The Best Christmas-Themed Books To Remind You Of Your Best Childhood Memories
The Best Christmas-Themed Books To Remind You Of Your Best Childhood Memories
It’s another beautiful December night and all through the house, not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. The Grinch came and stole our Christmas tree and presents with care. Unfortunately for him, three ghosts would appear and tell him to change his ways lest death be near. As he returned the gifts, the Polar Express passed by with tiny Tim, young Marie and the Nutcracker on for a ride.
I hoped you like my little mismatched poem up above. The Christmas season is all about sharing and rekindling our favourite memories, spending time with family and experiencing feelings of tremendous joy, appreciation and generosity. It’s a time to remember our religious beliefs, feel hope and all around feel the best we’ve felt all year. The books I’m mentioned below do just that. They are some of the first stories that many of us hear as children. The first books to inspire us and create that Christmas sparkle that hopefully we all still carry today. Join me as we take a stroll down memory lane…..
1. A CHRISTMAS CAROL- CHARLES DICKENS
Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy businessman who thinks only of making money. For him, Christmas is, in his own words, a humbug. It has been seven years since his friend and partner, Jacob Marley, died and on Christmas Eve. Marley's ghost tells him he is to be visited during the night by three spirits. The Ghost of Christmas Past revisits some of the main events in Scrooge's life to date, including his unhappy childhood, his happy apprenticeship to Mr. Fezziwig who cared for his employees, and the end of his engagement to a pretty young woman due to growing love of money. The Ghost of Christmas Present shows him how joyously is nephew Fred and his clerk, Bob Cratchit, celebrate Christmas with those they love. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows him what he will leave behind after he is gone. Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning, a new man intent on doing good and celebrating the season with all of those around him.
2. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS – DR SEUSS
All the Whos love Christmas, yet just outside of their beloved Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a nasty creature that hates Christmas, and plots to steal it away from the Whos which he equally abhors. The Grinch is a bitter, grouchy, cave-dwelling creature with a heart "two sizes too small" who is living as a hermit on the snowy Mount Crumpit, a steep high mountain just north of the town of Whoville, home of the merry and warm-hearted Whos. His only companion is his unloved, but loyal dog, Max. From his cave, the Grinch can hear the noisy Christmas festivities that take place in Whoville. Continuously annoyed, he devises a wicked scheme to steal their presents, trees, and food for their Christmas feast. He crudely disguises himself as Santa Claus, and forces Max, disguised as a reindeer, to drag a sleigh down the mountain towards Whoville. Once at Whoville, the Grinch slides down the chimney of one house and steals all of the Whos' Christmas presents, the Christmas tree, and the log for their fire.
3. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS – CLEMENT C. MOORE
On Christmas Eve night, while his wife and children sleep, a father awakens to noises outside his house. Looking out the window, he sees Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas) in an air-borne sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. After landing his sleigh on the roof, the saint enters the house through the chimney, carrying a sack of toys with him. The father watches Santa filling the children's Christmas stockings hanging by the fire, and laughs to himself. They share a conspiratorial moment before Santa bounds up the chimney again. As he flies away, Santa wishes a "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."
4. THE POLAR EXPRESS – CHRIS VAN ALLSBURG
A young boy is awakened on Christmas Eve night by the sound of a train. To his astonishment, he finds the train is waiting for him. He sees a conductor who then proceeds to look up at his window. He runs downstairs and goes outside. The conductor explains the train is called the Polar Express, and is journeying to the North Pole. The boy then boards the train, which is filled with many other children in their pajamas.
The Polar Express races north over mountains and through boreal forests inhabited by wolves as well as rabbits, but the train never slows down. When it arrives at the North Pole, the conductor explains that Santa will select one of them to receive the first gift of Christmas.
5. THE NUTCRACKER- E. T. A HOFFMAN
It is Christmas Eve. Family and friends have gathered in the parlor to decorate the beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for the party. Once the tree is finished, the children are sent for. They stand in awe of the tree sparkling with candles and decorations.
The party begins. A march is played. Presents are given out to the children. Suddenly, as the owl-topped grandmother clock strikes eight, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. He then has them put away for safekeeping.
Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls being taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. The other children ignore it, but Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz, however, breaks it, and Clara is heartbroken.
During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved nutcracker. As she reaches the little bed, the clock strikes midnight and she looks up to see Drosselmeyer perched atop it. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The nutcracker also grows to life size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the mice, led by their king. They begin to eat the soldiers. The nutcracker appears to lead the soldiers, who are joined by tin ones and dolls who serve as doctors to carry away the wounded.
These Christmas classics are celebrated and cherished for a reason. And even though all have been adapted in many forms of expression such as movies, music, cartoons or plays, nothing feels more special than cuddling up and reading a good book. So if you’re up for some Christmas joy and reading this month, may I suggest you take a peek at these Christmas classics and feel like you did as a child when you first read or heard these stories. A bright-eyed wonder as a story fills your ears and flows straight to warming your heart.
*Random fun fact: Jim Carrey has played the lead in movie adaptations of 2 of these books. Looks like someone loves Christmas as much as we do!!!!
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