Three on a Theme: Christmas
I just had to share my three favorite Christmas books with you today! These three books hold some amazing memories for me. My parents read aloud to us all the time growing up, in fact my mom read aloud to us through high school (which I still think is pretty amazing). And, these were some of my favorite Christmas read-alouds.
The Sweet Smells of Christmas is a scratch-and-sniff book that I literally wore through. For years, we’d pull this book out of the Christmas box and I’d sit down and start testing the scents. I remember the orange scent lasted the longest! A few years ago, I happened to be shopping at a bookstore around the holidays and found this book in print again and just had to buy it for myself!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a book that had us giggling from start to finish as we never could expect everything that happened when the Herdman’s got involved. This title is definitely showing it’s years as it was originally published in 1972, but I love that the meaning of Christmas meant something to that wild group of kids. There are other titles in the Herdman series, but I’ve never given them a chance because I don’t want to ruin the experience I have with this book.
And finally, The Polar Express – I can’t read this book without hearing my mom’s voice. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to meet Chris Van Allsburg and got the chance to give signed copies of this book to all my siblings and my parents. Now, we each have our own copy as a special memory from our childhood.
Booklist
The Sweet Smells of Christmas by Patricia M. Scarry
” It’s time to celebrate the sights and smells of Christmas in this classic scratch-and sniff book. Join Little Bear as he prepares for the holidays, all the while giving readers a chance to smell six wonderful scents including apple pie, Christmas tree, hot chocolate, and more! This delectable treat is a perfect way for families to spend the yuletide season. ” (Taken from Goodreads)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
“Laughs abound in this bestselling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson! The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids.
Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. And that’s just the start! When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked. It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way.
This year’s pageant is definitely like no other, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it so special.” (Taken from Goodreads)
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
“Late on Christmas Eve, after the town has gone to sleep, a boy boards a mysterious train that waits for him: the Polar Express bound for the North Pole. When he arrives there, Santa offers him any gift he desires. The boy modestly asks for one bell from the reindeer’s harness. It turns out to be a very special gift, for only believers in Santa can hear it ring.” (Taken from Goodreads)
