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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