Christmas books for older kids

[WhatCanBrownBearSee]

We have a wonderful collection (thanks to the Book People) of Christmas picture books that come out every year. But now DC1 is now 7 and a voracious reader and we could do with some recommendations of Christmassy books more appropriate for her reading age

A boy called Christmas by Matt Haig

JRR Tolkein’s Father Christmas letters. They are absolutely gorgeous! He wrote one each year for his son, with his own illustrations.

The Christmasaurus is good for that age.

Does she still believe in Santa?

Thanks for the suggestions so far. She is unsure about Santa, but she has 2 younger brothers who definitely believe so I’d be wary of anything that was too blatant....I’m doubtful on whether to show Miracle on 34th Street, however much I love the film because I think she’d latch onto the doubt rather than the ending. But I wouldn’t be heartbroken if she came to her own conclusions if that makes any sense at all

The Thirteen days of Christmas by Jenny Overton
The Children of Green Knowe, by Lucy Boston

The Christmas Book, by Enid Blyton
There is a new book of Noel Streatfield Christmas themed stories to be published this month by Virago I believe.

I always enjoyed reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Christmas.

There’s a Santa spoiler list that you might want to avoid until she’s more sure of herself in relation to Santa.

I would go for Lion, Witch and Wardrobe but the David Walliams books are also good. My favourite was The Hobbit but I introduced it to my kids too early and they weren't keen

The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher.

The girl who saved Christmas by Matt Haig

Both offer a rational explanation for how Santa is able to pull it off that helped my 7/8yos continue to believe.

I always recommend this, but The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden (seems to veer in and out of print, but you can get for a couple of quid via abebooks or ebay).

It's the story of a little orphan girl, a doll who hasn't been bought, and a lonely childless couple - and needless to say, happy endings all round :)

The Children of Green Knowe, by Lucy Boston

I can't recommend this book enough. I got it around her age and it remains one of my favourites. It is utterly, utterly magical.

Might be a bit old but what about 'The Box of Delights' by John Masefield?

oh another one sprouts! i'm building my christmas reread list off this thread!!

I’d give it a couple of years as it’s scary in parts, but The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper is the best Christmas book ever. I reread it every year.

@Sadik, that was what I was going to recommend! DD loves it so much. So do I.

Another vote for Matt Haigs books here. No xmas spoilers, v funny and lovely to read aloud.

Thank you again for all the ideas, my Amazon basket is brimming full now.
Sadik, Holly and Ivy is my all time favourite childhood book. I still have my copy which has my grandmother's name written in the front, so goodness knows how old it is. I read it to DD last year and it started my search for other age appropriate Christmas books