Christmas time has a way of bringing out the kid in everybody, and these four classic children’s books should fit the bill for anyone looking to share that sense of childlike wonder with their own children this holiday season.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
The creator of Oz and all its inhabitants brings us an imaginative take on the origins of Santa Claus. Featuring gorgeous watercolor illustrations by renowned children’s artist Michael Hague, this version of how the Jolly Old Elf came to be is sure to delight children and parents alike. Suitable for ages 8 and older.
Christmas Stories: A Little House Chapter Book by Laura Ingalls WIlder
In her Little House series, Laura Ingalls Wilder recounts Christmases from her childhood. This chapter book collects Christmas tales from the books Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek and By the Shores of Silver Lake. Whether the Ingalls family were snug and cozy with plenty of food and gifts to go around, or enduring more uncertain conditions when Laura and her sisters weren’t even sure Santa would be able to reach them, they always managed to make Christmas a happy time, reminding us that what’s really important is the love between family and friends. Suitable for ages 6 and up.
Eloise at Christmastime by Kay Thompson
The Plaza Hotel’s most precocious young resident shows us how Christmas is done in Manhattan as she does her best to spread Christmas cheer throughout the hotel. Accompanied with hilarious illustrations by Hilary Knight, parents are as likely as their children to get a kick out of Eloise’s misadventures. Suitable for ages 4 and up.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
No Christmas is complete without a visit to the Grinch and his poor, put-upon dog Max as they scheme to ruin Christmas for those annoyingly cheerful Whos down in Whoville. The original tale as written and illustrated by Dr Seuss is an enduring classic for good reason, and makes for some of the best Holiday bedtime reading around. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
