Christmas themed chapter book for children?

[GreatExpectations2012]

Morning all,

As part of our run up to Christmas, we have always read Christmas themed picture books. My DC are now 9 and 6 so I'd like to read something a bit more meaty over a week or 10 days. Does anyone have any super ideas?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a fun one.

The Box of Delights.

The Children Of Greene Knowe.

The Dark is Rising (Susan Cooper)

Oh, The Dark is Rising is a brilliant idea!

Maybe better for next year when your dc are older (lots of moments of peril and a very scary witch might be a but much for a 6 year old) but I'd recommend Nikolai of the North by Lucy Daniel Raby. I read it every December to my junior class and they've all loved it. It is basically the story of Santa as a boy, and how he becomes Santa, and it's really exciting. Ooh, might have to start it a bit early as I'm all excited now!

The 9 year old might like A Christmas Carol?

The Christmas Bower is fab, by Polly Redford. It's about a boy called Noah, his family own a department store in New York, but he prefers hanging out with his ornithologist Uncle Willie.

Loads of fun, v Christmassy, and some gentle lessons in there too.

Thank you, I'll have a look at all of these!

I'd second The Box of Delights. I read that and The Dark is Rising for myself every Christmas.

Rainbow fairies have endless supply

Christmas mystery by jostein gaarder (it starts on 1st December and runs through a day a chapter. It's beautiful.

We always read Tolkien's Father Christmas letters. I can't tell you how magical they are.

I second the Christmas mystery by Jostein gaarder. I've read it past 2 years to DD1 who is now 8, we both love it. For girls - holly & ivy by rumer Godden (I think) is very sweet.