christmas-in-the-big-woods   I’m a firm believer that every child should receive at least one good book for Christmas. Yes, they’re expensive, but if you’re careful to shop for classic stories that will never become outdated, then a Christmas book is a wonderful present. You might even choose to use them during December and then put them away with the holiday decorations to be brought out as special accompaniments for each holiday season to come.

Christmas in the Big Woods is an excerpt from the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The beautiful illustrations by Garth Williams tell of a time when just being together with family was excitement enough for any child. The simple food preparations, the making of molasses “snow candy” and the warmth of family love shine through in this classic book.

Just about any book by Jan Brett makes a great Christmas present. But many of her books are especially written for our favorite winter holiday. Gingerbread Baby and Gingerbread Christmas are examples of Brett’s fantastic artistic abilities. The Mitten and The Hat are two more winter favorites not necessarily tied to Christmas. Christmas Trolls is a fun Christmas story set in wintery beauty.

Tomie de Paola has written and illustrated a host of Christmas books. The Legend of the Poinsettia, Christmas Remembered, The First Christmas and The Legend of Old Befana are four favorites. De Paola has a gift for telling stories, some of them auto-biographical, that stay in readers’ minds forever.

Everyone loves the story of The Nutcracker. Check out the beautiful book version of this ballet put out by Valeria DoCampo of the New York City Ballet company.

Some lovely versions of the story of Jesus’ birth are also available: The Nativity Story by Juliet David, Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck, The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson and The Very First Christmas by Barbara Burrow are good selections.

Kids love Christmas stories from the imaginative to the real (make sure they know the difference) and Christmas books make wonderful, long-lasting treasures to keep for many years to come.