Ellen’s Book Nook — December 2022: Holiday Reads

By TMoM Team Member Ellen Bryant Lloyd

Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world…” — Napoleon

This is the perfect time of year to enjoy a relaxed evening by a fire with a good book and cup of hot chocolate. I love the idea of gathering for “quiet” family time and encouraging children to join in with their own good book and warm beverage. We are all conditioned to stay on the go, especially this time of year, so this relaxed approach to an evening in with family is a great way to model the art of slowing down.

I love this quote by Rick Riordan, author of the popular Percy Jackson series (and much more!) — “If the parents are too busy to read, it’s a safe bet the children will feel the same way. Set aside time for family reading each night. It doesn’t matter so much what the kids read, as long as you provide them space for reading and a sense that it is a valuable part of your daily routine.”

Here are suggestions for books to check out this holiday season while you enjoy taking a breather and reading with your children. You may love it so much that you make a weekly “date” to enjoy special “quiet” family time together. Happy Holidays!!

Holiday Reads for the Kids & Family

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah by Sydney Taylor

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas by Kimberly and James Dean

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry and illustrated by P.J. Lynch

Dream Snow by Eric Carle

Snowmen at Christmas by Carolyn Buchner and illustrated by Mark Buchner

The Magical Christmas Store by Maudie Powell-Tuck

Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington and illustrated by Shane W. Evans

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Dasher by Matt Tavares

Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

Bear Stays Up by Karma Wilson

Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer

I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison

A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schultz

The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas! by Victoria Kahn

Just for Moms

Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

The Paper Bag by Kevin Alan Milne

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah

One Day in December by Josie Silver

The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank

Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery

The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huitt Smith

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

A Christmas Promise by Nora Roberts

Ellen Bryant Lloyd is a writer and mom of two children, one who has flown from the nest and the other is not far from it. She blogs about perspectives on life and parenting at mindfulmom.wordpress.com and tweets at @EllenBLloyd. She is the author of FRECKLES and FRECKLES and The Great Beach Rescue, a freelance writer and memoir ghostwriter. Ellen lives in Greensboro with her husband, her daughter, when she is home from college, and the sweetest dog ever. She looks forward to seeing her son, who is now living and working in a nearby metropolitan city, as often as possible.

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