Lesser Known Christmas Countdown Books

One for Every Day Until Christmas

One of the best parts of Christmas for me was and always will be the reading and re-readaing of the wonderful stories of Christmas. I like holiday movies, but somehow nothing can compare with snuggling under a blanket watching the Christmas tree twinkle and reading a beloved story aloud. It's especially nice to have a child cuddled in your lap. We have been enjoying Christmas stories in our family for almost 20 years. Our oldest daughter who is 19 remembers countless stories and we all still love to read them.

Here is a Christmas countdown calendar of 25 of our best loved Christmas stories. I have not included the well-known stories. Some are picture books, some chapter books and some are stories that I dug out of some treasury or collection, some are just chapters of books. Some are very poignant and sad. Some are haunting; some whimsical, some are funny; but all the stories speak of the magic of Christmas love.

The Miraculous Staircase (Arthur Gordon) The little church of St. Loretto in Sante Fe has a new choir loft but no way to get to it. Who is the poor carpenter who comes from nowhere, builds a impossible staircase and leaves without pay? This is my favorite Christmas story of all time.

Jingle, A Christmas Clown - (Tomie Depaola)

The Legend of the Poinsettia - (Retold and illustrated by Tomie DePaola) Lucia has no gift to lay at the manger of the infant Jesus; will He still welcome her?

Babouska and the Three Kings - Ruth Robbins (Caldecott for Nicolas Sidjakov)

The Story of Holly and Ivy Rumer Godden/Barbara Clooney

The Tailor of Glouchester - (Beatrix Potter) How will the poor, ill, exhausted tailor finish the mayor frock coat in time for Christmas morning?

Maigret's Christmas - (Georges Simenon) The childless inspector and his wife unravel a mystery and find a Christmas miracle of thier own.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomie (Susan Wojciehowski) Why is the talented woodcarver Mr. Toomie so bitter and sad? Will he carve the new nativity figures for Thomas?