12 Days of Christmas Children's Books

​I will have to preface this list by admitting that I'm a classics kinda-gal, but I do love some new Christmas stories too & they are included in my list! Enjoy! 
1. The Light of Christmas
by: Richard Paul Evans
www.amazon.com/Light-Christmas-Richard-Paul-Evans/dp/1481466127/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+Light+of+Christmas&qid=1576015374&s=books&sr=1-1
This story teaches the true meaning of Christmas when a young boy, Alexander, makes the trip to see the giant Christmas tree get lit each year & he shows kindness to an old man in the snow on the way, even though it means he will probably miss the ceremony. 
2.  The Gifts of the Animals
by: Carole Gerber
www.amazon.com/Gifts-Animals-Carole-Gerber/dp/1641701595/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+Gifts+of+the+Animals&qid=1576015401&s=books&sr=1-1
This story is about the stable animals & what gifts they shared with the baby Jesus. 
3. The Polar Express
by: Chris Van Allsburg
www.amazon.com/Polar-Express-anniversary-Chris-Allsburg/dp/0544580141/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+Polar+Express&qid=1576015431&s=books&sr=1-1
(we love reading this one with a bell!) A young boy can't go to sleep on Christmas Eve & then he hears a train whistle outside his house. As the train conductor beckons to him, he decides to board the train (the Polar Express) which is headed to the North Pole. There's a gathering with Santa & his elves & one lucky child gets to tell Santa what he wants & receive the first gift of Christmas. The boy wishes for a bell from the reindeer harness & is so excited about his gift, that when he gets back on the train, he discovers a pesky hole in his pocket, where the beloved bell has slipped out from. But he gets a nice surprise from Santa Claus on Christmas morning. 
4.  The Night Before Christmas
by: Jan Brett (her illustrations are phenomenal! Check out her Christmas reindeer & Gingerbread Baby books too!!!)
www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Christmas-Clement-Illustrated/dp/B00F4AI7WY/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=the+Night+Before+Christmas+jan+brett&qid=1576015491&s=books&sr=1-4
The classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas, when all through the house" poem with amazing illustrations. 
5.  Christmas Oranges
by: Linda Berger
www.amazon.com/Christmas-Oranges-Bethers-Sowards-Hardcover/dp/B015QKGMWS/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1576015979&sr=1-2
In the orphanage, Mr. Crampton is very strict with the children & inflicts many punishments on Rose.  She sees the Christmas tree gets adorned with many oranges, but then gets punished again & seemingly will miss out on the tradition of receiving her own sweet orange. 
6. Red & Lulu
by: Matt Tavares
www.amazon.com/Red-Lulu-Matt-Tavares/dp/0763677337/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Red+%26+Lulu&qid=1576016027&s=books&sr=1-1 
Two birds who are friends & fly together are searching for signs of the Christmas spirit. Red goes in search of her friend Lulu & finds her in the giant Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center & they have a happy reunion. 
7. 12 Days of Christmas 
by: Laurel Long
www.amazon.com/Twelve-Days-Christmas-Laurel-Long/dp/0803733577/ref=sr_1_5?crid=12AK1TYP9BSLS&keywords=12+days+of+christmas&qid=1576013917&s=books&sprefix=12+Days+of+%2Cstripbooks%2C201&sr=1-5
The popular Christmas song with accompanying illusrations. 
8. The Legend of Old Befana
by: Tomie dePaola 
*(Birds of Bethlehem is also a cute one.)
www.amazon.com/Legend-Old-Befana-Italian-Christmas/dp/1481477633/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+Legend+of+Old+Befana&qid=1576015737&s=books&sr=1-1 
Old Befana meets 3 strangers who are in search of the Christ child & who follow the star to find him. It's a heartwarming Italian Christmas tale.
9.  The Little Reindeer
by: Nicole Killen
​www.amazon.com/Little-Reindeer-Animal/dp/1481486861/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+Little+Reindeer&qid=1576016055&s=books&sr=1-1
A little girl meets a lost reindeer in the woods and brings its collar with bells back. I love the foil in the illustrations & die cut pages. 
10.  The Christmas Train
by: Thomas S. Monson 
www.amazon.com/Christmas-Train-Monson-Thomas-S/dp/1609071824/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=the+Christmas+Train&qid=1576016080&s=books&sr=1-8 
Tom Monson always wanted an electric train for Christmas. He finally gets one, but then his mom buys a train for the boy down the street. Tom wants one piece from that boy's train set & takes it, but after seeing the joy it brings the little boy to have his very own train, he feels bad for removing it & runs home to bring it to the neighbor. Truly a touching story of Christmas giving. 
11. Silent Night
by: Lara Hawthorne
www.amazon.com/Silent-Night-Lara-Hawthorne/dp/1786030667/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=silent+night&qid=1576014310&s=books&sr=1-1
The illustrations that go along with this classic Christmas carol are neat to take in; this is a newer publication too. 
12. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
by: Dr. Seuss
www.amazon.com/Grinch-Stole-Christmas-Classic-Seuss/dp/0394800796/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=How+the+Grinch+stole+christmas&qid=1576016123&s=books&sr=1-1
This classic tale reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas; the Grinch, an outcast, attempts to remove every decoration & food item from the Whos down in Whosville. But then he feels remorse when his sleigh gets overfilled & he looks down on Whosville on Christmas morning & is surprised to hear the Whos waking up & singing just like normal. They carry the Christmas spirit, which he learns about by watching them. 

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