• Home
  • About/Contact
  • Hire Me
  • Disclosure
  • Book Lovers Club
  • Libraries IRL
  • Lit Lovers Link Party

The Ultimate List of the Best Christmas Stories Ever

November 26, 2018 by Meet Brenda 5 Comments

best christmas stories square

It’s here! This will be the very last Quote Me Thursday post of 2014! I am taking off next week for Christmas, then I am also taking off the next week for New Year’s Day. We’ll be back again with more awesome quotes and social sharing on January 8th (which is my 10th wedding anniversary!).

This week, I thought I would do something a little different and share the best Christmas stories ever with you. After all, Christmas is the best time to curl up with a good, festive book!

This post contains affiliate links.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

This tale about how 6 unruly children turn the church Christmas pageant upside-down is heartwarming and reminds us that appearances are not everything. I first read this story when I was about 9 and it seemed to me that my siblings and I were a lot like the “bad” children in the story. I loved how in the end (spoilers), everyone embraced the chaos and had a great Christmas.

A Christmas Carol

What list of the best Christmas stories wouldn’t include this classic? One of my favorite things about A Christmas Carol is that it is a ghost story. In the song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the lyrics talk about how ghost stories are a part of Christmas, but we don’t do that much anymore- at least not in America. A Christmas Carol is probably the only true ghost story that anyone ever tells over Christmas. If you haven’t seen the muppet version, you need to add that to your movie list this year.

gift of the magiThe Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi is one of my favorite love stories of all time. The young couple is in-love and want to give their spouse a nice Christmas gift, but they have no money. So, they sacrifice the most important thing to them to benefit the person they love.

I first read this story when I was about 13, and now, being the cynical soulless person that I am, I figure if someone did do this, the other spouse probably would have settled for the $5 gift, and then where would they be. But it is still a sweet story.

The Little Match Girl

I suppose The Little Match Girl is sort of a ghost story. The little girl does die in the end. I don’t know why, but I loved this story even as a small child. I felt bad for the girl, but I liked the story. I was a pretty strange child.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

If there is a Christmas-themed Sherlock Holmes adventure, count me in. In The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle a rare store goes missing around Christmas. The man who lost the jewel winds up finding it in the mouth of his Christmas goose, and Sherlock and Watson set off on an adventure to determine how it happened.

The Night Before Christmas

If you are super-traditional, you probably read this story every year on Christmas Eve. One of my favorite versions is this one, because it is full of beautiful pictures.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is one of the only Dr. Seuss stories that I actually like. I know everyone thinks he was so amazing and the art is awesome, but I’m not a huge fan of the art or books that rhyme. The Grinch, however, makes a perfect character for such a weird art style and the rhyming seems better in a Christmas story. Plus, Cindy Lou Who is cute.

skippingSkipping Christmas

Skipping Christmaswas made into a movie in 2004 (Christmas with the Kranks). I don’t know why they changed the name. I like this book because it deals with a lot of the stress of the holiday season in a fun way as the couple tries to escape the mayhem in their traditional suburban neighborhood.

Little Women

Although not much in Little Women is about Christmas, with a first line that goes, “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” it is forever a Christmas story in my mind. Something about the old fashioned skirts, the letters, and giving their Christmas dinner to a less-fortunate family is what I remember most from this book.

Let It Snowlet it snow

This Christmas anthology offers three Christmas stories written by YA masters John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. The stories are all romance-themed, which is a must during Christmas!

The Trouble with Angels

This cute story follows the adventures of three angels as they visit the City of Angels to grant three Christmas prayers- ideally without the help of divine intervention. But it isn’t long before the three angels might need divine intervention themselves.

Christmas Cookie Murder

Honestly, why wouldn’t you want to read a book called Christmas Cookie Murder? In this story, when one side of a cookie recipe rivalry is found murdered, a whole town is left wondering? Did the rival murder her for the cookie recipe?

Christmas at Thompson Hall

Christmas at Thompson Hall is an anthology of Victorian Christmas celebrations. To me, nothing says Christmas more than Victorian stories, so I love this anthology. Get the Penguin edition from this year, if you can, because it is the prettiest.

anneAnne of Green Gables

I know only a small portion of Anne of Green Gables takes place at Christmas, but it was such a turning point for her it seems like it is most of the book. On this Christmas, Anne’s guardians finally decide to allow her to live a little, and naturally, magic happens.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus

This is a cute “true” story on the origins of the man in the red suit. If you are big Santa lovers at your house, you will enjoy adding this book to your collection.

Quote Me Thursday Social Boost Link Up

quote me thursday logo

The goal of the Quote Me Thursday link-up is to feature YOU!  All posts linked up will be shared and pinned by me! Link your neglected book and quote posts for some extra juice!

Remember, you can link up as many book or quote-related posts as you want! 

If you want to plan ahead, here are the upcoming topics:

25- Taking a break for Christmas

Jan 1- Taking a break for New Year’s

Jan 8- Love Quotes that Won’t Make You Sick

Jan 15- The Best Quotes from Oscar Wilde

As always, I will feature my favorite link-up in next week’s edition. When you share your post with me, you agree to for me to use one image from your post in next week’s QMT and have your post shared by awesome bloggers. I will also pin all link-ups to the new Quote Me Thursday Pinterest board.

This Week’s Post Features

NYEpicturebooks

Last week, my favorite link-up was from Big Hair and Books about New Year’s Eve books for kids! 

Will you be next week’s feature?

Link-up Rules

1. Links must be book or quote-related (reviews, quotes, book lists, author interviews, whatever!).

2. Link to your blog-specific URL, not your home page.

3. Visit some of the other posts and have some fun!

4. Use the hashtag #quotemethursday when sharing this link-up!

 

best christmas stories of all time small

What are your favorite Christmas stories?

Filed Under: Book Lists, Lit Lovers Tagged With: Best Christmas novels, best Christmas short stories, best Christmas stories, books for christmas, Christmas books for adults, Christmas reading list, Christmas-themed books

Literary Junkies: My Favorite Christmas Books

November 23, 2015 by Meet Brenda 3 Comments

It’s another month, and another chance to join in with the Literary Junkies; my favorite online book club! This month, it’s all about favorite Christmas books and childhood favorites. Ah nostalgia.

You’ll also find the books that are on my Christmas list!

These favorite Christmas books are popular from year-to-year and will add a wealth of fun and nostalgia to your Christmas reading. Dailymayo.com

Let’s Book Chat!

These favorite Christmas books are popular from year-to-year and will add a wealth of fun and nostalgia to your Christmas reading. Dailymayo.com

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.

I’m going to be honest and say that I’m not really reading anything right now. I finished Me Before You and The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry and I have’t really gotten into anything since.

These favorite Christmas books are popular from year-to-year and will add a wealth of fun and nostalgia to your Christmas reading. Dailymayo.com

2. Now that we’re coming up to the holidays, are there any books you like to return to or remind you of childhood?

 Little Women has always been one of my favorite Christmas books. The first few chapters are about Christmas, and it is always stuck in my mind as Christmas story. I also loved reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever when I was young. I really enjoy giving both of those stories a re-read around Christmas if I can.

These favorite Christmas books are popular from year-to-year and will add a wealth of fun and nostalgia to your Christmas reading. Dailymayo.com

3. Do you have any new books on your wishlist?

I have purchased most of the books that I really wanted to read this year, but there is always room for a few more on my shelf!

  • Right now, I am in love with all of the lovely hardback editions of classic books.
  • This edition of the Anne of Green Gables series is definitely on my wishlist right now.7
  • These Jane Austens are absolutely amazing and I’ve been collecting Puffin Classics for a while now. I already have Anne of Green Gables(it is impossible to have too many version of Anne) and Black Beauty.
  • These favorite Christmas books are popular from year-to-year and will add a wealth of fun and nostalgia to your Christmas reading. Dailymayo.com

4. Favorite book you’ve ever received as a gift?

I think people are scared to purchase books for me right now. It’s been a while since anyone has. I think my favorite book gift was actually not for me, but for my brothers. When I was about 12, my uncle bought my brothers some of the The Thrawn Trilogy books, and that was probably my favorite book gift ever. Also in that bundle, Ender’s Game. My entire teenhood was spent mostly inside those books, so they definitely shaped who I am today and forever.

best christmas stories square

5. Favorite book centered around the holidays?

I don’t think I really have one favorite Christmas book in particular. But these are my favorite Christmas books.

Pink Heels Pink Truck

Filed Under: Book Chat, Seasonal Tagged With: books for christmas, books on my christmas list, christmas list of books, favorite christmas books, gift guide for books

Book List: Tearjerkers

December 11, 2012 by Meet Brenda 7 Comments

So, today’s books are all about themes that make you cry. This isn’t my favorite genre, so I haven’t read all of the books on this list. However, they all receive really high ratings on the Internet for being reliable sources of tears. 🙂 The sad thing is, I know there are some books out there that have made me cry, I just can’t remember all of their names. Oh well.

First, the ones I remember reading:
P.S. I Love You I have read this, and it is sad and heartbreaking. A husband dies and sends a series of letters to his wife after his death.
A Walk to Remember: This story is sweet and sad. A boy falls in love with a minister’s daughter, then realizes that she is actually going to die soon.
Thorn in My Heart : This story is messed up from start to finish. It’s semi-historical set in 1700s Scotland, and is loosely based on the story of Rachel and Leah from the Bible.
Little Women: I found this story agonizing as a teenager. So much Civil War angst!
Les Miserables: This is similar to Little Women. Only, so much French Revolution angst! 🙂

Now the ones I haven’t read that have good reviews:
Bird in the Tree, Pilgrim’s Inn, Heart of the Family: Story set in the past where characters must choose between duty and love.
The Sky Is Everywhere: A highschool love triangle. What could be more angsty than that?
Hanging on to Max: A teen father struggles to hang on to his son.
Grief Girl: With her parents suddenly killed, what’s a girl to do?
My Sister’s Keeper: A Novel: A story about a girl who was only conceived to help keep her sick sister alive.
Love Story: Opposites attract, but usually cause problmes, especially when one of them gets sick.

*Post contains affiliate links

Filed Under: Book Lists Tagged With: books for christmas, books for teens, books that make you cry, christmas gift list, daily mayo, holiday book list, tearjerker books

Book List: Can’t Miss Books for Junior High

November 30, 2010 by Meet Brenda 2 Comments

There are hundreds of good books for junior high kids. Choosing a book should be based on their experience and maturity level. Some books might be better left to high school, while other children may be able to read books recommended for high school in junior high. Use your best judgment when picking books for junior high children.

What are the best books for junior high readers? This list includes classic books like The Jungle Book, Harry Potter, Redwall, and Agatha Christie.

Amazing Books for Junior High

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

This tongue-in-cheek fantasy novel is one of the most beloved fantasy novels of the 20th century.

The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques

This fantasy series focuses on an abbey full of animals who must fight against the dirty animal vermin. If you can, get the audio version of these books as they are excellent.

The Lost World by Arthur Conon Doyle

This book is about an expedition to South American to discover if there are any real dinosaurs still living. The pace can drag sometimes, so it may not be suitable for all children.

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

A team of explorers determines to travel to the very center of the earth. What they find there is surprising to everyone.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

This book is about gifted children taught military tactics on a space station far from home. The children are fairly rough, so it may not be suitable for all junior high children.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams

This series is humorous and really has no point at all. It follows Arthur Dent, the last human alive, as he travels around the galaxy.

The King Arthur Books by Mary Stewart

This is a classic series about the legends of Arthur. The series is not quite as intense as the Pendragon series, which makes it more child-friendly.

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

Another classic King Arthur book. Children who love fantasy and the medieval period should love this story.

Any mystery novel by Agatha Christie

These mysteries are based around rich murderers and classic intrigue. The books are almost all set in the early 1900s through the 1940s, so the dialogue may be hard for some children to understand.

The Discworld Series (particularly the The Wee Free Men series) by Terry Pratchet

This fantasy series makes fun of all other fantasy stories in a poignant and satirical style. The books are easy to read and very entertaining.

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

If you’ve ever seen the Disney movie you have the basic premise of this story. A young boy gets abandoned in India and is raised by wolves.

The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain

This classic identical mix-up is easy to read, humorous and since it is about children, most junior high children should find it enjoyable.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

This story about a foolish and reckless boy is enjoyable for most children.

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Any list of books for young teens should include this classic series of magic and boarding school.

What are the best books for junior high readers? This list includes classic books like The Jungle Book, Harry Potter, Redwall, and Agatha Christie.

What are your favorite books for junior high kids?

Filed Under: Book Lists Tagged With: best books for children, books for christmas, books for junior high, brenda

Meet Brenda
Meet Brenda
Writer, Editor, Blogger, Book Nerd
I'm Brenda. I'm a writer and a reader.
Daily Mayo is all about having fun while reading, without rules! If you love books as much as I do, join the DM Book Lover's Club to keep up with the latest in the book world and get the DM Book Club Reading List.
Come get to know me and let's talk books!
Love Game of Thrones? Don't miss these incredibly creative presentations of Game of Thrones wall art! Perfect for the Game of Thrones fans in your life! Waiting for that next Game of Thrones book? These books like Game of Thrones offer all of the epic fantasy with none of the wait.

Copyright © 2019 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in