for this one. Lovely Christmassy read.

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW OF THE 2010 EDITION

Well, even though some readers would probably still be wanting to label Madeleine L’Engle’s The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas as a picture book, for me it actually much more if not even totally represents a short novel with some aesthetically pleasant but never overwhelming illustrations used as a kind of decorative trim so to speak (for while Jill Weber’s artwork certainly is very pretty and also has a very nice Christmassy feel to it, you in my opinion really do not actually need Weber’s pictures in order to enjoy and appreciate the author’s printed words).

And yes, I really do consider Madeleine L’Engle’s narrative, I do think The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas to be a pretty well wonderful pre-Christmas story, a delightfully descriptive and lovingly narrated text that not only shows how for the Austin family during December (as a kind of active Advent Calendar) they engage in one special holiday themed activity each day until Christmas Eve (until December 24th) but also showing both the anticipation and the worries of the days leading up to youngest Austin child Rob birth at home during a blizzard (and as a true Christmas baby) and also the trials, tribulations and ultimate success of first person narrator (seven year old) Vicky Austin practicing, rehearsing being an angel for the annual church Christmas pageant (and even though the pageant ends up being canceled due to the weather, Vicky’s disappointment at this is far outweighed by the confidence she has obtained and how her asking her mother and father for help practicing her role has ended up with her efforts paying off and her being pretty much universally praised by everyone during the final rehearsals).

A sweet and gentle pre-Christmas family type tale is The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas, and also a story that could easily be used as a read-aloud in small bits and pieces for once a day in December, akin to the the active Advent calendar featured by Madeleine L’Engle and her narrator Vicky/Victoria Austin (and of course with The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas also showing traditions and activities which families might perhaps consider incorporating into their own December holiday preparations). And my only and very small caveat is that although I personally do not at all think that in The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas Madeleine L’Engle is in any way actively trying to promote or push a specifically Christian agenda onto her readers or listeners, there are nevertheless multiple referrals to the Bible, to Christmas being the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birthday encountered in The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas (and that the Christmas pageant is bien sûr to be held at church and to as such specifically celebrate the Nativity), so that this might, this could possibly be an issue for staunchly atheist or non Christian families.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would land in the three-and-a-half to four-star range for me.

The power of The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas is belied by its brevity. Madeleine L'Engle lovingly depicts the life of the Austin family in the days leading up to Christmas. Vicky Austin's role as an angel in the church Christmas pageant is the story's centerpiece, as she tries to overcome the clumsiness that seems natural to her. At the same time, the Austins await their soon-to-be-born baby, and as Christmas approaches and the new child does not come, it dawns on Vicky that the baby is not likely to wait until after Christmas. For the first time in Vicky's seven years of life, her mother won't be home to celebrate the holiday. Vicky feels unsure she wants the baby anymore. On Christmas Eve Vicky gathers her courage and offers a sincere wish from the heart. What happens that night will remain in the hearts and minds of readers for a long time.

Every December I start The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas on December 1 and read each day only what happens in the plot on that date, whether it's several pages long or less than a sentence. Year in and year out, the story retains its magic for me. I recommend this book to anyone.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 Reread
I may be much older than the intended audience, but this book is still just as sweet and special to me as it was when I was a girl and Mom used to read it aloud every December. I just love Vickie and the whole Austin family. And the ending is just perfect!

2021
I admit I skipped reading this story last year because of all the business, but it made reading it this year even more special. I might have it almost memorized, but I still love it.

This is my favorite of favorite Christmas stories. I have read it or heard it read each Christmas for as long as I can remember. There is just something special in the sweet simplicity of 7-year-old Vickie Austin telling the story of her special Christmas. Her worries about the Christmas pageant where she has been chosen to be the angel of the Lord, about the possibility of her mother being in the hospital over Christmas, and if there will be any snow, just builds you for the wonderful ending that is sure to leave you with a feeling of peace. Sometimes I read this story several times during one Christmas season.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy, heartwarming and thoughtful first story in the Austin family series by Madeline L'Engle centering around the family's preparations for Christmas. The focus is on middle child Vicky, who is the youngest ever to be chosen to play the Angel in the Christmas Pageant. She is so thrilled and practicing for the role helps her overcome her awkwardness and lack of self-confidence. And she is excited about the new baby on the way. But when she realizes that the baby might just come over Christmas and prevent Mother from being at home for the holidays, she makes a prayer and a promise to Baby Jesus, willing to sacrifice her role in the play if it does not let anyone else down and if Mother could be home for Christmas. But sometimes prayers are answered in unexpected ways...

I really enjoyed my introduction to the warm and loving Austin family. And I especially loved their approach to Christmas, doing something special on each of the twenty-four days leading up to the holiday. The edition I got from the library was the original (?) edition from the early/mid '60s and had the most charming period illustrations; right down to never actually showing Mother's pregnant belly, haha!

This is a book I would love to add to my special Christmas books collection :-) Thanks to my GoodReads friend Lisa for alerting me to it!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know of the existence of this book until a few weeks ago! What a little treasure! I was able to read it this morning on my kindle from my library as an ebook.

Apparently it was published in the early 1980's as a Christmas short story featuring Vicky Austin as a 7 year old. Her baby brother Rob is born on Christmas Eve. The book is a count down to Christmas and the Austin family does something special each day. It's a lovely little heartwarming story and I want to try to find a hard copy of this treasure.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that Vicky is described as "the ugly duckling," and while she doesn't like her features (or the criticism regarding her clumsiness), she does what she can to work on being graceful, and she gets better. Reference to the 15c Chester Cycle.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've started a new tradition of reading Christmas books through December. I had never read this one before but it was lovely - religious without being evangelical, sweet without being overly sentimental It will definitely become part of our Advent tradition.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always on the lookout for new Christmas books to read with the girls, and this one was on one of the Read-Aloud Revival lists, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've not read the other Austin Family books, so I don't know how The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas properly fits in the series, or if it would be better appreciated after having read the others, but I found it a lovely little Christmas story that didn't need any additional context or explanation. It's one I'll certainly be reading to the girls before I have to return it to the library.

Update, 12/9/21:

I added this little book to our Morning Time rotation (had to squeeze it in quickly so we could return it to the library!) and all the kids enjoyed it. It's a lovely little Christmas story, and now I'm interested in reading the rest of the Austin Family books!

Update, 12/5/24:

I still haven't read the other Austen family books, but we all enjoyed revisiting this sweet Christmas story.

Update, 12/12/25:

A family favorite, and a regular in our Christmas read-aloud rotation.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the other Austin books, and only read this one because it was a tiny Christmas book. I needed a little light, get-excited-about-Christmas reading. This was great for that. In fact, it changed our Christmas. The Austin family does something special every day from December 1 to December 24. These aren't giant things, just fun seasonal activities. One day they hang mistletoe. Another they bake Christmas cookies. Another they make a seasonal mobile. The family calls it their "Special Thing" and they use it to focus on the fun of Christmas. I loved that idea. I'm in. Our family is going to do the same thing this year. But, we'll be making less - not so crafty over here.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to pick just one Christmas book to read in December, this would be it. I've read it or listened to my mom read it to me every Christmas for as long as I can remember. There is just something sweet, heart-tugging, and satisfying about this story told from 7-year-old Vicki Austin's perspective. Oh, now I can't wait 'til December when I can read it again.
And yes, I can quote many things from it.

"Three snowflakes fell. Exactly three. I counted them." :)

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet festive story.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022: My youngest asked to read this again this year, and I loved it even more. Highly recommended to add to your Christmas book collection.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming book set in the mid 1900’s. A family prepares for Christmas and also the arrival of a new baby in the family. The middle child, Vicky, worries about her performance as an angel in the Christmas Pageant and whether her mother will be able to see it or be in the hospital with the new baby. As Christmas approaches, the family does something special each day in December before the 25th.

[Amyruszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful perfect book to read in the run up to Christmas

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

Sweet story that follows a family through the days of Advent leading up to a very special Christmas surprise. I haven't read any of the other Austin family books but still enjoyed this one. Stands alone.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

Every year, the Austins count down to Christmas with an Advent calendar and daily surprises. This year, the Christmas season is especially exciting because seven-year-old Vicky will play the angel in the Christmas pageant, and Mrs. Austin is expecting a baby (Rob) right around the holidays. There is only one problem - what if the baby comes early and Mrs. Austin has to be in the hospital for Christmas? Vicky can’t bear the thought, and wonders how it can be possibly be Christmas if the family isn’t all together.

This novella was originally published in 1964, following The Moon by Night. It doesn’t seem to have any particular significance to the series as a whole, but since I fell in love with the Austins in their first book, I liked reading through this little piece of their family history, which introduces the youngest brother, Rob, into the family. Like all the L’Engle books I’ve read so far, this one upholds the same high standard of literary quality. Though the plot itself is somewhat saccharine, the storytelling appears effortless and immerses the reader in beautiful descriptive language. It’s obvious that this book is intended to evoke all the warmth and coziness young kids associate with Christmas, and because of that, it felt a bit predictable and gimmicky at times, but I didn’t have a real problem with that. Christmas books lend themselves to sentimentality, and I think L’Engle does a nice job of presenting those hokey holiday feelings without becoming too maudlin or mushy.

I also enjoyed the way some of Vicky’s thoughts during this story echo and underscore her reflections in the first two Austin books. The first instance of this happens on page four, when she compares her looks to four-year-old Suzy’s. Even at the age of 7, Vicky is aware that she is “the ugly duckling” who is “skinny and as tall as the eight-year-olds”, with “legs...so long [she keeps] falling”, while Suzy “isn’t skinny, she’s just right.” This same awareness, that Vicky is gawky where her little sister is beautiful , has been a recurring theme in the Austin series thusfar. I also took note of the way Vicky worries about ruining Christmas for her family, as in the passage below from page 7:

I always seem to spoil things. I look out the long kitchen window at the mountains, thinking: Please don’t let me spoil anything this year.

This feeling of Vicky’s that she is somehow other, and exists separately from the rest of her family, definitely hearkens back to the feelings she articulates in The Moon By Night when her family doesn’t take to Zachary Gray, and gives the reader a glimpse into how this feeling may have developed earlier in her childhood, as Vicky began to understand her place amongst her siblings.

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas is a perfect holiday read that I might just pick up again when Christmas rolls around this year. It’s also a nice slice of life story for readers anxious to know everything about the Austin family. The illustrations in the 2010 edition are somewhat distracting from the mood of the story, but even their contemporary style doesn’t rob L’Engle’s writing of its charm and nostalgia.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet little book is lovely. I read it in a few short minutes today and was both encouraged and inspired by it. When I read that the book was about a family's tradition of doing one special thing each day of December leading up to Christmas, I expected to read the book and think, "That sounds great, but I could never do that." Because when I think of creating a calendar of that sort, it sounds overwhelming. But the Austin family's approach to Christmas was not at all overwhelming.

7 year old Vicky Austin narrates the book. She's been chosen as the angel for the Christmas Eve pageant and she's nervous that her lanky frame can't pull off the grace needed to be angelic. Over the course of December, that changes in small, incremental ways. Her mother shows her how to hold her arms. She practices walking with an encyclopedia on her head. She memorizes lines to say aloud.

While Vicky is making her way toward the pageant, her family is slowly making their way towards Christmas - by baking cookies one day, hanging Christmas bells another or putting the wreath up one day. L'Engle doesn't present a vision of a December packed with crafts, cooking and Christmas revelry daily. Instead, it's a slow, quiet walk to the manger.

I finished this book and thought, "Maybe I could do that. In fact, maybe it's a better approach to decorating my house than I have now. What if we spent the whole month getting ready for Jesus to arrive?"

If you and your children want a gentle, quiet Christmas story to share, this is a great choice. It could be read aloud in a sitting or two, depending on the age of your children. And it might even help you see the season in a new, more peaceful light.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice story to read at Christmastime. It is a good way to remember the true meaning of Christmas, beyond the commercial and materialistic shopping frenzy it has become.

We liked the idea of celebrating the twenty-four days of December before Christmas in a special and unique way, kind of a living Advent. We haven't read many books by Madeleine L'Engle yet, but I will be sure to look for some at our local library.

We'd like to read more of books in The Austin Family series. I discovered this book through Lisa at the Goodreads Children's Books group. Thanks!

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'Engle's talent for evoking cozy, loving family life shines in this novella set at Christmastime. L'Engle knits together an appreciation for holiday generosity, a sweet depiction of holiday tradition, and the gentle joy of welcoming a new soul into the world.
This is a wonderful book to share with your children at the holidays. For my own part, it brought back sweet memories of the birth of my own fourth child, who was born at Christmastime.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this wonderful children's Christmas story for people of all ages. Seven year old Vicky is eagerly anticipating Christmas. Every day of December her family does one small thing to prepare for Christmas; such as setting up the creche, or gathering evergreen boughs. She is practicing to be an angel in the Christmas pageant. She's worried that her Mom will be in the hospital for Christmas having the new baby. It's a beautiful story with a heartwarming ending.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was chosen for Day 1 of my "25 Days of Christmas Books" blog series. It's a sweet holiday story about a family preparing for Christmas, focusing on Vicky Austin's anxiety about the Christmas play she's in, as well as her new sibling who will be arriving soon and may put her mother in the hospital over Christmas.

Full review here:
https://www.theproblemsite.com/book-s...

[Annagrace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our annual family reading of this treasured little volume. One of our favorite holiday traditions. We feel a deep kinship to the Austin family in this book and Meet the Austins. This tender look inside a family seems to get only sweeter as my own two children grow up and away from the ages portrayed in the story.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice Christmas story, but also a nice family drama story. Told from the point of view of a child, but it's not really a children's story. I read it when I was fairly young, and enjoyed it a lot--so it's really an all-ages book.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of Madelaine L'Engle since forever, but I didn't know about this book until recently. I enjoyed it quite a bit - I liked how the family celebrated Advent by doing a different "special thing" every day. And their special things were so homey and in touch with nature.

[Amy C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one . . . Heartwarming without being saccharine. (Not that I don't go for saccharine on occasion, but ykwim.) Too long for a one- sitting readaloud to my 6yo and 4yo, but hard to find a midway stopping point, too. Still worth the effort . . . A good cuddle-up story.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun extension to the Austin family series, this short story chronicles the lead up to Christmas for a young Austin family, with Advent as the unifying theme. Poignant in places, the story does a nice job building anticipation for the prime moment we celebrate during the Christmas season.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas story with delightful illustrations, a charming family, and a good message about the importance of family and tradition during the holidays. I love the concept of daily small celebrations and traditions throughout December.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story that captures the delights of Christmas family traditions and the difficulties of being an awkward seven year old! It made me wish I had small children around to go through such daily fun again!