Our Victorian-era house has a library, so collecting gorgeous and favorite books is not a new thing for us. Our library is ‘artfully curated’ – which means it is interesting, but not exactly organized. I have it laid out in sections by genre and again by the author but fall short of actual cataloging, and it often gets mussed. I like certain authors who either were, or I think might have been friends in real life, to live on a shelf next to each other. For example, Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald are shelf-buddies, along with Paula McClain, Isak Denesen, and Beryl Markham. Doris Kearns Goodwin lives next to David McCullough, Nathaniel Philbrick, and Erik Larson. Modern Fiction has its own wall, as does poetry, language reference books, etc.

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”

– Charles M. Shulz

Years ago I started a specific, small Christmas Book Collection, which has grown to a fun 50+ titles! It does not live in our library year-round. Instead, I bring it out around the holidays, along with other ornaments and decorations, then box it up and return it to a storage area to wait for next year. Each year I re-read a few in the collection and add one or two new special books. It is a small way that I bring the joy of reading into our holidays. My collection ranges widely, from board books and picture books to short stories, poetry, and novelettes.

Since variety is the spice of life, I have multiple versions of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore which Tony alternates reading aloud each year on Christmas Eve night.

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”

– Laura Ingalls Wilder

Honoring the books in my life is a treasure. Since I will probably never catalog our house or boat libraries, I can at least manage to give some order to my Christmas Book Collection.

Alphabetically, they are:

1. A Child’s Christmas in New England by Robert Sullivan
2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, abridged, adapted by David A. Hill
3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by P.J. Lynch
4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti
5. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
6. A Family Christmas (selection) by Caroline Kennedy
7. Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
8. Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Shulz
9. Christmas with Norman Rockwell by John Kirk
10. Eloise at Christmastime by Kay Thompson
11. How The Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss (1957)
12. How The Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss (1985)
13. Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
14. Mouse Christmas by Michelle Cartlidge
15. My Red Mittens by Candy Crocker
16. Olive, the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh
17. One Snowy Night by M. Christina Butler
18. One Winter’s Day by M. Christina Butler
19. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
20. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (a picture book) illustrated by Art Mawhinney
21. Snow by Roy McKie
22. Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
23. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
24. The Bight Before Christmas by Will Swagel
25. The Boy of the Bells by Carly Simon, illustrated by Margot Datz
26. The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell
27. The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket
28. The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket
29. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, a pop-up by Robert Sabuda
30. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Arthur Rackham
31. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Eric Puybaret
32. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Mary Engelbreit
33. The Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas
34. The Nutcracker Ballet by E.T.A. Hoffman, adapted by Mara Conlon
35. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
36. The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott
37. The Santa Map: A Cultural Geography of the World’s Most Beloved Man
38. The Snow Bear by Miriam Moss
39. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
40. The 12 Days of Christmas, a pop-up by Robert Sabuda
41. The Twelve Days of Christmas by Anne Geddes
42. The Visit by Mark Kimball Moulton
43. Tomie’s Little Christmas Pageant by Tomie dePaola
44. You are my Miracle by Maryann Cusimano Love
45. The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
46. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston
47. The History of Christmas: 2,000 Years of Faith, Fable, and Festivity by Heather Lefebvre
48. Aunt Sass by P.L. Travers
49. A Christmas Filled with Miracles by Mary Ellen
50. Christmas Poems, Stories and Carols (Portland House)

… plus* a few board books for the youngest readers and some others that we keep on TIMBALERO for boat holidays.

Happy Holidays and as always, Happy Reading ~ ! xx

🎄

* Two new additions in 2020 are:

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story (Picture Puffin Books) by Gloria Houston. *I chose this picture book because it is illustrated by one of my favorite author/illustrators, Barbara Cooney.

The History of Christmas: 2,000 Years of Faith, Fable, and Festivity by Heather Lefebvre. *I chose this title because the historical element is a nice addition to my collection. Also, the author is a mom from Indianapolis, IN (my hometown)!