Christmassy books to read to the dc

[beatricequimby]

Any ideas? Mine are primary school age. I was thinking it would be nice to start a Christmssy book on 1 Dec and read a little bit every day. They have already read The Box of Delights and a couple of Christmas stories by Rumer Godden. The only other one I can think of is The dark is rising by Susan Cooper.

You've pretty much covered my list apart from The Children of Green Knowe, but if they've read The Box of Delights, they might be too old for Green Knowe.

jostein Gaardner has a book called The Christmas Mystery (I think - I haven't read it for 20 years or so) with 24 short chapters which is perfect for an advent calendar book for teenagers.

You might also like the Christmas storytelling cards by John and Caitlin Matthews, which are beautifully illustrated rich symbolic prompts for making up a Christmas story of your own.

The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe is wintery, even if not Christmassy.

Oh, and A Christmas Carol, obviously :-)

Lovely idea! We have a book of children's Christmas poems which is ideal for those nights when you are late home and it is too late for a proper read! Just whizz through a couple if those, takes minutes

This list is is pretty good, and has everything I would have suggested apart from Holly and Ivy. The Hogfather is a good suggestion, as is Rover Saves Christmas.

How about the Christmas chapter in Little Women?
If they like school stories, then Jo of the Chalet School has a lovely bit about Christmas in Innsbruck in the 1920s.
A personal favourite is Pookie Believes In Santa Claus - www.amazon.co.uk/Pookie-Believes-Santa-Claus-Wallace/dp/0001983806

Thanks for these. The cards sound lovely. My ds (10) might be old enough for the Jostein Hardner so will have a look.

Big Chalet school fan so I might give that one a go with dd (8). She started school at the chalet last year but to my disappointment, didn't finish it. Don't think the French and Gean helped. I love the Christmas in Little Women and you have reminded me that there are nice Christmas chapters in the Katy books too.

The Pookie one looks lovely too.

I forgot to link to the list I mentioned earlier:

www.stylist.co.uk/books/50-best-christmas-books#gallery-2

Thanks Molly that's a fab list.