The Must-Read Christmas Books for a Cozy Holiday Season (For Kids & Adults)

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to curl up with a good book and enjoy the festive spirit. Whether you are looking for a classic tale, a cozy mystery, a heartwarming romance, or a fun story for kids, there are plenty of Christmas books to choose from. In this blog post, I will share some of the best Christmas books for all ages and tastes.

One of the most famous and beloved Christmas books is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This timeless story follows the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and cold-hearted businessman, who is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. They show him the past, present, and future consequences of his actions, and teach him the true meaning of Christmas. A Christmas Carol is a powerful and moving book that captures the essence of the holiday season.

If you are looking for a more modern and humorous Christmas book, you might enjoy Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems. This is a hilarious and interactive book for kids, where the reader has to stop the pigeon from driving Santa’s sleigh. The pigeon is very persistent and tries to persuade the reader with various arguments and tricks, but the reader has to say no. This book is a great way to have fun with your children and make them laugh.

Another Christmas book that I recommend is The Usual Santas by various authors. This is a collection of short stories that feature crime and mystery with a Christmas twist. You will find stories by some of the best writers in the genre, such as Helene Tursten, Martin Limón, and Peter Lovesey. The stories range from dark and suspenseful to light and humorous, but they all have one thing in common: Santa Claus. Whether he is a suspect, a victim, a witness, or a sleuth, Santa is always involved in some way.

The Top 10 Christmas Books of All Time

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

This is a classic story that follows the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and cold-hearted businessman, who is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. They show him the past, present, and future consequences of his actions, and teach him the true meaning of Christmas.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

This is a rhyming book that tells the story of the Grinch, a grumpy and green creature who hates Christmas and tries to ruin it for the Whos, a cheerful and loving community. However, he learns that Christmas is more than just gifts and decorations, and his heart grows three sizes.

3. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

This is a poem that describes the visit of Santa Claus and his reindeer on Christmas Eve, as seen by a father who is awakened by a noise. He witnesses Santa delivering presents to his children, and hears him say “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

4. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

This is a book that illustrates the journey of a young boy who boards a magical train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, and meets Santa Claus. He receives a special gift from Santa, a bell that only rings for those who believe in the spirit of Christmas.

5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This is a book that follows the lives of four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, during the Civil War era, and their struggles and joys. It has a Christmas theme in some of the chapters, such as the first one, where the sisters give away their breakfast to a poor family, and the last one, where they celebrate Christmas with their husbands and children.

6. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

This is a book that shows the adventure of a boy and a snowman who comes to life. It has no words, only pictures. The boy and the snowman fly to the North Pole, meet Santa Claus, and have fun with other snowmen. However, the snowman melts the next morning, leaving only a scarf and a hat behind.

7. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

This is a book that is the first in the Chronicles of Narnia series. It tells the story of four children who enter a magical world through a wardrobe, and help a lion named Aslan defeat a witch named Jadis, who has cast a spell that makes it always winter but never Christmas. The children are rewarded with gifts and a feast by Santa Claus, and become the kings and queens of Narnia.

8. The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder

This is a book that is set in Norway, where a boy named Joachim finds a magic advent calendar that tells him the story of a girl named Elisabet, who travels back in time to witness the birth of Jesus. Each day, Joachim reads a new chapter of the story, and learns more about the history and culture of different countries and periods.

9. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

This is a short story that tells the story of a young couple, Jim and Della, who are very poor but love each other very much. They want to buy each other a nice Christmas gift, but they have no money. They decide to sell their most valuable possessions, Jim’s watch and Della’s hair, to buy a chain for the watch and a set of combs for the hair. However, they discover that they have bought useless gifts, as they have sacrificed the very things they wanted to adorn. They realize that their love is the greatest gift of all.

10. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

This is a short story that tells the story of a seven-year-old boy and his elderly cousin, who are best friends and live in a rural town in the 1930s. They share a bond over their love for Christmas, and every year they make fruitcakes, buy presents, and decorate a tree. They also fly kites and drink whiskey, and enjoy their simple but happy life. However, their friendship is soon to end, as the boy is sent away to a military school, and the cousin dies. The boy remembers their last Christmas together, and cherishes their memory.

These Christmas books can be both for kids and for adults and can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Related post: Must-Read Contemporary Fiction Books for Every Book Lover

The Best Christmas Books for Kids

Are are looking for  Christmas books just for kids? Here is a list of some of the best Christmas books just for kids, based on the results of my search:

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
2. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
3. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
4. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems
5. The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover
6. The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere
7. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
8. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
9. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
10. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Related post: 15 Best Young Adult Books That Will Stay with You Long After You Finish Reading Them

The Best Christmas Books for Adults

There are many Christmas books that are only for adults. Based on the results of my search, here are some of the books that are frequently mentioned and recommended as the best Christmas books for adults:

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

This is a classic story that follows the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and cold-hearted businessman, who is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. They show him the past, present, and future consequences of his actions, and teach him the true meaning of Christmas.

2. The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder

This is a book that is set in Norway, where a boy named Joachim finds a magic advent calendar that tells him the story of a girl named Elisabet, who travels back in time to witness the birth of Jesus. Each day, Joachim reads a new chapter of the story, and learns more about the history and culture of different countries and periods.

3. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

This is a book about a family who moves in with a widow and discovers a mysterious box containing the answer to the true meaning of Christmas.

4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This is a book about a chaotic family of six children who take over the annual Christmas pageant and turn it into a hilarious and unforgettable event.

5. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett

This is a book that illustrates the classic song of the same name with beautiful and detailed pictures of a young woman’s gifts from her true love.

6. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

This is a book about a couple who decides to skip Christmas and go on a cruise, but faces unexpected consequences from their friends, neighbors, and family.

7. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

This is a book about a journalist who takes a cross-country train ride to Los Angeles for Christmas, and encounters a variety of characters, adventures, and surprises along the way.

8. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

This is a short story that tells the story of a young couple, Jim and Della, who are very poor but love each other very much. They want to buy each other a nice Christmas gift, but they have no money. They decide to sell their most valuable possessions, Jim’s watch and Della’s hair, to buy a chain for the watch and a set of combs for the hair. However, they discover that they have bought useless gifts, as they have sacrificed the very things they wanted to adorn. They realize that their love is the greatest gift of all.

9. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

This is a short story that tells the story of a seven-year-old boy and his elderly cousin, who are best friends and live in a rural town in the 1930s. They share a bond over their love for Christmas, and every year they make fruitcakes, buy presents, and decorate a tree. They also fly kites and drink whiskey, and enjoy their simple but happy life. However, their friendship is soon to end, as the boy is sent away to a military school, and the cousin dies. The boy remembers their last Christmas together, and cherishes their memory.

10. Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

This is a book that is a sequel to the author’s famous novel Cold Comfort Farm. It contains four short stories that are set in different seasons, but the last one is a Christmas story that features the eccentric characters of the farm and their hilarious antics. It is a witty and satirical book that mocks the rural life and the literary clichés of the time.