Christmas Classics for Older Readers




Reading List menu			Minnesota children's author, Terri DeGezelle contributes classic books that have long been DeGezelle family favorites. We hope they'll be your favorites, too.


					Christmas in Noisy Village — Astrid Lindgren and Ilon Wikland Noisy Village got its name from the many noisy children who live there. Christmas in Noisy Village has a Scandinavian flavor with its story and illustrations. Baking cookies, bringing in firewood, and cutting a Christmas tree are just a few of the many things that must be done to get ready for Christmas.



					The Best Christmas Pageant Ever —Barbara Robinson, Illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown Maybe you remember a family like the Herdmans. They have never heard of the Christmas story before. They have a lot to learn, but when everything is said and done, we all have a lot to learn from them. Their version of the Christmas pageant is one you will long remember.



					The Little Fir Tree — Margaret Wise Brown, Pictures by Barbara Cooney Each winter a father goes out to the woods and brings in a little fir tree for his bedridden son. One winter, no one comes and the fir tree is worried. Read The Little Fir Tree and learn what happens to the fir tree and the little boy.



					The Bear's Christmas Tree —Stan and Jan Berenstain Never fear, Papa Bear knows just the perfect tree for his family's Christmas celebration. But every tree he finds does not work out—for many different reasons. Finally he decides to buy one from the local tree lot, but it's too late. When they arrive home—much to their surprise—everyone in Bear Country comes to help make Christmas the best ever for the Berenstain Bear family.



					The Night Before Christmas — Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Bruce Whatley This familiar Christmas classic is beautifully illustrated. As you read through this story, you'll feel your voice dancing just like the sugarplums in the children's heads.



					How the Grinch Stole Christmas! — Dr. Seuss In the holiday classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the Grinch hates Christmas but the Who of Whoville change the Grinches heart by showing him the Christmas is really all about.



					The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey — Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by P.J. Lynch The town's people know him as Mr. Gloomy, but a quiet change comes over him when a widow and her son make a special request. P.J. Lynch's illustrations do a beautiful job of telling a story within story.



					The Polar Express — Chris Van Allsburg The Polar Express is written in the voice of a small boy who takes a wonderful train trip. His souvenir is a bell but he loses it. Christmas morning, when his mother finds the bell under the Christmas tree, she is sad because it doesn't ring, but the little boy knows only believers can hear it ring.



					The Crippled Lamb — Max Lucado, illustrated by Liz Bonham In The Crippled Lamb, Josh the lamb is not perfect but God has a special place for him. When the baby Jesus is cold, Josh warms him—a very special place indeed.



Reading List menu					The Jolly Christmas Postman — Janet & Allan Ahlberg The Jolly Christmas Postman is the holiday sequel to The Jolly Postman. As in the first book, Readers will enjoy the letter from the Big Bad Wolf, a tiny book within, and even a Humpty Dumpty puzzle.