Holiday picture books all about GIVING Christmas gifts

The Berenstain Bears: The Joy of Giving... My kids are all big fans of the Berenstain Bears so this one has gotten a lot of love around here! 

Corduroy's Christmas Surprise... Corduroy is such a classic, iconic children's lit character! This is the newer illustration style and I loved how much Corduroy cares about his friends' gifts. 

Homemade Together Christmas... The whole family in this story is focused on making each other wonderful Christmas gifts. I love the sentiment! Plus, sweet piggies. 💙 

The Legend of the Christmas Cookie (Christian)... This one is about Christmas cookies rather than traditional presents but the spirit of generosity is strong here. Our copy is in The Legends of Christmas Treasury, which we love! 

The Legend of the Poinsettia... You can't go wrong with Tomie DePaola! This one is about a sweet young lady's desire to make a gift for the nativity's baby Jesus. 

The Legend of St. Nicholas (Christian)... This is about the origin of gift-giving. I've read enough variations on this story to know that everybody's got their own version but we liked this book just fine. Our copy is in The Legends of Christmas Treasury, which we love!

Let it Snow... One of my girls adores pigs and absolutely loved this precious story about two pig friends (and a cousin) coming up with the perfect Christmas gift for each other. Very sweet, lovely illustrations + feel. Her new Christmas favorite. 

Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever... This is actually a leveled reader but my littlest loves having her big siblings read these to her and views them as picture books. This is a sweet story about Marvin wanting to make a Christmas gift that will last. 

The Santa Thief... This one is set during the depression and starts with a boy focused on wanting a specific gift. By the end he's sneaking some of his parents' belongings to upgrade them to thrifty gifts on Christmas morning. (This is where the word thief comes in. He never actually steals anything!) 

Bookish links- December 2022

Spotted on an endcap at Target. So cute! Loved it but did not buy it 'cause that is the way of the Sara. 

Historical fiction fans, I've already updated my list of Christian fiction by year quite a bit! 

If you're looking for a Christmas nonfiction read, The Case for Christmas is only $3! (At least on the day I'm typing this!) I haven't read it but I have read The Case for Christ for Kids and enjoyed it. 

Wholesome Christmas movies for the whole family 

Just a few Christmassy, book-themed Etsy finds: bookstore ornament // this cute bookmark // Christmas book stack print // this shirt // All I Want for Christmas is Books mug // Oh, Holy Night on a vintage book page // customizable book stack ornament // these vintage Christmas book coasters! // sweet vintage art on old book pages // book + cat ornament // If I showed up at your house for a Christmas party and you had this Scrooge & Marley sign hanging over your door I'd faint with delight.  

Blast from the past: All the Christmas Books We Read in 2021! 

Here's a fun holiday drink for my lazy health nut friends! Steep peppermint tea (I prefer Traditional Medicinals) and then stir in a scoop of hot cocoa powder (I prefer Laird). Peppermint hot chocolate ☕👍 (Note: these are both far cheaper in my local health food store so check in-person first!) 

Breathtaking libraries for your literary bucket list

The ultimate Christmas books quiz, based on Christmas classics. I got 55% but four of my correct answers were just lucky guesses! 

If any of you have kids who love the Pioneer Woman's Charlie the Ranch Dog series - we love the homeschool book Charlie Goes to School - you might be happy to see that Walmart currently has a Christmas Charlie Plush Blanket 

I used to be a consistent reader of the Modern Mrs Darcy blog and I popped over there a couple weeks ago for the first time in a long time. Fun finds- 9 teas to warm up your winter days // gift guide for book lovers // gift guide for bookish children  // 100 stocking stuffers that will actually be appreciated

Currently reading: Philippians // A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide // Tabitha's Travels // A Texas Christmas Carol (from Under the Texas Mistletoe) // What I Would Tell You // The Blackout Book Club 

Video- December TBR

Fiction- A Texas Christmas Carol from Under the Texas Mistletoe // One Perfect Day // Manchester Christmas // The Nutcracker's Suite

Nonfiction- Simply Christmas // A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide

Children's- Tabitha's Travels // The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

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Music by my kids 😆

2 Christian fiction new releases

The Blackout Book Club* by Amy Lynn Green... I love a good WWII novel and I love a good book about books so this is such a delight! I read it way too fast and I am already looking forward to reading it again. This is my second Amy Lynn Green novel and I am without a doubt a fan of her work.

A Thousand Tomorrows* by Karen Kingsbury... I am a big fan of this author and I really enjoyed this rodeo-focused romance about larger-than-life love. This is not as faith-filled as the Baxter Family books and actually contains very little faith at all but it was still a sweet story. It seemed to have wrapped up perfectly but I will read the sequel as well. 

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Episode 51- The Christian Bookworm Podcast

Our third annual Christmas episode is finally here! We've got tips for celebrating on a budget, a movie, and of course all kinds of books! 

 

 You can listen to this episode right here or through Amazon // Anchor // Apple // Google // Overcast // Pocket Casts // Radio Public // RSS // Spotify // Stitcher 

Note: It takes a lot of time to put together a podcast episode! When you make any book purchases through the Amazon links below or through our Bookshop.org link, you help support the show... and make it worth our while to keep putting out episodes! Thank you for your support! 

General show notes page 

Previous Christmas episodes- 2020 // 2021 

Our Christmas buddy read this year- A Texas Christmas Carol from Under the Texas Mistletoe // Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

Christmas movie for the whole family to enjoy- Christmas for a Dollar

Christmas fiction we've enjoyed and recommend: Catching Christmas // Christmas at Carnton // Naomi's Gift from collection An Amish Christmas Gift 

Christmas nonfiction: On This Holy Night

Christmas Children's: The Note // Sounding Joy

Libby is the library audio book app I use and Hoopla is the one Mom just tried and liked.

Christmas songs we're currently loving: Mark Lowry version of Mary Did You Know // Josh Groban version of Oh Holy Night // The Grinch song by Uncle Si

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