Addendum: (yea, not technically an addendum - since it's not at the end - nevertheless...) It's obvious that my family's favorite books hail from our traditions - that said, I would love, love, love it if folks with backgrounds (and foregrounds) from ALL traditions would share their recommendations!!
Two years ago I did a book-list trilogy for the holidays: a list of kids' holiday books, a list of Christmas books (the spiritual dimension) and a list of holiday humor books.
I'm going to re-share my lists of favorites this year - so, we'll have a book-list day on Wednesday for 3 weeks! And I am so hoping that you'll join in with your lists!
Let's start with favorite kids' books, in case anyone's looking for a book rec for a favorite kid. When I posted the list in 2008 I did it after the holidays. As a matter of fact, the post was named "Is it still Holidaytime?" (because it wasn't).
Since it was after the holidays I suggested that "you could check some of these out of your local library - anyone who had them out for Christmas would have returned them by now (unless they are like me and enjoy running up mortgage sized library fines). So - look at that - if you put off reading your Christmas books until after Christmas you might have an easier time getting them. Procrastination at work again..."
But - alas, this year I'm being timely - so the library might not work. You see, procrastination does sometimes have a good side!
This list was compiled when my granddaughter, Little Princess, was 5 years old. I said then, and I'll repeat: these are books anyone would love - except, maybe - bikers (and then, who knows). They're kids' books, but like all the good ones - they're ageless.
Carl's Christmas - a picture book featuring Carl, a wonderful Rottweiler, who seems to be the family's nanny. Beautiful pictures - many to giggle over.
Cynthia Rylant's Christmas In The Country tells of Rylant's Christmases living with her grandparents. Great pictures and touching story.
Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas is wonderful. It may have been the inspiration for Slightly-British Daughter's tradition - begun a few years ago - of saving letters from Little Princess to Santa - and Santa's letters back to her (and possibly of penning the Santa letters, but she swears it wasn't her - grin).
When Little Princess was 4 we loved Holly Hobbie's Toot & Puddle Let It Snow (Toot and Puddle are pigs, awesome - fun loving pigs, one an adventurer and one a homebody). Two years ago we added their new DVD: Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas to the mix. I'll be Home for Christmas comes in a book version too, but we haven't seen it yet. These stories are lovely - no superheroes, no one in mortal peril - just everyday nice (remember nice kids' books?) fun books - with great pictures!
Then there's Merry Christmas, Festus and Mercury, which is a bit long for Little Princess - (also hard to find - but well worth hunting!) but we're able to read her a shortened version relying on the wonderfulwild (no, that's not a typo - it's my attempt to find the appropriate word) pictures. Festus (a man) and Mercury (a cat) are busy and independent critters, until Festus gets hurt right before Christmas. Good story - outstandingly fun illustrations.
Wrapping up the kids' recommendations, there's Mole's Christmas Welcome - a selection (made into a small book) from the beloved The Wind in the Willows. The Wind in the Willows is definitely a book for all ages - though it's long for anyone with Little Princess' attention span - which is why this small selection is perfect.
That's the Square-Peg family list - now how 'bout yours? What are yours - or your family's - or your favorite kid's favorite holiday books???
A little reminder: if you're stressing right now (or just want something inspiring and uplifting to read), please check out some of the beautiful posts (by some beautiful bloggers) in our Support Stories: Strength from Within blog round robin! {Editor's note: we've added more uplifting stories this year - 2011!}
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This post is part of a holiday book-loving trilogy, the two others are:
Holiday Book List (holiday humor, because we need humor, right?) and
Oh Hell, it's the Holy Holly Holiday Reading List.
Happy Holidays Folks!
