Tinsel Tales: Favorite Christmas Stories from NPR

Tinsel Tales

by National Public Radio (Narrator)

Ho ho ho! Here’s what to listen to while driving to the mall, wrapping gifts, entertaining friends, or relaxing in front of a crackling holiday fire.

In Scott Simon’s modern version of the Christmas story, Jesus is born in an abandoned factory near Cleveland and the Three Wise Persons bring Chipotle gift cards. Claudia Sanchez gives a Latin accent to “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Barbara Bradley Hagerty explores what Christmas means for the boy choristers of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (Hint: Handel.) In a treasured 1974 recording, humorist, author, radio personality, and blacklisting victim John Henry Faulk tells of “the wonderfulest Christmas in the United States of America.” A son believed missing in action during WWII is found in time for his family to celebrate the holiday. And a Vietnam veteran tells Weekend Edition Sunday about a “Silent Night” that brought hope to patients in a military hospital.

And that’s just the star-topped tip of the tree. Each year, listeners tune into NPR for holiday offerings of all kinds: funny, touching, insightful, and surprising. Now anyone can listen anytime to these evergreen delights.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Audiobook, Fiction, Short Stories, Humor, Anthologies

Audio CD

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Familiar authors -Bailey White, A.J. Jacobs, Annabelle Gurwitch, Andrei Codrescu, plus all those soothing NPR voices - discuss all manner of holiday related facts and fancies, including building a gingerbread house, the "accidental" creation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and one family's wonderful tradition of reading Christmas books every night during December. The tales are both funny, and heart-tugging, and a perfect way to escape when the pressures of creating that perfect Christmas get to be too much.
Sit down, and have yourself a listen (and maybe a good cry).

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful little snippets from NPR ranging from a recipe and instructions for gingerbread houses to a great Spanglish version of A Visit from St. Nicholas to a performance by Duck’s Breath Mystery Theatre of Santa Claus, Private Eye. How had I forgotten about Duck’s Breath?!! Anyway, this is great stuff that will take you from teary eyed sentimentality to tears running down your cheeks with laughter.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

wholesome, easy listening. i particularly liked the segments on the Big Three animated specials (Rudolph, Charlie Brown, and the Grinch), John Henry Faulk's Christmas story, and the squirrel monkey! but there are a lot of little gems in here. i could see this becoming a yearly listen.

it was so cozy, it made me want to cook dinner while i listened even though i hate cooking :P

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. Kind of scattered.

[aizjanika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection was delightful. There's a little bit of everything. It was a lovely audio compilation to listen to while wrapping gifts and that sort of thing.

[Gail Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little could fill us with the Christmas spirit more readily than listening to NPR's TINSEL TALES. This is a collection of favorite Christmas stories selected by NPR voices throughout the years. Each selection stands alone as narrators share their special joys of the season, hopes for the future, and childhood memories.

It would be impossible to select a favorite from among such stellar tales as John Henry's Faulk's "Christmas Story", Ira Glass taking a look at the other side of Christmas in Chicago or Bailey White's "Low Glamour Christmas Party." Each story is a reflection of the narrator, and brings his or her own special message - all will touch hearts.

We've just listened again to Paul Auster's "Christmas Morning, 1949." It seems that during 2000 - 2001 Auster collected stories from listeners for the National Story Project. The one he has chosen to read is from Sylvia Seymour of Tennessee. It's an unforgettable remembrance of a Christmas morning when she was a child, and driving with her family to her grandparent's home. Her father saw a family huddled in the cold by a bus station. This is a morning she will never forget, nor will you.

Listening to the Christmas stories of others may well enrich the holiday season for each of us.

- Gail Cooke

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories that NPR (I would think) has run during the holiday season. I would think that only someone who listens to NPR would be interested in an anthology like this, and that they would therefore know what to expect. My favorite stories were the multicultural Christmas feast and the Southern Christmas - but all of the stories are pleasant holiday fare.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spring 2018, audiobook:

I continue the attack on my Audible Specials from the week before this one, and have hit Tinsel Tales. This was an adorable and heart-warming little seasonal read. That had another hilarious retelling of the Night Before Christmas, by Mexico (to match out last one from Australia).

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these stories. My favorites were about the making of things that are considered 'Christmas classics.' There was one story from the man that wrote Rudolph, and another about the making of Charlie Brown Christmas and the original animated Grinch.

[Keri]

I admit I read this because I needed something short to help make my Goodreads book goal for the year and because it's the Christmas season. It's a cute compilation of various holiday-themed stories that have aired on NPR over the years.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little anthology of NPR Christmas stories. Some were cute, some were funny, and they all gave me the Christmas-y warm and fuzzies ❤️💚🎄 Nothing mind-blowing, but it was only a 2 hour listen on audiobook, so worth it if you're looking for a simple, quick Christmas read 🎄

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, varied selection of stories.

[Michelle Frumkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun while doing my holiday walking and shopping!

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I thought it was going to be something different at first. (more like story corp). I just didn't read the information about it. But once I got my mindset changed I liked it more.

[Suzanne Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun little vignettes from your favorite NPR hosts....

[Tabitha Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a book or even an audiobook but rather a compilation of audio clips from NPR. However, this collection has quickly become my new favorite Christmas "story". I laughed, I cried, I wanted more.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟 | Pure Christmas Joy 🎄🎅🏻

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun collection of Holiday Tales from NPR

[Unreliable Narration · Rating 4 out of 5]

So wholesome -- loved all the stories!

[Baley Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful listen for the holiday season. Sweet stories, humorous poems, and charming interviews... I want more!

[Karen (Living Unabridged) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All interesting (if you enjoy NPR's All Things Considered, you'll enjoy this) but the two outstanding stories for me were "The Christmas Club" and John Henry Faulks' tale of the best Christmas.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun collection to listen to on Christmas morning of NPR holiday stories. Combination of humor and holiday traditions. Traditions include music, Christmas books, the TV shows (Rudolph, Charlie Brown and The Grinch). The humor ranges from Santa detective to a fun Latino version of the Night Before Christmas. But what topped it of was John Henry Faulks' Christmas story - about a poor boy describing "The Best Christmas in the USA". This also gave me the opportunity to learn about Faulk - he was an early civil rights advocate, and besides his popular radio shows, he studied and wrote about Negro sermons. Faulk had a role in stopping McCarthy's blacklisting when he sued for compensation when he suddenly was not hired by radio stations because he had been blacklisted.

[chrisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the stories were really enjoyable, but the second half were more hit and miss. I listened to this in audio book format and the music between stories was very jarring. The music was, in most cases, way too loud compared to the volume on the stories. For the most part though I enjoyed reading these stories.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't bad either. I listened to it while cleaning up the kitchen. My husband likes cooking, but does it like a chef, that's to say in about 30 different dishes, so with its two-hour length, it was about perfect for the task. I think my favorite piece was on the child saving for his family's christmas presents via The Christmas Club.

[LuAnn Mannes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little audio book about the holiday season.

[taeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

finished 1/2/14

[MissSusie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Christmas stories if you enjoy NPR give this one a try.

[Karen! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting as other NPR collections, but still a good read.

[Courtney Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthwhile holiday listen on audio. My favorite stories were about Rich's Pink Pig and the Christmas Club.

[Karen]

Loved it, great stories, great readers! Thanks Audible for the daily deal!