This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
I don't know about you, but I love family traditions at Christmas. It starts in November with the making of the Christmas pudding, when I'm allowed to play Christmas songs for a couple of hours (then nothing again until December!). I ask Father Christmas's elves if they can bring a Christmas DVD in the week before the big day, to get us all in the mood – and to occupy the children for an hour or so whilst I make the Christmas gravy (Jamie Oliver suggests making it ahead and now I always do). New pyjamas arrive from the elves on Christmas Eve, which is also very kind of them. And the children always receive a Christmas book that we read together, along with The Night Before Christmas, which is re-read every year as they're being tucked up in their beds. Some of the following might seem to be children's books, but I'm looking forward to reading all of them.
1. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore – There are so many pretty versions of this classic poem, you are spoilt for choice. Pop up books, board books or simple books with a large, cheery, ruddy-faced Father Christmas on the front. I love to read this out loud to my children. It gives me a lump in my throat, every time.
2. Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien – This is a fabulous book. Every year in the Tolkien household, a letter would arrive from Father Christmas. Inside the envelope was a beautiful letter with spidery handwriting and illustrations depicting what Father Christmas's had been up to.
3. The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson – Actress Emma Thompson has continued the work of Beatrix Potter with The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit and now she has written a Christmas book too. Peter and Benjamin Bunny are on a mission to save a special friend from becoming Mr & Mrs McGregor's Christmas lunch. Can they save him?
4. Dickens At Christmas by Charles Dickens – I saw this in the bookshop last week and just had to stroke it. It's a gorgeous cover and a book I'm asking the elves to bring for me. This classic book brings together Dickens's Christmas stories A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Battle of Life, The Cricket on the Hearth and The Haunted Man in addition to special seasonal editions of his periodicals All the Year Round and Household Words, plus a festive tale from The Pickwick Papers.
5. The Nativity – The Story of Baby Jesus by May Eliot – During Christmas time and all the commercial bits and bobs that go wth it (and, yes, stressing about the gravy and roast potatoes), it is easy to forget what the day is really all about. This gorgeously illustrated story does the job beautifully.
6. Round the Christmas Fire Festive Stories – A beautiful looking book with festive stories from Laurie Lee, Truman Capote, Kenneth Graham, John Cheever, Sue Towsend, Nancy Mitford, Dylan Thomas, Charles Dickens, John Julius Norwich, P.G. Wodehouse and Stella Gibbons, among many others. We'll have copies of this to give away in our December newsletter, so keep your eyes peeled.
7. Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs – Just brilliant. Father Christmas, as seen in The Snowman also by Raymond Briggs. The DVD is also excellent with the late, great voice of Mel Smith.
8. Eric's Christmas Adventure by Lindsey Randle – A magical story with beautiful illustrations for children.
9. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas – Dylan Thomas's account of his Christmas in a small Welsh town.
10. The Best Christmas Present in the World by Michael Morpurgo – A letter found in an antique desk brings a soldier's experience from 1914 to life.
Is there a specific Christmas book that you love to read during the holidays?