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  5. The Best Christmas Books To Give As Gifts

The Best Christmas Books To Give As Gifts

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated November 02, 2020
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Christmas Gifts
Credit: the_burtons/Getty Images
Shopping for Christmas gifts can be daunting—fun, but daunting. With the mall shops spread out before you and the Internet stretching to infinity, it can feel impossible to choose just the right gift for just the right person. Well, worry no longer. We're here to make the whole process a little bit easier for you, and we have one tip that will make this season's gifting foolproof. When in doubt, go for books. If you're celebrating Christmas with your friends and family, there's nothing nicer than season-specific books about Christmastime. They are no-fail gifts that will warm recipients' hearts come December 25th. Reading and re-reading these tales will become holiday traditions to look forward to each year. Whether you're shopping for ages eight or eighty, there's a holiday book on this list that will get your readers in the festive spirit. We've included classics like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg as well as a few unexpected—but still so seasonal—picks like The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. (The latter will charm middle grader readers from the very first page.) Happy gifting!
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The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $4.49, amazon.com

This is The Night Before Christmas that you know and love. The classic poem is printed here in an utterly winning Little Golden Book version that will charm kids and adults alike.

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A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $7.98, amazon.com

When we think of classic Christmas books, Charles Dickens invariably comes to mind.

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Madeline’s Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline's Christmas
Credit: Barnes and Noble

Buy it: $8.99, barnesandnoble.com

Everyone's favorite French child-heroine enjoys a Christmas celebration in this fun book.

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The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $19.99, amazon.com

All aboard The Polar Express, one of the most beloved wintertime children’s books of the past century.

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The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
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Buy it: $17, amazon.com

This beautifully illustrated picture book was also made into an enchanting television special you’ll want to watch every year.

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
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Buy it: $16.99, amazon.com

Everyone’s hearts grow a few sizes when they re-read Dr. Seuss’ Christmas classic.

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The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann
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Buy it: $24.99, amazon.com

The beloved ballet about a young girl, a mouse king, and a nutcracker from the Land of the Toys comes to life on the page in the classic 1816 folktale by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It’s beautifully illustrated here by Maurice Sendak.

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The Tale of the Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas

The Tale of the Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $15, amazon.com

The author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo also wrote a thrilling version of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s traditional Nutcracker tale in 1845.

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A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott

A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $16, amazon.com

You could always gift your friends another copy of Little Women (we’re sure they’d love it), or you could add some Christmas cheer to their wintertime reading lists with this charming story collection by the same author.

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The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
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Buy it: $12, amazon.com

When you’re writing the card that will accompany this heartwarming Christmas story, you can also include a reminder that The Christmas Train is premiering as a Hallmark movie this year.

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Frosty the Snowman by Diane Muldrow

Frosty the Snowman by Diane Muldrow
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Buy it: $4.49, amazon.com

The classic tune is also a holly-jolly Little Golden Book that makes a cheery gift for little ones.

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The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
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Buy it: $16, amazon.com

In 1902, L. Frank Baum followed up his beloved Wonderful Wizard of Oz stories with this Santa Claus tale, a magical chronicle of the gift-giver’s life.

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An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor

An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $7.56, amazon.com

This novel (one of many in the popular Irish Country series) transports readers to the lovely, snow-blanketed world of a Christmas spent in Ireland.

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Christmas at Thompson Hall & Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope

Christmas at Thompson Hall & Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope
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Buy it: $16, amazon.com

For all the lovers of Victorian literature on your shopping list, gift this Christmas collection by English novelist Anthony Trollope.

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The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
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Buy it: $8.99, amazon.com

Count down the twelve days of Christmas with the classic carol, complete with gorgeous illustrations of all the song's whimsical holiday gifts.

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A Charlie Brown Christmas: Pop-Up Edition by Charles M. Schulz

A Charlie Brown Christmas: Pop-Up Edition by Charles M. Schulz
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Buy it: $22.95, amazon.com

Gift friends and family a Christmas celebration with the Peanuts crew in the form of this fun pop-up book.

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The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
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Buy it: $14.99, amazon.com

This popular novel is a personal tribute to parenthood, love, and the endurance of the Christmas spirit.

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A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $18.99, amazon.com

This version of Truman Capote’s enchanting Christmas story includes an audiobook alongside the text so that your family can enjoy the tale beside the fire or on the road.

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The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
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Buy it: $7.99, amazon.com

Readers will learn about the Mexican legend of the Christmas-blooming poinsettia flower in Newberry- and Caldecott-winner Tomie dePaola’s lovely book.

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The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $7.88, amazon.com

Even if you’re spending your Christmas far from falling snow, this children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats will keep the wintertime wonder alive. (This book is also the inspiration for seasonal stamps from the U.S. Postal Service this year!)

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The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson

The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $4.65, amazon.com

This Little Golden Book is an heirloom in the making. First published in 1952, it presents an illustrated retelling of the story of Jesus’ birth in a manger in Bethlehem.

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Advent Storybook by Antonie Schneider

Advent Storybook by Antonie Schneider
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Buy it: $17.95, amazon.com

Count down the days until Christmas with the Advent Storybook. It’s filled with 24 beautifully illustrated tales about the spirit of the season.

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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $5.97, amazon.com

Middle- and elementary-grade readers will devour this funny story about the trials and triumphs that happen when trying to put on a zany Christmas pageant.

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Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by James Dean and Eric Litwin

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by James Dean
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Buy it: $17.99, amazon.com

Any Pete the Cat fans in your family will be thrilled to add this Christmas tale to their collection.

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The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
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Buy it: $16.99, amazon.com

O. Henry’s short story sums up one of the best-loved aspects of the season—showing those we love just how much we love them.

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Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Credit: amazon.com

Buy it: $23.99, amazon.com

Letters from Father Christmas is a beautiful collection of correspondence written by J.R.R. Tolkien for his children. Each letter was delivered on Christmas morning (from none other than Father Christmas himself), and they are collected here as stories and illustrations of adventures at the North Pole.

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Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
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The beloved Strega Nona story gets a Christmas spin in this holiday classic.

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The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell

Elf on the Shelf
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Buy it: $29.95, barnesandnoble.com

The newest Christmastime tradition has fast become a classic.

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The Nutcracker and Other Christmas Tales

The Nutcracker
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Buy it: $25, barnesandnoble.com

This lovely collectible edition of The Nutcracker includes 10 heartwarming holiday tales.

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A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol
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Buy it: $9.95, barnesandnoble.com

This Oxford World Classics edition of A Christmas Carol is one to read, re-read, and treasure for years to come.

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Little Golden Book of Christmas Stories

Little Golden Book
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Buy it: $12.99, barnesandnoble.com

Filled with nine Little Golden Book stories about Christmastime, this lovely keepsake is perfect for kids' holiday reading.

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A Children's Literary Christmas: An Anthology by Anna James

A Children's Literary Christmas
Credit: Barnes and Noble

Buy it: $19.99, barnesandnoble.com

This beautiful anthology from the British Library is filled with Christmas stories both classic and contemporary that children will enjoy revisiting year after year.

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    1 of 32 The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
    2 of 32 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
    3 of 32 Madeline’s Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans
    4 of 32 The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
    5 of 32 The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
    6 of 32 How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
    7 of 32 The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann
    8 of 32 The Tale of the Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas
    9 of 32 A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott
    10 of 32 The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
    11 of 32 Frosty the Snowman by Diane Muldrow
    12 of 32 The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
    13 of 32 An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor
    14 of 32 Christmas at Thompson Hall & Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope
    15 of 32 The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
    16 of 32 A Charlie Brown Christmas: Pop-Up Edition by Charles M. Schulz
    17 of 32 The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
    18 of 32 A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
    19 of 32 The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
    20 of 32 The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
    21 of 32 The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson
    22 of 32 Advent Storybook by Antonie Schneider
    23 of 32 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
    24 of 32 Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by James Dean and Eric Litwin
    25 of 32 The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
    26 of 32 Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
    27 of 32 Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
    28 of 32 The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell
    29 of 32 The Nutcracker and Other Christmas Tales
    30 of 32 A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books by Charles Dickens
    31 of 32 Little Golden Book of Christmas Stories
    32 of 32 A Children's Literary Christmas: An Anthology by Anna James

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