It’s the most wonderful time of the year to read classic Christmas books. These festive, bestselling classic books have stood the test of time for children, young adults, and adults. You’ll indulge in the most famous seasonal stories with Christmas themes to feel holiday cheer in a literary way. So, add these books to your Christmas bucket list!
Most Famous Classic Christmas Books For Kids and Adults
For Children, Families, and Read-Alouds
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- The Elves and The Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
- The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson
- Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
- Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann
- The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg
- The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
- The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
Fiction For Young Adults and Adults
- A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
- A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd
- The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
- The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren
- Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
- Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
Details of the Best Classic Christmas Picture Books and Novels
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the most famous Christmas book of all time. First published in 1843, this timeless Christmas short story follows Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption after encountering three spirits: the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Its message is about the spirit of Christmas.
Its brevity, readability, and beautiful prose make it a classic that’s well worth the read, no matter how many adaptations you’ve seen, heard, or read.
Reading Tip: Look for the audio version narrated by the incomparable actor Tim Curry. It’s exquisitely performed.
Related Post: A Christmas Carol Quotes
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
A Christmas Memory is one of the best Christmas books for adults. It’s about a young boy in rural Alabama who looks back with nostalgia on his elderly friend.
They save their pennies to make 30 fruitcakes when “fruitcake weather” arrives. They share them with only the most deserving persons, including the one they send to the White House each year, wondering if the President serves it.
Together, they share more holiday cheer as the old friend comes to find their time together to have a deeper meaning.
It’s one of the most beautifully written stories I’ve ever read. This brief novella is great to read during a busy month, and it’s so utterly nostalgic.
A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd
The inspiration behind the famous Christmas movie is the book, A Christmas Story. It’s the nostalgic tale in which young Ralphie’s family represents the average American family having a disastrous but memorable Christmas season, in which, most notably, he yearns for a rifle gun.
The Elves and the Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm
The Elves and The Shoemaker is a beloved fairy tale about a shoemaker who is secretly helped at night in his incomplete work by some little elves.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
The Gift of the Magi is about a young married couple trying to buy Christmas gifts for each other with little money to spend. It offers a twist that makes it a sentimental tale with lessons of gift-giving during the holiday season. It breaks your heart — in a good way.
The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale by Philip Van Doren
The Greatest Gift is more famously known by the name of its film adaptation, It’s a Wonderful Life. First published in a small pamphlet and sent as the author’s 1943 Christmas card, it’s the story of a man contemplating suicide at Christmastime. When he gets the chance to see what the world would be like without him, he has a change of heart in time to celebrate the season’s meaning.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
In Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, Agatha Christie’s famed investigator is tasked with a Christmas Eve murder at a family reunion in which everyone seems to have a reason to hate the deceased man.
What’s a holiday without a good old-fashioned murder? It reads exactly as you would expect a classic Christie mystery to read.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The children’s Christmas book How the Grinch Stole Christmas is about spreading Christmas cheer, even if you’re the meanest curmudgeon of all. With the furry and cartoonish green Grinch at its core and Dr. Seuss’s whimsical writing, it’s one of the most famous Christmas books for families to read aloud each year with toddlers and young children.
Related post: How to Make a Grinch Christmas Tree | Quotes from the Grinch
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson
The Little Match Girl is the tearjerking story of Adriana, who holds the hope of a better life. When her dreams are shattered, she has only a flute, a box of matches, and her faith in God. It’s dark and deep, but it has stood the test of time.
Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
Miracle on 34th Street is a bestselling, award-winning novel that has sold millions of copies. And yes, it’s still worth reading if you have already seen the movie.
An elderly man named Kris Kringle fills in for Santa in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade, becoming a popular regular at the store. But his claim that he is the real Santa leads to a court battle with the power of belief at the heart of it.
Reading Tip: Try the dramatized audiobook format for an especially immersive reading experience.
Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann
Did you know you can read the beloved ballet based on Nutcracker and Mouse King?! It’s the timeless, magical story of a wooden doll, the Nutcracker, who becomes alive to fight the evil seven-headed Mouse King after a Christmas party. It reminds people of all ages about the magic of the Christmas holiday every year, both on the page and at the ballet.
The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg
The Polar Express has been one of the most popular children’s Christmas books for decades, beloved by so many who re-read it each holiday season, including me.
Savor the stunning illustrations as you follow a boy who travels to the North Pole to learn the power of believing in the spirit of Christmas as he finds a special gift under the Christmas tree. It’s pure magic.
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
Skipping Christmas is the book upon which the movie Christmas With the Kranks is based.
Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip everything Christmas one year. Come December 25, they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But skipping Christmas isn’t easy in their town or family, and their plan comes to a humorous head.
Grisham delivers a well-written, comedic book that’s become a holiday classic. The movie is also great!
The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
The Tailor of Gloucester is about a poor, tired tailor struggling to survive in his cold workshop over a hard winter while working towards the Mayor of Gloucester’s wedding on Christmas Day.
Luckily, some very generous mice are there to help him (even in the presence of his cat) have a holiday celebration.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
Filled with memorable Christmas book quotes, The Night Before Christmas has been read as one of the best bedtime stories on Christmas Eve (or, as Icelanders call it — Jolabokaflod), particularly by generations of families to feel the magic of Santa’s work while awaiting his arrival.
Related Christmas Book Posts
If you enjoyed this post on the best classic Christmas books, you will love these posts:
- New Books About Christmas
- Christmas Romance Novels
- Best Young Adult Christmas Books
- Best Christmas Book Club Books
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
