Books to read over Christmas
With the Christmas break fast approaching and the excitement of the festive period nearing, it’s time to think about activities children can do over Christmas. As the weather turns colder and it’s nearly impossible to go outside, cosy indoor activities need to be introduced. What’s a cosier activity than curling up under a blanket and reading a festive book? Festive books are brilliant for children to get excited about Christmas and relax whilst opening their imaginations up.
We have sourced a list of books to read over Christmas that the children will love! Teachers can take inspiration from this for the last few weeks of term and even holiday school.
We have teamed up with @rascals_and_rainbows to showcase some must have children’s Christmas books and tips on how to pair an activity with reading to make it extra fun. Make sure to follow her for more amazing activity ideas!
The Polar Express
For a heart-warming cosy read, the Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg is the perfect children’s Christmas book to get into the festive spirit. Follow a young boy on a journey to the north pole where he meets Santa who asks him what gift he desires. The boy’s response is genuine and heartfelt making this book amazing for the whole family no matter their age.
For extra Christmas fun, you could pair an activity of watching the film whilst reading along to it so that children can visualise it better. It can help children to be interested in reading the story as they watch the events unfold in front of them, instead of having just a few moments of the story illustrated.
How the Grinch stole Christmas
Delve into the timeless classic by Dr Seuss ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’, through fun illustrations and rhyme. Children can experience joy, love, laughter and acceptance through the classic character the Grinch as well as learn about difficult situations such as isolation, reflecting the real world. Feel cosy and have a laugh reading all about the Grinch.
Why not get under a warm blanket and watch the classic film or the cartoon version as well?
The tree that’s meant to be
A great children’s Christmas book to immerse yourself in is ‘The Tree That’s Meant to Be’ by Yuval Zommer, a fantastic picture book for children to visualise and read. A little fir tree is too small and not like the rest so never gets chosen for Christmas. However, being left in the forest brings more rewards than the little tree expected.
Explore the heartfelt message about love and embracing differences to get kids into the festive spirit.
We disagree about this tree
From the award-winning author Ross Collins, comes this hilarious festive story ‘We Disagree About This Tree’. One of the best laugh out loud books to read over Christmas, children can feel the magic of Christmas from the two characters, a bear and a mouse who always disagree!
If your family usually disagree with how to decorate a tree, get your kids to decorate their own little trees. This way everyone can be involved in decorating whilst having their own personal Christmas tree. Let children be creative with our wooden decoration pack where they can draw, paint and add anything they want to make the decorations colourful and unique!
Olive the other reindeer
Delve into Vivian Walsh’s best-selling book ‘Olive The Other Reindeer’ based on her Jack Russell Terrier. Children can learn about believing in yourself as well as enjoying a cosy Christmas book about a dog that joins Santas reindeers. The graphic and colourful illustrations bring this festive book to life and engages kids in reading.
The night before Christmas
Another classic is ‘The Night Before Christmas’ poem by Clement Moore is the perfect children’s Christmas book to relax with over the Christmas break. This poem has captivated and inspired young minds for years, building their excitement for Santa and his reindeer to arrive. To enhance the excitement and bring the poem to life, why not get an illustrated version for kids to enjoy?
This book is perfect to read out loud together to develop key reading and English skills. Make it even more interesting with a hot chocolate and bells to create the sound of Santa arriving.
How Winston delivered Christmas
This book is another cosy, heart-warming festive story that children can indulge themselves in. Follow Winston the mouse’s journey to deliver a lost letter to Santa to make a child’s Christmas. This book is perfect to read together as a family as it’s divided into 24 chapters. You can read a chapter a day on the countdown to Christmas day!
The Story Orchestra: In the hall of the mountain king
Experience an immersive children’s Christmas book that is bound to get children in the mood for Christmas. Go on an adventure through the valleys and mountains of the Norwegian countryside. Kids can get lost in the magic of this musical retelling of Peer Grynt by Jessica Courtney-Tickle. Push the button on each scene to hear the vivid sounds of an orchestra playing from Grieg’s score whilst reading the story out loud!
A Christmas carol
You can never go wrong with this Christmas classic story from Charles Dickens. During reading ‘A Christmas Carol’ valuable life lessons can be learnt about selfishness and greed. It also highlights that Christmas is the time of year for generosity and forgiving as well as helping each other and thinking about the less fortunate.
There are multiple film adaptations of this story that kids can settle down and watch after reading the book. Snuggle into a blanket and watch any version or multiple if your children love the story.
The Snowman
An uplifting story that’s told purely through images about a boy who builds a snowman that comes to life at the stroke of midnight. ‘The Snowman’ is a visually engaging picture book telling children the story without the use of words. First published in 1978 by Hamish Hamilton it went on to success through the short film in 1982. Imaginations can run wild with no words and children can come up with all different reasons as to why the snowman is alive.
Watch the film as well to make the images in the book flow better in their minds. Also, you could craft a snowman together using any materials you would like, such as a sock filled with rice. Or you could make little snowmen puppets for children to play with. If you’re lucky enough to have snow in your area near Christmas time, go outside and create the snowman together!
Father Christmas’s fake beard
Why not try out a few different Christmas tales with a twist by Terry Pratchett? ‘Father Christmas’s Fake Beard’ is a collection of short stories that puts classic festive characters in real-life situations. Perfect for older children to have a laugh at this Christmas break, since they can understand the context. With nine short stories to choose from, they can read one in the lead-up to Christmas and take their time with getting through the book. These stories will guarantee children look at Christmas in a whole different way.
The story orchestra: The nutcracker
Discover the musical retelling of ‘The Nutcracker’ through Jessica Courtney-Tickle’s work. Press the buttons on each scene to hear an orchestra playing 10 excerpts from the ballet’s music. Including ‘the waltz of the flowers’, ‘the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ and the amazing ‘finale’. All while following Clara’s Christmas Eve where she receives a wooden nutcracker.
A perfect Christmas activity to do with this magical book is to learn the classical songs on our glockenspiel. Children can play along whilst reading the story and learn a new skill or develop current skills because they will be practising everytime they read a chapter. This activity is perfect for budding musicians.
Relax and unwind with these festive books to get kids ready for Christmas. With harsher weather, these books to read over Christmas are perfect for snuggling up with. To keep them engaged in reading, create a few different fun activities to do alongside the book. The Christmas countdown can truly begin. Why not challenge children to read a book every day until Christmas, like an advent calendar with books?
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