Christmas Book Countdown & Great Reads for Children List

Any Day Christmas Book Countdown got started in our family when my first born was 3 years old. I love books and he loves books and sometimes I couldn’t quite get my act together to start on December 1st or December 12th or whenever everyone starts countdowns and advents.

As I have mentioned before countdowns can start whenever you want them to so don’t add that extra stressor to your holiday season and just enjoy a countdown when you can and want. You can do a 25 days, 20 days, 12 days or 6 day countdown, whatever butters your biscuit and works best for your family. Last year, I finally got around to making my no-sew Christmas Tree Advent from felt that we usually start on Dec 1st (most of the time, lol) and we used that in conjunction with other countdowns.

I usually get my books from Walmart or from Scholastics because they have level reader books and best selling books in paperback which means less expensive. Get this you can even use books from the library. If we had a public library here I would still do that and mix it up. So don’t buy 25 books or 15 books just check them out or do a mix of library books and books you have purchased.

I will be sharing later on today on how to make the lovely burlap sacks as gift bags. I finally got around to making some sacks since we do this every year we can re-use them instead of using wrapping paper but do whatever is easiest for your family.

Great Reads for Children List:

This list was compiled by lots of parents and is meant to be for various ages. You can also find the list here.

One of my favorite Authors: Robert Munsch:

Love You Forever- Can’t finish this story without crying.
Kiss Me, I’m Perfect
Smelly Socks- My son loves this book b/c he relates.
We Share Everything
Make up Mess
Class Clown

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
The Mitten by Jan Brett
The Donkeys First Christmas by S T Schroder

The Brambley Hedge Series by Jill Barklem
The Fern Hollow Series by John Patience
The Three Trees by Elena Pasquals
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
You are Special by Max Lucado
With you all the Way by Max Lucado My boys love this because it’s about Knights.
The Christmas Sweater by Glen Beck Great story and illustrations

The Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall
What a Wonderful Life by George David Weiss We love to sing, so we would sing this to our boys when they were little. It has the lyrics to the song in book form.
A Wish to be a Christmas Tree – Colleen Monroe
The Way I Feel by Janan Cain I love al the color in this book.
Peeping Beauty by Mary Jane Auch Great little story for girls.
The Christmas Giant – Steve Light
Percy the Park Keeper by Nick Butterworth
The Little House by Burton
The Pine Tree Parable– Liz Curtis Higgs

The Chronicles of Narnia Series
The Twelve Prayers of Christmas by Candy Chand
Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle
Nicholas Cricket By Joyce Maxner
I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont Great illustrations and the counselor in me just likes this book.
Dream Snow– by Eric Carle
Anna Dewdney series on Llama Llama – Llamas run wild here so when we go camping we have been able to hang out with them!

Llama llama Misses Mama
Llama Llama Red Pajamas
Llama Llama Holiday Drama

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever -by Barbara Robinson My FAVORITE book and movie
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale -by Martin Waddell
How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods Great pictures
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka Hilarious book
Snowball Fight!- Jimmy Fallon
Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini The boys love his moosteache
The Series of There was an Old Lady books by Lucille Colandro
The First Bear in Africa by Satomi Ichikawa
The Snow Tree – Caroline Repchuk
I Love You More Than Rainbows by Susan E Crites
The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco Portrays the Holocaust for children