A new book should be a stocking staple for people of all ages and the run up to Christmas is an ideal time to revisit a classic before starting new stock.
Children, unsurprisingly, are well-catered for with some of the all-time great children’s stories being set at or about Christmas.
From beautiful picture books detailing the life of Santa Claus and iconic novels taking place over a Christmas night to charming new stories and adapted tales here is our pick of the Christmas books yule love as much as your kids.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis
Snow, magic, cosiness and a cameo from Father Christmas – make no mistake, this is as festive as it gets. The beloved fantasy adventure might be best-remembered for the talking lion and epic battles, but it is the gift-giving and slightly incongruous visit from Santa that marks the most charming chapter in the tale.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, by Dr Seuss
“Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. But the Grinch who lived just North of Whoville did not! The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.” So starts the story that tells of the perils of over-commercialising Christmas and how one apparently beastly figure tried to steal the holiday away. It has been adapted for film and TV a handful of time, but reading the story together is still the best way to enjoy it.
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Scrooge is a literary and bookish way of saying Grinch, and this masterpiece remains the benchmark for festive grumpiness. The story works as a spooky ghost story or uplifting morality tale. The brilliance of characters such as Ebenezer himself, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim and the spectres of Christmas past, present and future is evident in the fact that they’re recreated without change in adaptations by Muppets, Bill Murray and countless cartoons.
Father Christmas, by Raymond Briggs
From the same author, illustrator and genius behind the beloved Snowman film this is the definitive version of Father Christmas. It was not the first and was not the last, but it is the perfect version of Father Christmas. Gorgeous drawings, hilarious visual jokes and a lead character who is a charming blend of grumpy neighbour and jolly uncle. No words, but decades of enjoyment.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum
The creator of The Wizard of Oz clearly had a knack for fantasy, bizarre characters and the occasional quest. No surprise, then, that he was among the first to try and flesh out a back story for Santa. It is more than 120 years old, now, but the imagination is still strong as we learn the fabled origins of every part of the Santa story.
A Boy Called Christmas, by Matt Haig
If you consider Santa to be a superhero then this is his origin story. Expect to see a lot more of it this year as Netflix has adapted it for screen and is releasing it in time for the holidays. If you like your stories to have a side order of heart-warming schmaltz then seek it out and learn how one little boy from Finland came to become Father Christmas.
The Father Christmas Letters, by J. R. R. Tolkien
Was Father Christmas the true inspiration for Gandalf the Wizard? Very possibly. Tolkien told stories of the private life of Father Christmas and his business associates in a series of letters sent to his children in the years between writing The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and it certainly seemed it influenced his most famous beardy hero. Especially the adventures when Father Christmas battles goblins and uses fireworks to create the northern lights. Honestly.
Christmasaurus, by Tom Fletcher
In case you didn’t know it this McFly (pop-rock group big in the noughties) and Strictly Come Dancing star is a smash-hit children’s story book writer, too. Parents might remember the songs from pre-kid days, but kids will never forget this story of a plucky dinosaur who wants nothing more than to be able to fly and pull Santa’s sleigh.
The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper
Better suited to older children and teens this is a brooding fantasy that can be read alone or enjoyed by adults. Christmas takes something of a back seat to the dark magic and emerging evil, but with plenty of snow and genuine chills it is an ever-present backdrop to a highly-acclaimed YA thriller.
Winter Story, by Jill Barklem
There might not be any mention of actual Christmas, but a community of cutesy mice living through the biggest snowstorm in years is as festive as any story you’ll find. Think Beatrix Potter, but with cosier folk art homes in the Brambly Hedge series.
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