The Best Christmas Books To Give As Gifts
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Buy it: $7.99, barnesandnoble.com
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
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
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
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
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
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.