Picture Book Advent (or Christmas Countdown!)
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If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know that one of my favorite Advent traditions is a picture book countdown. It’s as simple as it sounds, you just wrap up 25 books (or a few more depending on when Advent begins-this year we’ll wrap 27) and they make a fun addition under the tree…and a special time to unwrap each book and read your way to Christmas! Our children are now ages 6-11 which is prime picture book territory if you ask me, but these can honestly be enjoyed at any age (illustrations go a long way, even with a 3 year old!). In sharing what we are reading this year for our Book Advent, my hope is that you are reminded of some old favorites or are excited to try a new one this year. Each year there are some that I keep the same, others I rotate every other year or so. I have listed them alphabetically by author here as I don’t do them in a particular order-most years I’m bound by library return dates-you honestly don’t need to own 25+ holiday themed book-but I can see how people begin to collect them!
Happy Reading and Merry Christmas!
Written and illustrated by Robert Barry
First published in 1963, this one has a fabulous vintage and timeless feel. My crew loves the rhyming text and seeing the too-tall Christmas tree being ‘recycled’ around and around.
Refuge: The Timeless Story of Christmas
Author: Anne Booth
Illustrator: Samuel Usher
A perfect read for a Sunday Advent afternoon...not your typical take on the Nativity...Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees finding peace and joy and refuge in the kindness of strangers in Egypt. Loved Anne Booth’s tender words and Sam Usher’s stark yet powerfully warm illustrations. A large portion of sales from this book went to the charity, War Child. With global migration continuing to be so harrowing, it’s a short but powerful read to remind us that Jesus also sought refuge.
Author: Erin Dealey
Illustrator: Claire Shorrock
Oh I just love the diverse illustrations depicting a wintry evening that starts off with cars and folks rushing home in a snowstorm, and ends with blanket forts, dinner by candlelight, hot cocoa and a new morning full of fresh snow. This is a great one to usher in the season and holiday spirit. Christmas isn’t mentioned per se although you do see trees decorated in the background so it would be great for inter-faith families or as ‘crossover’ holiday book.
Author: Wende Devlin
Illustrator: Harry Devlin
We love the Cranberry books and my kids are smitten by the antics of Mr. Whiskers. And doesn’t everyone want to live in Cranberryport, where cranberry bogs abound, as well as solving Christmas capers, and one has fresh clam chowder and hit spiced cider along with cranberry cookies for Christmas dinner. Sigh.
Author: Lezlie Evans
Illustrator: Yee Von Chan
We love this sweet forest friends read about Mouse, Hare and Squirrel who stop their busy holiday decorating to help a sick swallow found in the snow. The perfect read to illustrate how ‘presence’ is often the best present.
The Wish Books (The Christmas Wish, Reindeer Wish, The Polar Bear Wish)
Author: Lori Evert
Photography: Per Breiehagen
The photographs by Lori Evert and husband Per Breiehagen of their daughter Anja frolicking around Norway with reindeer, polar bears and puppies are nothing short of stunning! They are timeless and perfect for adults too!
The Lost Gift: A Christmas Story
Author: Kallie George
Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin
Bird, Rabbit, Deer and Squirrel unexpectedly end up delivering a present for Santa…and the vague note “for the baby at the farm” may not be the hint for your young listener as it is for you, so it makes for a sweet surprise at the end! This is a great preschool and early elementary read.
Author: Rumer Godden
Illustrator: Barbara Cooney
A sweet vintage Christmas read centered around a young orphaned girl and her wish for a doll, family and home. Slightly on the longer side, slightly heart-breaking, but tender and classic.
Author: Erin Guendelsberger
Illustrator: Elizaveta Tretyakova
This is a new-to-us one and I’m excited to surprise the kids with it! A plucky red sleigh determined to prove herself worthy of Santa’s Christmas Eve night ride, it has undertones of the Little Engine that Could and Polar Express as well. A sweet inspiration story with illustrations that evoke all the cozy winter feels, it’s a great picture book for the 5 and up crowd that are ready for a longer read.
Written and illustration by Tad Hills
I love that Hills came out with another Christmas picture book as when my kids were tinies, the book Duck and Goose It’s Time for Christmas unleashed a Christmas fervor that had no bounds. I’m so glad that we’re back with this author/illustrator, with a heartwarming Christmas story about an unlikely friendship between a mouse and an elephant.
Written and illustrated by Nicola Killen
A little girl named Ollie, a lost reindeer and sweetly soft illustrations rendered in grays, browns and reds? Swoon. I love picture books that don’t overdo it on the “Santa!” front and this one offers up the magic of Christmas, from the quiet of the woods on a wintry evening.
Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story
Author: Sally Lloyd-Jones
Illustrator: Alison Jay
"And high above a single star set in the highest heavens shone out brighter than all the others and poured down silver onto the little shed..." --Song of the Stars. No one does Advent reading better than Sally Lloyd Jones. We bought this one when my second son, Rock, was born in 2011 and it remains a family favorite. The words are so meaningful and lyrical and the speckled egg illustrations by Alison Jay are a treat for any age. I’ve done this one both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day morning.
Author: Alison Mitchell
Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri
I love the entire Tales that Tell the Truth series…and this one is all about the faith based part of Christmas and the promise that is fulfilled at this time in the form of a very tiny king.
Author: Glenys Nellist
Illustrator: Sally Garland
Little Mole is back and this time he’s on the search for the perfect Christmas gift for his mama. When he ends up sharing the most beautiful mushroom he’s ever found with friends in need along the way, he doesn’t have much left over for mama, but he learns that size need not matter, especially at Christmas. A tender reminder for those at any age that generosity knows no bounds.
Author: Glenys Nellist
Illustrator: Elena Selivanova
We love the classic ‘Night Before Christmas’ poem but this new twist based on the Nativity is also so sweet and perfect for Christmas Eve. For those in the 5 and under set, also check out Glenys Nellist’ book: Good News! It’s Christmas!
Written and illustrated by Trinka Hakes Noble
A sweet story that takes places in the 1880s about a family, the Ansterburgs, that love an old apple tree that has stood by their barn for years. When an ice storm takes down the tree just days before Christmas, one of the daughters, Katrina, struggles to be happy without her beloved tree. I won't give away the ending but it's a simple, sweet story...and the illustrations reminded me so much of our little village here in Michigan; I was delighted to see that the author grew up on a small farm in rural southern Michigan!
Written by the NYC Ballet, illustrated by Valeria Docampo
Whether or not your kids have listened to the Nutcracker or not, this one is a lovely version. There are so many versions on the market, but I do think that the illustrations by fellow Argentine Valeria Docampo are just exquisite in this one!
Written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco
This one is a seasonal favorite, it's a bit longer for a one day read aloud (I tend to break it up into two days), it's a heartwarming story that mine love revisiting. And I love that Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. As the author and illustrator, she does such a wonderful job depicting the life of a family of 9 in Michigan during the Depression area. And this one is about Frankie, who was her grandmother's youngest brother who didn't live much past his childhood, so it's quite poignant on several levels.
Author: Katherine Rundell
Illustrator: Emily Sutton
I love a slightly longer picture book. They allow for more time snuggling on the couch and a deeper investment into the story. At around 60 pages (but many are full color spread illustrations), this was a magical story involving a boy’s Christmas Eve adventure with a rocking horse, an angel, a tin soldier and a robin. We read it in one sitting and my entire crew loved it!
Written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant
A perfect read for the first Advent Sunday. Cynthia Rylant is one of my favorite children’s authors, mainly due to her wonderful range. It’s not uncommon for my kids to say “she also wrote that?!”. ‘Nativity’ is one of her more simpler ones; the text is adapted from chapter five of Matthew and from chapters two and six of the book of Luke. All kids loved it and the illustrations are acrylic on water paint and are so innocently simple. It is the nativity story stripped down to its purest.
Author: Connie Schofield-Morrison
Illustrator: Frank Morrison
This is the sweetest book to get you into the Christmas spirit but also to remind you that the spirit of giving can last all year long. Perfect for ages 3-6.
The Christmas Coat: Memories of my Sioux Childhood
Author: Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Illustrator: Ellen Beier
We love hearing Christmas stories that are outside of the traditional European/North American canon. While this one indeed takes place in the US, it focuses on members of the Sioux tribe, particularly a family growing up on a reservation in the Dakotas. Virginia is the daughter of the tribe's Episcopalian priest, and while her family is still quite poor, they are better off than others. Each Christmas children of their church await "Theast" boxes, boxes of used clothes and toys sent by churches in New England (i.e. 'The East'). Being that these are some of the only Christmas presents that the children will receive, they eagerly await them. What struck my kids most was that they were not just "wants" that the kids are looking forward to, but true "needs" (we talk a lot about 'wants' vs 'needs' in our house), such as boots and coats to help get through the cold Dakota winters. And the cultural anthropologist in me particularly loved the description of the live nativity that the church holds, where the three wise men are wearing headdresses that only the elders of the tribe get to wear. Author Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve based this picture book on the events in her own childhood as she grew up on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. The text is longer than most so I'd recommend for age 6 and up.
Written and illustrated by Matt Tavares
I met the author/illustrator a few years ago at a writing conference and was so intrigued by his telling of the new picture book he had coming out, about a circus reindeer who longs for something more and becomes the cornerstone of Santa’s sleigh. A great one about Christmas wishes coming true!
Author: Barbara Brown Taylor
Illustrator: Melanie Cataldo
I love Barbara Brown Taylor’s writing for adults so I was thrilled to see that she had a picture book out and this one about the Nativity told from the point or view of the wise men is exquisite! Great for ages 7 and up.
Author: Patricia Toht
Illustrator: Jarvis
Another one that is fabulous for ‘setting the stage’ for holiday traditions such as going to get your Christmas tree! Love how the book focuses as much on the anticipation of getting a tree as the act itself.
Author: Lori Walburg
Illustrator: Richard Cowdrey
A sweet faith-based interpretation of what the candy cane represents. And my kids love the Willy Wonka-ish appeal of Mr. Sonneman’s candy store.
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Author: Susan Wojciechowski
Illustrator: P.J. Lynch
This one starts off with an admittedly sad premise: a man, Jonathan Toomey, loses his wife and child at birth and moves to a new town where he quickly becomes the local hermit. Yet it is a spectacular read, somewhat of a slow burn, and I like it more each year. Toomey is a woodcarver and he encounters a young boy who wants to be apprenticed by him only to find out that a special relationship develops; it's a fun one to pair with any sort of crèche/manger play if you have one out. And the ending is so lovely, you see Toomey's transformation by the Gospel unfold before your eyes...and the illustrations by P.J. Lynch are vivid and tender. It's a fabulous one for Christmas Eve or just before. I'd recommend it for ages 5 and up although several years ago my 3 year old sat rapt through the entire thing.
Franklin and Winston: A Christmas That Changed the World
Author: Douglas Wood
Illustrator: Barry Moser
World War 2 isn’t normally a topic I’d bring up this time of year but my boys love it. It’s a picture book but is quite text-heavy, and of course, the content will lead to LOTS of questions so reader, take note. I’d recommend it for ages 6 & up. It focuses on Churchill’s visit to the White House in 1941, which also took place over Christmas. While Roosevelt and Churchill had developed a strong relationship over telegraph and telephone wires, it was this visit that truly cemented their friendship as well as their Allied alliance. My boys are at the age where they are fascinated by the “world wars” so while I had a bit of cognitive dissonance reading this one with Christmas music in the background, it was not lost on me that I wouldn’t have this freedom to do so if others hadn’t had the courage to go before and fight for this freedom. And what a Christmas gift indeed.
Longer Family Read-Alouds
(note: these are great for ages 5 and up, more mature themes but such timeless and poignant reads)
Rebecca Caudill
This is a beautiful story about a little Appalachian boy, born mute, who speaks for the first time ever to some very special visitors. It’s around 50 pages so you could do it in one sitting or over the course of a few days.
Charles Dickens (we used the version illustrated by Robert Ingpen)
Most of you know this timeless story and depending on the fear factor of your children, they may not be ready for the “ghosts” of Christmas past, present and future. We had seen the play twice in our local children’s theatre so I felt comfortable reading this but it didn’t keep the attention of our 4 year old at the time (the boys were 7 and 9 and slightly spooked at times, but they knew the storyline and how it ended so it was okay). I’ll probably wait a few more years before doing it again, but it is one of my husbands and I’s favorite so I’m glad we finally got a copy for our shelf!
Kate Seredy
This modern Christmas miracle story was a bit of a tear-jerker for us! One of my son’s didn’t care for it given some of the stark sadness in it, but my other one was smitten. I plan to do this one again in a few years when my daughter is a bit older.
Joy to the World: Christmas Stories from Around the Globe
Stories retold by Saviour Pirotta, illustrated by Sheila Moxley
Sometimes I think the trickiest part of Advent is conveying to the kids the global narrative of it all...that this isn't just a time for Christmas in Michigan, nor the USA although many of our traditions are indeed local. But that the narrative is global...that it goes back thousands of years and that the Nativity story has been folded into cultural tropes worldwide. So this is a fabulous read to learn more about other cultures celebrating the same religion. This book includes five short stories: "The Brave Little Camel" (Syria), "Baby in the Bread" (Malta), "Flowers for Jesus" (Mexico), "The Gourd of Plenty" (Ghana), & "Babushka" (Russia). Each story is about 4/5 pages long so it’s a great to read over the course of a week. A great multicultural Christmas read.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Barbara Robinson
One of my own childhood favorites, it reminded me that it’s some of the most humorous, and most poignant, Christmas writing. We’ve read this one now twice in the past few years and both times it’s been a huge hit. And Hey! Unto YOU a child is born!
Natalie Savage Carlson, illustrated by Garth Williams
This won the Newbery and one can see why! Cranky homeless Armand lives on the streets of Paris and is doing just fine until a struggling mother and her three children come into his life. It took a while for my kids to be okay with hearing about people who honestly don’t have a home, but once they got into the story, they were spell bound and didn’t want it to end!
Patricia MacLachlan and Brian Floca
This was a sweet story of brother and sister Lily and Liam who always spent the holidays at their grandparents first. However, when an unexpected event occurs, they learn the meaning of a true gift. A short chapter book with a few pencil sketches that makes for a good beginner-type family read aloud.
Family Devotionals
These are for the families that celebrate the entire season of Advent as part of their faith tradition. We’ve done all of these in prior years, mostly in the evenings and are separate from chapter read alouds.
Jack and Kathy Stockman
Ann VosKamp
Arnold Ytreeide
Bartholomew’s Passage: A Family Story for Advent
Arnold Ytreeide
Arnold Ytreeide
Please do tag @livingbythepagewithnatalie or use the hashtag #livingbythepage_christmas as I’d love a glimpse of your Book Advent as well!
