Top children’s Christmas books
When I had the opportunity to choose one book for myself after working on a Where’s Spot campaign earlier this year, I wanted to have a family book we could keep. A book we would read again and again. And that’s why I ended up with a Christmas book. Children’s Christmas books can last for years, and when incorporated into Christmas family traditions, Christmas stories can quickly become important childhood memories. This year, I’ve stocked up on Christmas books and received a few samples I love, and here are my favourites for families with young children:
Angelina’s Christmas by Katharine Holabird (Puffin Books, £6.99)
I received a sample of Angelina’s Christmas this autumn, as 27-month-old Baby Girl is a big ballerina fan and loves Angelina. I knew this festive story (recommended for ages 3-5) would appeal to her because of the characters in the book, and for me, what makes the story stand out is that the focus is on doing good gestures for others at Christmas time. I’ll be bringing this book out every Christmas for the coming years, and this wonderful classic will remind us that it’s not all about receiving presents, but also giving at Christmas time.
Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs (Puffin Books, £7.99)
After seeing Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith several times now, I felt we needed to buy the book too. The book is carton-style, so I like to improvise when I read it to Baby Girl. I use the pictures in the book more to tell the story about Father Christmas, and I think that’s why this is a book I love to have as part of her Chrsitmas collection. For young children, Raymond Briggs’ classic Father Christmas is a good way to introduce this important Christmas character and the work he does in terms of handing out presents all over the world.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore and illustrated by Angela Barrett (Orchard Books, £6.99)
I’ve seen a number of Christmas films in the past where parts of The Night Before Christmas have been read out, but being Norwegian I was not familiar with the story. Baby Girl received the book in her advent calendar yesterday, and we read it over breakfast. It’s such a lovely poem, and Angela Barrett’s edition has beautiful illustrations to go with the text. I know this will become one of our favourite Christmas reads, and I’ll make sure to bring it out every year to come to get us in the festive spirit. This book is a must-buy for families.
A Peter Rabbit’s Christmas Collection by Beatrix Potter (Puffin Books, £14.99)
When I had the chance to choose a book, I went for this Peter Rabbit Christmas collection although it is recommended for older children aged 8-13. The collection includes original Beatrix Potter stories, letters and illustrations, making it a brilliant collection of stories that can be read over and over again. The classic tales of Peter Rabbit and other characters are also in the book, and I’ve read several of these to Baby Girl already to introduce her to the charming bunny. The book can certainly be treasured all year round, but it includes some Christmas features, such as Christmas cards.
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