Children's Christmas Books - any favourites?

[Knomester]

Still a touch early I fear, but in anticipation of 1st December (when Christmas festivities are officially allowed to begin in our house) I just wondered if you and your children have any favourite Christmas or winter themed books that you like to read at this time of year?

I have a 4 year old (and a 7 month old who might just about be ready for That's Not My Reindeer!) and am on the look out for some new Christmassy books for him, particularly longer stories which he is really getting into now.

From previous years we have:

The Night Before Christmas (2 versions)

Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jane Ray

Babar & Father Christmas

Christmas in Exeter Street by Diana Hendry & John Lawrence

The Gruffalo's Child

Stick Man

I've a feeling there may be a couple more packed away with the Christmas boxes too...

What do you enjoy reading around Christmas time?

Does anyone have this by Michael Morpurgo - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Morpurgo-Christmas-Stories/dp/1405268956

Thanks

[bluesuperted]

Nice idea for a thread!

Last year I read all about how magical Lucy and Tom's Christmas was (Shirley Hughes) and tried to track it down but it was sold out (out of print). Managed to get a second hand version in February (!) so an looking forward to that for this year's run up, might already be a bit tricky to find now I think. Also have accumulated a Lookalikes (fabulous series, also a bit hard to find) Christmas version and a 1000 things to spot at Christmas which I think both mine will enjoy this year.

K - I will try and dig out a baby's first Christmas book my dad gave V last year and you can have that for R minor! x

[Fmm]

We also like:

- Mog's Christmas

- Father Christmas Needs A Wee

- How The Grinch Stole Christmas

[bluesuperted]

Also just remembered the Jolly Christmas Postman, my favourite childhood picture book!

The Michael Morpurgo book looks lovely.

[hazelnunhead]

we also love How the Grinch stole Christmas

The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren - not exactly Christmas, but lovely and wintery

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomten-Astrid-Lindgren/dp/0863151531/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416831527&sr=1-1&keywords=the+tomten

I have bought the Michael Morpurgo for this year

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Morpurgo-Christmas-Stories/dp/1405268956/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416831603&sr=1-1&keywords=michael+morpurgo+christmas+stories

Not read yet, but looking forward to it

and another favourite is this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Story-Brian-Wildsmith/dp/0192727303/ref=sr_1_51?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416831713&sr=1-51&keywords=christmas+stories

which is a lovely parallel story about the donkey in the story of Christmas .

[LVWT]

I look forward to the 1st December so I can force the children to listen to me read the grinch who stole Christmas on a daily basis. :)

[Knomester]

Lucy & Tom's Christmas sounds great bluesuperted! We'll have to read it at your house...

Is this the 1001 things to spot book you have bluesuperted - http://www.amazon.co.uk/1001-Things-Spot-at-Christmas/dp/074609793X/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416837394&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=1000+things+to+spot+Christmas

We're looking forward to the Jolly Christmas Postman which is coming as a Christmas present from Nana K.

I've ordered the Michael Morpurgo one now hazelnunhead! I love his books which I've read as an adult and have bought our nephews all Morpurgo books as part of their Christmas presents this year too.

I'll take a look at the others thanks Fmm, bst, hazelnunhead.

[Knomester]

LVWT - I'm the same with The Night Before Christmas!!

[bawdy-nan]

For little ones: The Jolly Christmas Postman

http://bit.ly/1uxHJ8K

Otherwise:

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Children of the Green Knowe

The Box of Delights

all christmassy and good "read out loud" bedtime books

[Monkey]

The Santa Trap by Jonathan Emmett.

[edanna]

The polar express http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Polar_Express I love reading it aloud - the language is lovely and it has a really magical feel to it.

Lowering the tone somewhat Father Christmas Needs a Wee is good fun for younger kids.

[ludoscotts]

We love the Santa trap, the dinosaur that pooped Christmas,

[redmonkey]

Ooh I love talking about books . . .

Not sure if its still in print but Astrid Lindgren also wrote Christmas at Bullerby which is as Christmassy as it gets.

Harvey Slumphemburger's Christmas Present by John Burningham kind of left field but very sweet,

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dlylan Thomas for older kids

and what about Petethe Cat Saves Christmas?

[alice32]

The Empty Stocking by Richard Curtis and Rebecca Cobb is lovely and also Snow Day from the same pair.

And I love Alfie's Christmas by Shirley Hughes.

[Knomester]

So many wonderful recommendations to choose from!

I've bought the Michael Morpurgo one for eldest son's stocking and also picked up a second hand copy of the Story of the Snow Children. Definitely on the look out for Alfie's Christmas too now alice32!

Redmonkey - my mum is a bit obsessed with Harvey Slumphemburger's Christmas Present so we heard a lot of that last Christmas.

[esme]

'How Santa Really Works' by Alan Snow is great for toddlers - pop up book, which my son loves...

Maybe Wibbly Pig or something like that for baby with lots of pics :)

I also have an 8 month old and 4 yr old!

[cazbee]

Does anyone have any particular suggestions for Christmas books where the central focus is not Father Christmas and presents, aside from bible stories? I know the present bit is exciting for kids but with a birthday close to Christmas my son can get a bit present obsessed!

[Monkey]

Cazbee, I would say The House on Exeter Street (all about helping others, being together) or the Grinch who stole Christmas (he steals all the presents but Christmas still comes).

[Jacbuc]

could it be true by susan hill, a beautiful poem with exquisite illustrations.

[bawdy-nan]

Then of course there is the odd but marvellous Grimble at Christmas by Clement Freud

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grimble-at-Christmas-Clement-Freud/dp/0224083686

[Knomester]

Cazbee - I agree with Monkey that Christmas in Exeter Street is a lovely story about giving and sharing.

[Monkey]

Just a note to say we are loving Christmas Stories by Michael Morpurgo. Outstanding book, magical stories, beautiful illustrations. Thank you for recommending.

[hazelnunhead]

Monkey we have also started on the morpurgo Xmas stories, I especially loved the one about the boy and the goose! Another one beckons tonight!

[edanna]

I got Christmas on Exeter Street as a result of this thread and I love it - thank you - and the kids love it too.

[Knomester]

Ah I'm so pleased we've shared some love for Christmas books! We've just started on the Michael Morpurgo book this morning - just half way through the first story. Perhaps a touch advanced for my 4yo but lots of wonderful vocabulary for him to grow into!