A Guide to Christmas Literature

This is a selected list of books that can be used in grades PreK - 12.

• Picture Books
• Juvenile Fiction
• Activities, Plays, Poetry, and Stories
• Facts and History
• Teacher Resources

Picture Books

Brown, M. T. (1984). Arthur's Christmas. Boston: Little, Brown.

Arthur puts a lot of time, effort and thought into his special present for Santa Claus. (Grade PreK-1).

Call Number: Pj Bro

Cazet, D. (1984). Christmas moon. Scarsdale, NY: Bradbury Press.

Patrick misses Grandpa, especially at Christmas, but his mother helps him to remember happy times with Grandpa and to use what Grandpa taught him to make Christmas happy for himself and his friends. (Grade PreK-1).

Call Number: Pj Caz

Collington, P. (1997). A small miracle. New York: Knopf: Distributed by Random House.

The figures in a nativity scene come to life to help an old woman in need at Christmas. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Col

de Brunhoff, J. (1940). Babar and Father Christmas. (M. Haas, Trans.). New York: Random House.

Babar sets out on a journey to find Father Christmas and bring him back to visit the children of Elephants' country. (Grade PreK-2).

Call Number: Pj Bru

De Paola, T. (1987). An early American Christmas. New York: Holiday House.

The inhabitants of a New England village never make much fuss about Christmas until a new family moves in and celebrates the holiday in a special way. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj DeP

Ets, M. H., & Labastida, A. (1959). Nine days to Christmas. New York: Viking Press.

Ceci, a little Mexican girl is excited because she is old enough to get her own pinata for her first Christmas Posada. (Grade 3-6).

Call Number: Pj Ets

Figueredo, D. H. (2003). The road to Santiago. New York: Lee & Low Books.

In Cuba, in the early 1950s, a young boy and his family try their best not to let the rebel soldiers keep them from traveling to Santiago to celebrate Christmas with their relatives. Based on a true incident in the life of the author. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Fig

Forward, T. (1996). Ben's Christmas carol. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

A greedy mouse learns about sharing on Christmas Eve. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj For

Hoff, S. (1979). Santa's moose. New York: Harper & Row.

Milton, the big clumsy moose, helps Santa one Christmas when his load is too heavy for the reindeer to pull. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Hof

Hutchins, P. (1974). The silver Christmas tree. New York: Macmillan.

Squirrel wonders what happened to the beautiful star that had appeared at the top of his Christmas tree. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Hut

Johnston, T. (2003). A Kenya Christmas. New York: Holiday House.

Ten-year-old Juma and his Aunt Aida plan to surprise his Kenyan village with an appearance by Father Christmas and find that they themselves are surprised. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Joh

Krahn, F. (1978). The biggest Christmas tree on earth. Boston: Little, Brown.

A little girl joins the forest animals in decorating their giant Christmas tree. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Kra

Krahn, F. (1970). How Santa Claus had a long and difficult journey delivering his presents. New York: Delacorte Press.

Pictures without words show Santa Claus trying to get airborne after the reindeer break away from their traces. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Kra

Krensky, S. (1998). How Santa got his job. New York: Simon & Schuster.

When Santa was a young man he tried all kinds of jobs from chimney sweep to postman to circus performer until he met a group of elves and found the perfect job. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Kre

Kroll, S. (1977). Santa's crash-bang Christmas. New York: Holiday House.

A succession of annoyances causes Santa to wish he were at home rather than on his Christmas Eve journey. (Grade PreK-1).

Call Number: Pj Kro

McCully, E. A. (1988). The Christmas gift. New York: Harper & Row.

When a little mouse's treasured Christmas gift is broken, Grandpa consoles her with a toy train from his own childhood. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Mcc

Merriam, E. (1985). The Christmas box. New York: W. Morrow.

Eager to see all the presents, the family comes downstairs on Christmas morning to find just one long thin box under the tree. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Mer

Nikola-Lisa, W. (2000). Hallelujah!: A Christmas celebration. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Describes the plum-purple sky, yew-green hills, silver strands of moonlight, and other colorful things which provide the setting for the birth of a black baby Jesus. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Nik

Say, A. (1991). Tree of cranes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

A Japanese boy learns of Christmas when his mother decorates a pine tree with paper cranes. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Say

Seuss, Dr. (1957). How the Grinch stole Christmas. New York: Random House.

The Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway. Could Christmas be more than presents? (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Seu

Soto, G. (1992). Too many tamales. New York: Putnam.

Maria tries on her mother's wedding ring while helping make tamales for a Christmas family get-together. Panic ensues when hours later, she realizes the ring is missing. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Sot

Van Allsburg, C. (1985). The polar express. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: Pj Van

Wells, R. (1986). Max's Christmas. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Despite his sister Ruby's admonitions, Max waits up on Christmas Eve to see Santa Claus coming down the chimney. (Grade PreK-2).

Call Number: Pj Wel

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Juvenile Fiction

Davies, V. 1984). Miracle on 34th Street. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

The lives of three people are changed by an old man who insists that he is Santa Claus. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j Dav

Dickens, C. 1996). A Christmas carol. New York: Morrow Junior Books.

A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future. (Grade 6-12).

Call Number: j Dic

Gammell, S. (1981). Wake-up, bear--it's Christmas! New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.

A hibernating bear wakes up on Christmas Eve and entertains a special visitor. (Grade 1-4).

Call Number: j Gam

Gates, W., & Devlin, H. (1976). Cranberry Christmas. New York: Parents' Magazine Press.

Mr. Whiskers faces a gloomy Christmas until Maggie and her grandmother help him straighten out his house and find the deed to the nearby pond. (Grade 1-4).

Call Number: j Gat

Moore, C., & Johnson, P. (1998). Santa & Pete: A novel of Christmas present and past. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Through his grandfather's stories, a young African American living in New York learns how the tradition of giving gifts to the needy started. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j Moo

Patterson, N. R. (1989). The Christmas cup. New York: Orchard Books.

Eight-year-old Megan and her grandmother turn a worthless old cup to good use by saving money in it to buy a gift for a special person at Christmas. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j Pat

Robinson, B. (1988). The best Christmas pageant ever. New York: Harper & Row.

The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j Rob

Rock, G. (1974). The house without a Christmas tree. New York: Knopf.

In 1946 a ten-year-old girl tries to understand and overcome her stern father's objections to having a Christmas tree in the house. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j Roc

Rogers, J. (1989). The Christmas pageant. New York: Grosset & Dunlap.

While the text tells the story of Jesus' birth, pictures show a group of spirited children preparing their annual Christmas play. (Grade 2-5).

Call Number: j Rog

Rylant, C. (1987). Children of Christmas: Stories for the season. New York: Orchard Books.

Six Christmas stories that portray the sensitive moods of togetherness, loss, belonging and privation. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j Ryl

Thomas, D. (1985). A child's Christmas in Wales. New York: Holiday House.

Journey back in time to join Geraint in his exploits and adventures in the small Welsh village, sharing enchanting moments of humor, sadness and magic as he tells his grandson of Christmas past. (Grade 4-12).

Call Number: j Tho

Wojciechowski, S. (1995). The Christmas miracle of Jonathan. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

The widow McDowell and her seven-year-old son Thomas ask the gruff Jonathan Toomey, the best wood-carver in the valley, to carve the figures for a Christmas creche. (Grade 2-8).

Call Number: j Woj

Zolotow, C. (1972). The beautiful Christmas tree. Berkeley, CA: Parnassus Press.

Although everyone laughs when Mr. Crockett plants a straggly pine tree in front of his house, his loving care is rewarded in time. (Grade 2-5).

Call Number: j Zol

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Activities, Plays, Poetry, and Stories

Crichton, R. (1987). Who is Santa Claus?: The true story behind a living legend. Edinburgh: Canongate.

The mysterious history of Saint Nicholas, his birth, life and death recounts miracles and good deeds of this remarkable man. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j 398.3563 Cri

Daniel, M. (1988). A child's Christmas treasury. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

An anthology of poems, carols, stories, legends, and recipes celebrating the Christmas season. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j 821.008 Chi

Davis, K., et al. (1968). The little drummer boy. New York: Macmillan Co.

The story of a boy who was so poor that his gift to Jesus was his drumming. Includes the music score. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 783.6 Lit

De Paola, T. (1981). The friendly beasts: An old English Christmas carol. New York: Putnam.

In this old English Christmas carol the friendly stable beasts tell of the gifts they have given to the newborn Jesus. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 783.65 Fri

Hodges, M. (1997). Silent night: Its story and song. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Tells how the well-known Christmas carol, "Silent Night," first came to be written and performed in Austria in the early 1800s. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 782.28 Hod

Livingston, M. C. (Ed.). (1984). Christmas poems. New York: Holiday House.

Eighteen selections include offerings by Harry Behn, X.J. Kennedy, Christina Rossetti, and John Ciardi. (Grade 4-6).

Call Number: j 808.81 Chr

Mikolaycak, C. (1984). Babushka: An old Russian folktale. New York: Holiday House.

Retells the traditional tale of the old lady who, having missed her chance to take gifts to the newborn Christ Child, still wanders leaving gifts for all children in hopes that, one day, she will come upon Him. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 398.2 Mik

Moore, C. C. (1989). The night before Christmas, or, A visit of St. Nicholas: An antique reproduction. New York: Philomel Books.

The well-known poem about an important Christmas Eve visitor. (Grade PreK-8).

Call Number: j 811.2 Moo

Raffi. (1988). The Raffi Christmas treasury. New York: Crown Publishers.

A collection of favorite Christmas carols and songs. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 784.6 Raf

Sabuda, R. (1996). The 12 days of Christmas: A pop-up celebration. New York: Little Simon.

A young woman's true love sends her extravagant gifts on each of the twelve days of Christmas. (Grade K-8).

Call Number: [Special Format] j 394.266 Sab

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Facts and History

Chapman, J.(1983). The sugar-plum Christmas book: A book for Christmas and all the days of the year. Chicago: Children's Press International.

A collection of traditional and original carols, poems and practical activities, that presents a wide-angle view of Christmas to children. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j 394.268 Sug

Giblin, J. (1985). The truth about Santa Claus. New York: T.Y. Crowell.

Explains how historical facts, religious mythology, folklore, tradition, and commercial promotion have combined to give us the modern figure of Santa Claus. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 394.2 Gib

Kennedy, P. (1992). A Christmas celebration: Traditions and customs from around the world. Nashville, TN: Ideals Children's Books.

Explains the customs and traditions of Christmas, including those of pre-Christian origin, and discusses how the holiday is celebrated today around the world. (Grade 3-5).

Call Number: j 394.268 Ken

Lankford, M. D. (1995). Christmas around the world. New York: Morrow Junior Books.

Discusses the weather, customs, decorations, festivals and traditions of 12 countries. (Grade 3-5).

Call Number: j 394.266 Lan

Lehane, B. & Time-Life Books. (1986). The book of Christmas. Morristown, NJ: Silver Burdett Co.

Beautifully illustrated collection of traditions around the world. Includes lyrics of popular Christmas carols. (Grade 3-8).

Call Number: j 394.2 Leh

McKissack, P. & McKissack, F. (1994). Christmas in the big house, Christmas in the quarters. New York: Scholastic.

Describes the customs, recipes, poems, and songs used to celebrate Christmas in the big plantation houses and in the slave quarters just before the Civil War. (Grade 4-6).

Call Number: j 394.26 Mck

Munro, R. (1987). Christmastime in New York City. New York: Dodd, Mead.

Presents panoramic drawings of various sights in New York City during the Christmas season including the Thanksgiving Day Parade, decorated shop windows, and the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 394.2 Mun

Patent, D. H., & Muñoz, W. (1987). Christmas trees. New York: Dodd, Mead.

Discusses the origins of the Christmas tree and methods of farming Christmas trees. (Grade 4-8).

Call Number: j 635.9 Pat

Pienkowski, J. (1984). Christmas, the King James Version. New York: Knopf.

Uses the words of the Gospels of Luke and Matthew to present the story of the birth of Jesus. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 226 Bib

Willson, R. B. (1983). Merry Christmas: Children at Christmastime around the world. New York: Philomel Books.

Presents Christmas traditions, legends, carols, and recipes from many countries around the world. (Grade PreK-3).

Call Number: j 394.2 Wil

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Teacher Resources

Frazel, M. (2002). Daily celebration activities: September through January. Worthington, OH: Linworth Pub.

Call Number: Curr. Mats LB 1537 .F735 2002

Matthew, K. I., & Lowe, J. L. (2004). Neal-Schuman guide to celebrations and holidays around the world. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Call Number: Curr. Mats. GT3930 .M38 2004

Spann, M. B. (1991). Literature-based seasonal and holiday activities. New York: Scholastic.

Call Number: Curr. Mats. LB1527 .S63 1991

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