Personally, I LOVE Christmas carols. Christmas songs. Singing Christmas songs at church. I am not picky, I love it all (except for the hippopotamus song and Grandma got run over by a reindeer). I am VERY regulated in my listening though and won't start playing them constantly until Black Friday. Before then it's just when working on Christmas-y things!
Naturally, we enjoy a good picture book about Christmas carols. Many of these are just the words of a carol set to pictures. Fantastic! I'll kinda sing those along to the kids (I'm going to pound these into their brain somehow!). A few in here are the hows a song came about which is also fun! I love a good history lesson in a picture book!
If you follow Buddy the Elf's advice that "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear" (I subscribe to that)...here are a few to move you along!
Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be by John Harris, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
This is the fictionalized story of how the classic "Jingle Bells" could have been written. It was written before the Civil War in Savannah, Georgia and some people had a problem that this church didn't believe in slavery (a nice and light Christmas topic!). The choir director is cleaning up a literal mess from that when he is inspired to share what a Northern Christmas could be like, with snow and sleigh rides. We first read this one last year, ~6 months after we had visited Savannah! That was a nice little coincidence!
Jingle Bells by Susan Jeffers
The classic "Jingle Bells" with pictures of two kids and their dog on a sleigh ride to Grandma's!
We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin
The opulence of the three kings set to the classic carol.
Deck the Walls: A Wacky Christmas Carol by Erin Dealey, illustrated by Nick Ward
Following the rhythm of "Deck the Walls" but with kids getting a little messy and a little rowdy (which might describe every kid in the days before Christmas?). At least my real one doesn't involve mashed potatoes on the walls.
Silent Night by Lara Hawthorne
The words of slight night with beautiful pictures showing a black holy family and supporting characters. Which, given the Middle East region this all takes place in...probably more accurate than all white people. Always appreciate some diversity!
White Christmas by Irving Berlin, illustrated by Michael Hague
With very vintage inspired illustrations with the lyrics of White Christmas. I deeply love the movie (which has nothing to do with the book besides sharing a name) and thus enjoy this song as well.
Listen to the Silent Night by Dandi Daley Mackall, illustrated by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson
A different take on Silent Night, showing that maybe Jesus wasn't born on a silent night.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Richard B. Smith & Felix Bernard, illustrated by Tim Hopgood
A lively and colorful rendition of Walking in a Winter Wonderland and what that walk might look like (although, any walk I take around my house is almost guaranteed not to see that much wildlife).
The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Maybe the most commono Christmas carol to be made into a book?? There are dozens of versions and we've read a decent handful but this one is my favorite. Peek-through pages and whimsical drawings!
The Wheels on the Bus at Christmas by Sarah Kieley
Not a Christmas carol but a standard children's song rewritten for Christmas! Although, reading this book I'm not sure either of our kids even know the original!
Silent Night by Joseph Mohr, illustrated by Thomas Kinkade
Maybe this is the carol with the second most books on it because they are prolific, even on this list. These painting are exactly what you'd expect if you've seen any Thomas Kinkade.
The First Christmas by Phillips Brooks & Lewis H. Redner, illustrated by Will Moses
This is "O Little Town of Bethlehem" but in book format. That's not a carol that I sing frequently (it starts so high!) so it was nice to read it!
The Berenstain Bears go Christmas Caroling by Mike Berenstain
Our beloved Bear family goes caroling and sings parts of many classic Christmas songs. I didn't have much of a voice when I was reading this to the boys and so my singing was especially questionable. But I still tried!
Do you have any more to add to this list? I'd love to hear!
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