Christmas is a special time of year. Time spent with family and friends during the warmth of the season provides us with cherished memories of our childhood. Favorite stories told or read during the holidays also bring back treasured memories of when we were young. These are the five best ever Christmas books for your child.
1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss- I don’t know a child alive who doesn’t long to hear this one every Christmas. I still love to hear it. The Grinch is an unhappy creature that lives high atop a mountain that overlooks the town of Whoville. To say that the Grinch is mean is an understatement. But, as mean and unpleasant as he is the people down in Whoville are doubly cheerful and full of the Christmas spirit. The Grinch devises a way to ruin the Who’s Christmas—steal all of their presents. He outfits his dog, Max like a reindeer and he dresses up like Santa Claus. When robbing the people of Whoville doesn’t take away their Christmas cheer, the Grinch must decide what to do next.
2. The Night before Christmas by Clement C. Moore- This poem/story is one of my favorites. Everyone, ever the adults, are in bed fast asleep awaiting the arrival of the most famous of all night visitors, Santa Claus. The story describes how one man was awakened by a noise and got the chance to see Santa Claus with his own two eyes. Hearing the story will make visions of sugarplums dance in your child’s head, too.
3. The Polar Express- If a train roared through your street in the middle of the night, would you go out to meet it? That was the dilemma one boy faces when a noise outside woke him from his sleep on Christmas Eve. He threw open his front door to view a train sitting in front of his home with a conductor beckoning him to come aboard. It is not your traditional Christmas story which is what makes it such fun. You can’t even imagine what will happen next. The conductor tells the lad that this is his last chance to decide if he believes in Santa Claus or not. To find out what happens at the North Pole, pick up this book.
4. Santa Mouse by Michael Brown- In a big empty house on Christmas Eve there once lived a little mouse. He was the only mouse in the house. He was the only living thing in the house for that matter. To occupy himself, he played with his imaginary friends. He pretended that they would dance and sing. But, when he tried to touch them, they would disappear. The mouse was lonely. He even wondered if Santa Claus knew that he lived there. Would this be the year that Santa Claus showed up? Santa Mouse is about the hope of a little mouse who just wanted friends.
5. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- This story has been adapted using cartoon characters instead of people. But, the premise is still the same. On Christmas Eve we meet Ebenezer Scrooge. He has just buried his business partner Jacob Marley. Seven years pass and Scrooge is still the meanest and stingiest man in town. In an attempt to save his immortal soul, the ghost of Jacob Marley warns Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits—Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. The only chance he has of escaping the fate of his partner is to heed the advice given by the spirits. The story demonstrates that no one is beyond redemption, even someone as hopeless as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Christmas stories help to prepare us for the holiday season. Their meanings are timely and the advice they share can be applied all year long. Make Christmas come alive for your child—read a book!
Are you ready to challenge your preschooler’s mind even more? Take a look at KidsActivityCalendar.com for Alphabet Fun for your preschooler. The alphabet audios, coloring sheets and other activities are a great way to prepare your little one for kindergarten. To get your free sample lesson, stop by http://www.kidsactivitycalendar.com/letter-a-sample.htm today.
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Christmas books! I love them and now I start to see my children love them too. It starts the magic all over again. The Grinch is without a doubt the number 1!!!