Books like What Child Is This?

When I was little, I knew Christmas Eve was somehow more significant to our family than Christmas Day. In early evening, we would walk next door to my grandmother’s farmhouse for “Wigilia.” She greeted us with hugs and her double kisses. I remember warm light, voices conversing, and a table spread with delicious food, including fried smelts, my favorite. 

I wish I had understood better at a younger age, how Wigilia was a “vigil” of our family’s faith. Little Owl and the Star: A Christmas Story, with its endearingly simple story and gentle, yet striking illustrations, might prompt such a conversation about this. The little owl has a feeling of “waiting” and accepts an invitation from the star to witness the nativity scene.

This heart-warming tale is a true Christmas classic. A lonely old shoemaker dreams that Jesus will come and visit him, so he eagerly anticipates the event, hoping to make him a special pair of shoes. Instead, his heart is tugged by others in need, and he helps three different people, from a street sweeper to a beggar. Finally, he gives up waiting for Christ to visit and realizes it was only a dream. But then he hears the voice of Jesus and learns that Jesus came to him in every person he helped that day.

This book, like my first recommendation by the same author, is one we read once a year (at Christmas time, of course). The writing makes you feel like you were there when Mary and Joseph took the ride to Jerusalem and delivered the baby Jesus. 

The adventure that the dove has along the way is non-stop excitement and awe. The kids can't wait for the few weeks before Christmas because that's when we crack open this book all over again and read a chapter a night leading up to the big day. It has been a tradition for almost ten years now and counting, and we can't imagine Christmas without the reading of this book. 

Here is a fun story about the author if you care to read further. She was a customer at the organic farm stand where I worked, and when she learned that I had 3 children… show more.

I have read aloud this family-friendly book to my children, one chapter per night in December—every December—for over a decade. The book traces the life of Santa from his origin as Nicholas of Myra, across centuries of history, up to his status as the legendary figure we all know and love today.

As a fictional autobiography, Santa himself narrates the story in the first person, so we get to share his thoughts, emotions, and motivations directly. Santa becomes more than just a magical figure but also a well-developed main character with profound humanity.

This book perfectly blends fact and fiction, history, and mythology, wonder and inspiration all together as it celebrates the Christmas spirit.

This is the lively memoir of a real-life professional Santa Claus! I have volunteered as Santa Claus myself many times, and it is such a great honor, privilege, and responsibility. When you wear the coat and hat, you become the most famous celebrity in the world! Everyone waves and declares their love!

This author is a fantastic Santa Claus who also runs a wheelchair ministry in which he repairs mobility assistance devices for the disabled. He details his path to becoming a Santa and his many touching adventures in the big chair. I appreciate his insight on how we adults can learn valuable lessons about faith and trust by watching children as they interact with Santa Claus, an exemplar of unconditional love and the spirit of Christmas.

“I wish I was any animal but a giraffe,” said Raffi. Disappointment melts through this little(or not so little) guy like butter in the sun. When children set up hope for something and it doesn’t work out, they are devastated. Raffi realizes that while he is not suited for some things, he is just the right answer for another. Where there is a will there is a way.

Yes, that J.R.R. Tolkien. Each year he took a break from Middle-earth to write and illustrate incredible letters from Father Christmas to his and Edith’s four children, John, Michael, Christopher, and Priscilla. Being Tolkien, he created an entire polar world and history in the letters, which feature elves, goblins—who launch a major attack one year—and Father Christmas’s great assistant and companion, North Polar Bear. Here is a high Yuletide adventure from the fantasy Master, himself. And somehow reading it makes you feel more creative yourself.

Ready for a heart-tugging romance set in a snowy Scottish castle? Our noble hero—the Duke of Strathmore—must show his one true lady love that he’s worthy of another shot at winning her heart (having royally cocked up in his younger years). She’s been secretly pining for him too, but can the duke convince her that ‘second chances’ don’t mean ‘second best’? Have your hanky ready.  

How can you not gobble up a series entitled Miss Primm's Secret School for Budding Bluestockings? In this installment, everyone has gone away for the Christmas holidays, leaving our heroine all alone in the rambling mansion. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she’s awoken in the middle of the night by an intruder! This just happens to be Miss Primm’s brother, breaking in to escape a terrible snowstorm, and hurting himself in the process. As Victoria nurses her unwanted guest’s injuries, a little flame begins to warm her heart, but are her feelings reciprocated? I love the chemistry between these two, and the laugh-out-loud banter.

It’s always good to have a book to read during the holidays about the holidays. This book does that and more. The main character Jane’s calamitous life feels like that never-ending Christmas song racing towards the new year. Jane is not sure she will make it in one piece. It is an easy read with lots of action and romance. Because it is divided into 12 crazy moments it is perfect to stop and start this book without having to back up and reread, you just read the next adventure.