Christmas brings out the child in each of us in ways no other holiday does. Most of us retain happy childhood memories of this special, celebratory season. Some of those memories are nestled inside favorite children’s Christmas books. You know, the ones that make you want to snuggle up next to the fireplace, sip a Christmas-spiced hot drink and enjoy the book all over again.
For me, the book I remember most vividly was a big picture book edition of The Night Before Christmas. I still can recall many of the illustrations from that particular version, and I loved every line in the story. I would page through the book multiple times every day, just to savor it.
But the book I would nominate as my most favorite children’s Christmas book now would be The Nativity by Julie Vivas. 
I discovered this book as an adult but was so head-over-heels with the charm of its illustrations and warmth of its story, that I had to grab the book off the store’s shelf and head home with the treasure.
The storyline is, of course, predictable: Jesus’s birth. But the author-illustrator captures the event in a way that reminds us of the everyday-ness of this extraordinary pregnancy and delivery. One illustration shows Mary, truly great with child, standing by the donkey as she prepares for the journey. Mary is wearing her house slippers because, as women know, swollen feet don’t like regular shoes. And Joseph looks as though he’s puzzling over how to hoist the “great with child” mother-to-be onto the donkey.
I found myself smiling over every illustration and revisiting the biggest Christmas story of them all with fresh eyes.
What’s your favorite children’s Christmas book? In what ways does that story remind you of what all the holiday fuss is about?
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When I was but a callow child
there was no one to lend a hand
in making Christmas warm and mild,
so I read a book by John Toland
about a Christmas long ago,
way back in nineteen-forty-four,
when the Nazis had a go
at winning back a losing war.
They attacked across the cold Ardennes,
a disaster, shock, almost a rout,
and then they hit Bastogne’s defense
and their hopes turned inside-out.
So my Christmas tale, I’ll now divulge
was “Battle: Story of the Bulge.”
My mother gave my girls a copy of The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore … the illustrations are precious. A little mouse family in their little hole in the wall … and Santa comes to visit them. Their table is made from a spool of thread, their beds from sardine cans and walnut shells. Just sweetness at every turn.
That sounds so precious, Shelli.
What fun to read these comments! I love the inspiration!
Shelli, my childhood Christmas book from my mother was The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore also.
The memorably darling illustrations were by Gyo Fujikawa.
I remember how the book made Christmas feel so warm, special and exciting to me.
Reading this makes me look forward to the day when I will be reading comments on my own published Christmas picture book!
Happy new year!
Every Christmas Eve my family would read aloud the Nativity story and sing the carols that went with each selection. The book was called Christmas Carols. It was published in 1938 and I still have it.
I adore that book! You just reminded me to find it for my grands. It’s perfect! Merry Christmas!
I read: A Christmas Carol, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and The Shepherd The Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog aloud to my boys. I used to read all three, but missed a Christmas Carol last year. This year we are skipping the other two and reading A Christmas Carol as my oldest informed us that it is not as special if we read them every year. We shall see if his plan works and makes the experience more of a joy … then again, he is sixteen and that could be the heart of the issue. Ha!
I love The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and laugh and cry my way through it each time I read it.
I suspect your 16-year-old has found his own way of not having to listen to three Christmas stories but limiting it to one. Just so each will be more special–uh-huh.
But he’s certainly being polite about it.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER is one of my favorites as well. My granddaughter loves this book and reads it over and over again.
Just ordered it! I didn’t have a picture book, I don’t think, when our kids were growing up or when I was–my parents and Craig and I used the Bible. I remember Dad always read from Luke. However, I have bought at least a dozen copies of Deb Gruelle’s “Ten Little Night Stars.” It’s my perennial fave to give former students when they invite me to baby showers.
As a children’s picture book author, I was especially interested in this post. Thank you for introducing me to THE NATIVITY by Julie Vivas. It sounds like one I need to read and pass on to my grandchildren.
If I may, I would like to mention my own children’s picture book titled WHO IS JESUS? published in 2014. It was illustrated by Valeria Wicker and written to introduce children to the true, loving character of our Lord and Savior.
Many blessings for a joyous Christmas season!
An apology. My children’s book, WHO IS JESUS?, was illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. I inadvertently gave the name of the illustrator of another of my children’s books. So sorry for the mistake.