Discover the ten most popular Christmas books of all time here. This list of books for children and adults breaks down the most famous Christmas books you will want to squeeze in during this short holiday season. You’ll have a festive Christmas with these beloved literary hits! Experience their magic below.
List of the Most Popular Christmas Books for Kids and Adults
For Children and Adults
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
- Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
- Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann
- The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg
- The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
For Adults Only
- The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
- One Day in December by Josie Silver
- Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
- Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
Reviews of The Most Famous Holiday Books
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the most popular Christmas story 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
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.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The classic 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 the Grinch Stole Christmas Book Quotes | Grinch Christmas Tree
Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
Miracle on 34th Street is a bestselling, award-winning Christmas book for kids and adults 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.
One Day in December by Josie Silver
In One Day in December, a British woman sees the man of her dreams and is shocked to learn he’s her best friend’s new boyfriend. Over the next ten years, this unlikely love triangle is teased out.
This bestselling Christmas book for adults has remained popular over the last few years. It’s the perfect mix of Love Actually, Bridget Jones, and Serendipity!
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
In Skipping Christmas, 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 modern holiday classic.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
Filled with memorable Christmas book quotes, the #1 bestseller 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.
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
Kelley Quinn owns the Nantucket Winter Street Inn and is the proud father of four grown children whose personal lives are a mess. Christmas approaches, and Kelley walks in on Mitzi kissing the Inn’s Santa Claus, bringing all the families’ drama to a head. It becomes up to Kelley’s first wife to attempt to save Christmas.
Fans of Elin Hilderbrand’s beach reads continue to devour Winter Street each holiday season. It offers everything readers could want in a Christmas novel — family drama, a Nantucket setting, romance, and holiday spirit.
The three remaining books in the Winter series are Winter Stroll, Winter Storms, and Winter Solstice, and they follow the family over each subsequent Christmas. It’s great for a long-term indulgence.
Related Posts: Popular Elin Hilderbrand Books | Elin Hilderbrand Book List
Recap
If you’re busy this holiday season but want to indulge in festive reads, the most popular Christmas books are a great place to start.
Of these books, start with the transformative tale of A Christmas Carol and the whimsical lines of The Night Before Christmas, which continue to sprinkle the season’s magic into our lives.
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remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
