One of my sneaky favorite things about picture books is teaching my boys something while they are listening. There is A LOT to learn from picture books from biographies, various science things and history. These are all Christmas stories of Christmases between Jesus' birth and our current day, some actually happened, some not so much.
I like the idea of Christmas Book Flights (the book flight idea that I definitely copied from Modern Mrs. Darcy) and often pull books in a theme from our large library stack. Even if that theme is just "books with Christmas in the title". When there are 100ish books it's nice to have a bit of help in knowing what to pull next! Besides what has holds on it.
The other Christmas Picture Book Flights I've done are: Cookies & Treats, Christmas Trees, Animals Celebrating, Santa Stories, and The Nativity Story.
Note: Affiliate links abound below, I make a small (very small) commission off items if you purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your understanding and support! Of course I fully support utilizing the library or shopping used or from an independent bookstore!
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Judith Brown
I originally pulled this one because I thought it was about St. Nick, the one who just had a feast day. It is not. It is about a church in Russia that had to stop being a church due to the soldiers' presence. Many decades later the church building is still abandoned and a young kid is wondering why that is so. So he takes matters into his own hands and finds a Christmas miracle.
Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Renee Graef
There is an extensive picture book series that pulls stories from the Little House books and adds pictures, giving an easier way to share some of the pioneer experience. This one is just a short Christmas story from Little House in the Big Woods and what Christmas was like for the Ingalls. Maybe can help my kids appreciate the bounty of our Christmas. And also, heat not from a fireplace.
The Christmas Knight by Jane Louise Curry, illustrated by Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan
This one is based on a 15th Century story about a knight and a generous nobleman and a prayer for a Christmas miracle. The pictures are in a medieval style too.
The Berenstain Bears' Old-Fashioned Christmas by Jan Berenstain, illustrated by Mike Berenstain
Does a book that celebrated an old-fashioned Christmas but takes place in whatever present day the Bears are living in still count? Yes, it does. The Bear Family is celebrating with their grandparents and they all decide to celebrate like when their grandparents were kids. No screens just old-fashioned fun. We did this one Christmas when I was a kid, 9ish maybe? I think it was around the time we studied pioneer time in homeschool so this book has a special nostalgia for me!
The Night Henry Ford Met Santa by Carol Hagen, illustrated by Matt Faulkner
This 100% didn't happen since Santa isn't real HOWEVER I have fond memories of visiting the Henry Ford Museum as a kid and learning about his assembly line process. BUT what if Henry Ford got that idea from Santa's workshop? Santa cranks out thousands of toys a year, he has to have a good process of getting that done. So Henry Ford's son suggests his father asking Santa for advice. Shows adults don't know everything either!
Saint Francis and the Nativity by Myrna A. Strasser, illustrated by Fausto Bianchi
Before we read a few picture books on the subject, I had NO IDEA that St. Francis was the one who came up with the nativity scene. Small nativity scenes have been a fixture of the Christmas season my whole life (I don't even know how many we have at our house) and was fascinated to learn why St. Francis came up with the idea.
Lighthouse Christmas by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Nancy Sippel Carpenter
Set in a New England Lighthouse almost 100 years ago, back when lighthouse keepers needed to live at the lighthouse to keep the light burning. Two kids and their father are trying to make the first Christmas since their mother died more special. It's hard when they are out at a lighthouse! Can Santa even find them at the lighthouse? A lovely story of coming together and the importance of family.
A Christmas Tree in the White House by Gary Hines
Teddy Roosevelt was well known for being a conservationist and thus declared that there would be NO Christmas tree at the White House because he didn't want to have a tree cut down for his family's enjoyment. Well. That didn't sit too well with his kids and two of them snuck a tree into their bedroom. That lead to a talk with the chief forester who assured the President that cutting down little trees can help the bigger ones grow!
I love sneaking in any sort of lesson through picture books so I'd love to hear about any more Christmas stories that take place between the original and now!
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