Best christmas book

[Sassyfrassy]

I'd like to get a book to read to my four year old on christmas eve. I'd like it to be a new tradition so that we read the same one each year.

Any tips on a great christmasy book to get?

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Fabulous idea Christiana. Incidentally, I'm swedish myself and speak swedish with my children, so I could ask my mum to buy it in Swedish and send over!

I had night before Christmas as a child and can now recite the poem - love the story

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i have bought 'the night before christmas' to read to mine, was a couple of quid from amazon

First Christmas by Jan Pienkowski? The illustrations are absolutely stunning. Text might seem strange to a 4yo (nativity story from King James' Bible, I think) but it really doesn't matter.

I bought it for my 3.6yo a week or so ago (to explain the nativity story to him in preparation for his starring role in a nativity play ) and he adores it. We've read it umpteen times already and every time he spots something new in the pictures.

Christmas Story by Brian Wildsmith is nice too. Nativity story told from a donkey's perspective. Nice pictures too.

We were just reading this tonight with DS's (4 & 5).

There is always Raymond Briggs Father Christmas story too.

I really like Olive the Other Reindeer

We have this one, which is lovely and explains the story of the nativity simply with beautiful illustrations ? I bought it last year for DD then aged 3.5.

Why I Love Christmas is nice ? it has lots of reasons why Christmas is special (showing that it?s not ALL about presents!) ? this was a good one to read when DD was really little (I think I got it for the Christmas when she was 18 months).

Also love this version of The Night Before Christmas and Jesus?s Christmas Party, which is very funny and tells the story of the nativity from the point of view of the very grumpy innkeeper!

Thanks for the Astrid Lindgren reccommendation christiana - I'm a big fan too and have been waiting impatiently for her to be old enough to read the Bullerby Children - that looks like it could be a good introduction!

We always read the Raymond Briggs "Shh Santa"
and "Hurry Santa" DS is 7 now and we have been reading them since he was about 18 months.

Just sent DS up the stairs to find them

I always read The night Before Christmas to my kids as well, they're now 10 and 15 but it's still expected and still part of our families tradition. Along with board games and the christmas sweets out (they don't get opened until xmas eve)
Can't wait!!