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One of our favorite family traditions is The Christmas Book Basket. It’s a super simple tradition and yet it continues to be a favorite. Here’s how it came about. It started out with an advent twist – I used to wrap each book and put a cute number on it and then we’d open and read one every night from December 1-24. This was fun and sweet but it took a while to wrap them which is fine BUT the kids would be looking for specific books during the month and they were wrapped. One year I just ran out of time and put the books in our library book basket. The kids LOVED it and so it’s just stayed The Christmas Book Basket. I keep all of the Christmas, winter, and holiday books in a storage bin in the basement with the rest of the Christmas decorations and every year it’s the very first box that comes upstairs. The kids go through the books while we haul the rest of the decorations up. Then all month long the kids read the books, bring them to their rooms, and snuggle up under the tree and read the books next to the glow of the Christmas tree.
Want to put together a little Christmas Book Basket? Look for a basket that you can use (I linked up some affiliate links of what I use at the bottom of the post) and put it under your tree. Gather up all the books you have and put them in the basket. Each year I add a book or two to the basket and the kids inevitably get a holiday book or two for gifts. I linked up some of our favorites below if you’d like to see what we keep in our basket. The books are sorted by type of book – all are favorites and highly recommended!
Board Books
Picture Books
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree : An Appalachian Story
Song of the Stars : A Christmas Story
Room for a Little One : A Christmas Tale
A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas
Chapter Books
A Little House Christmas Treasury: Festive Holiday Stories
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Box of Delights (New York Review Children’s Collection)
Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas
Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas
Trisha Says...
Great idea Becky!!
That reminds me to go looking for books for my grandson and to pass this idea along to my son and his wife
sharon Says...
You forgot to add Holly and Ivy by Rumor Godden. It is a story about wishing and adoption and Christmas. Best book ever! It was read to me in the hospital in 1970. It was originally published in Ladies Home Journal, before I was born. It should be a classic. I cannot believe I still run into people who are not familiar with this little book and this fabulous author. Warning, keep your kleenex handy.
b r Says...
Post authorOh yes! I remember that book – so sweet! I’ll have to look for it for our collection 🙂
Melanie Hunt Says...
I love this idea. Our elf gives our daughter a book every Friday while she’s in town. And I like the idea of having all the Christmas themed books in one place.
Please tell me Becky, WHERE did you get that basket? It’s perfect.
Thanks for your blog and FB page, I enjoy reading it and incorporating ideas into my home.
b r Says...
Post authorThanks Melanie! It’s from Target – it’s linked at the bottom of the post!
Anjie Says...
We have something similar, stemming from a gift my mother-in-law used to give- a Christmas book and ornament. It is truly our kid’s favorite tradition also, I love it when I see others have it too! (Love your basket BTW, I’m now rethinking our “book holder”)
Lauri Says...
“Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” by Robert Barry is a fun book.
Carolyn Says...
I loved The Polar Express, which was given my kids as a gift when they were young. We opened it and I read it to them on Christmas Eve right before bed. One of my favorite Christmas memories.
Kadie Says...
I LOVE this idea! My daughter is 2.5, and I just don’t think she is quite ready for the “advent unwrapping a book each night” thing. She has just now started to want to read a book every night before bed, so I think she will love this too! Also, as a preschool teacher, this will be great for the classroom as well!
sun Says...
One year I put them all spread out under the tree instead of wrapping them. It was a hit! The children read under the tree. I haven’t done that recently and might try it again. I agree that the wrapping idea is pretty, but it takes away all the books that will only be able to read a few times, while having them out at once is much better for us.
Diane Says...
My absolute favorite Christmas book is One Winter Night by Ruth Graham Bell ( Billy Graham’s wife) Incorpates Bible stories with beautiful artwork. Another favorite is Silver Packages
Theresa Says...
I have been doing this for years my kids are adults now and still pull out their favorite books. I even buy new ones if something catches my eye.
Sherrie Says...
What?!!! No “Little Women” in your chapter book list!! Honestly, this is a great idea! I will have to add this to our Christmas traditions! Thank you for sharing!
Shannon Says...
We do this, too! Some of our favorites are Silver Packages and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey- although I can’t read that one without crying!
Libby Ferrell Says...
The Story of The Candy Cane would be another great one for this terrific list!🎄