Christmas read alouds

These have been some of our favorite read alouds for Moriah this year... while some may be most appropriate for her young age, I think many will be well loved in years to come too! Each of these books focuses on Christ and his birth rather than other more secular Christmas traditions, which we've chosen not to emphasize in our family, though each family is free to make their own choices of course.

Baby Blessings Christmas
I like that each page has a colorful illustration and a short segment of the nativity narrative in a child friendly rhyme. For children a bit older a short prayer is also included as well as a follow up question for discussion. It could be read in one sitting or read page by page each night. We're thankful for Matt's co-workers at the bank who gave this to us for Moriah last year.

My First Christmas Carols by: Tomie dePaola
As a former teacher Tomie dePaola stories rank as a classics in children's literature, and I've always loved his realistic illustrations. This is a great board book of Christmas carols as three are carols of the faith "Silent Night", "God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen", and "Away in a Manger" while the other three are secular ("Deck the Halls", "O Christmas Tree", and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas") but not Santa related which we appreciated.

The Little Drummer Boy by: Ezra Jack Keats
This book is full of charming illustrations as well and follows the Christmas song exactly with no added text. While I realize this song is a likely fictional, at least not found in Scripture, I've always loved the sentiment of it. I also can't help remember the Bob Segar version my dad LOVED to play when I was little from his A Very Special Christmas CD (the first CD I ever remember in fact, the interview linked above was from 1989... I would've been 5, too funny!)

This is the Stable by: Cynthia Cotten
This book is a children's progressive story (that may not be exactly right terminology, I can't remember!) and starts out "This is the stable, dusty and brown, in a quiet corner of Bethlehem town." adding on each page a new element from the star through baby Jesus. I love the rhythm of the story and also that the illustrations seem more accurate in my mind than most pictures of a very light skinned baby Jesus. The three kings or wise men in this story also look more exotic than some which seems like a more realistic depiction as well.

Mortimer's Christmas Manger by: Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
What a fun twist on a Christmas book! As you read this story you'll meet Mortimer a mouse who explores a creche in the home where he lives. As he overhears the Christmas story read aloud he realizes that the bed he's made in a manger really belonged to baby Jesus :) A sweet and fun story as well.