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The Elves and the Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm
A poor shoemaker and his wife are down to their last piece of leather when their fortunes change thanks to help from talented elves.
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The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
"When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
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Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
A must-read on Christmas Eve!
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The Fir-Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
A tree can't wait to grow up and achieve great things, rather than appreciate the present.
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The Last Dream of Old Oak by Hans Christian Andersen
An unlikely conversation between and old oak and a mayfly.
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The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
Similar to
The Elves and the Shoemaker, these lovely mice take over sewing for an aged tailor at Christmas time, but have to 'paws' for his cat!
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Christmas Greetings from a Fairy to a Child by Lewis Carroll
A festive holiday poem (
forgetting fairy tricks and elfish play for a moment) from the beloved author of
Alice in Wonderland
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A Letter from Santa Claus by Mark Twain
Twain treats us to his playful, dry wit, in his Santa's response to children's letters.
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The Sprig of Holly by Frank Stockton
A dwarf demands a year of the children's lives in exchange for the last piece of holly. Will they agree?
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The Night After Christmas by Anonymous
A play off the "Twas the Night Before" verses, there's lots of recovering after the year's biggest holiday.
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Christmas Every Day by William Dean Howells
After reading, young children might rethink their wish to have Christmas all the time.
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The True Meaning of Christmas (recited by Linus) from The Bible, King James Version, Luke
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The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
The whole story: youth in the Burzee forest, manhood when he starts his journey with the reindeer, and old age to the mantle of immortality.
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Jimmy Scarecrow's Christmas by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
This scarecrow gets recruited by Santa to scare away polar explorers and spread joy at Christmas time.
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Christmas; or, The Good Fairy by Harriet Beecher Stowe
A precious story about the joy of thoughtful gift-making and giving to appreciative recipients.
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The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin
"A real Christmas baby was not to be lightly named, the whole family agreed on that."
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Cousin Tribulation's Story by Louisa May Alcott
A heartwarming story about an oatmeal parade and "angel-children" who help a family in need.
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The Brownie's Xmas by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
The children give a brownie Christmas for the first time in one thousand years!
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A Snow Man by Anonymous
Nothing more fun than making a big snow man!
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Little Jack Horner by Mother Goose
We couldn't leave out this classic nursery rhyme featuring Christmas pie!
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Papa Panov's Special Christmas by Leo Tolstoy
An old man welcomes strangers into his home, a story of compassion and kindness.
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The Christmas Ball by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
A toe-tapping story about children and fairies dancing under the shade of the Christmas tree.
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Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride by Katharine Lee Bates
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The Snowflake Tree by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
A beautiful winter poem describing a snow-kissed tree.
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A Christmas Dream, and How It Came to be True by Louisa May Alcott
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The Little Thief in the Pantry by Anonymous
During this season where pantries are full of goodies, here's a charming story about a little girl's compassion for a mouse who learns the difference between stealing and giving.
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The Pony Engine and the Pacific Express by William Dean Howells
Who doesn't love a story about trains at Christmas time?
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The Christmas Masquerade by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
What will the parents do when their children get "stuck" in Christmas holiday costumes and become the characters they were only pretending to be?
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Turkeys Turning the Tables by William Dean Howells
A word of caution: after reading, your children might want to set free, rather than eat, turkeys this holiday!
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The Pumpkin-Glory by William Dean Howells
This story is in season anytime between Thanksgiving and the New Year.
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Christmas in Seventeen Seventy Six by Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
Set during the Revolutionary War, a family anxiously awaits their captain-father's return after the surprise Christmas Day attack crossing the Delaware River.
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A Christmas Hamper by Anonymous
A couple clever poems fit for the season.
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A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
Santa is simply ruining their business, and something must be done at once!
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Little Bun Rabbit by L. Frank Baum
Dorothy and a bunny have a discussion about Santa.
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The Legend of Babouscka by Anonymous
A Russian tale of an old lady who got lost on her way to visit the Christ Child. Legend has it, she's still looking, and delivering presents on her way.
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How Christmas Came to the Santa Maria Flats by Elia W. Peattie
How will Santa deliver their presents? The lease says no peddlers or agents can enter the apartment building-- how will be most famous toy peddler get in?
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Round the Yule-Log: Christmas in Norway by Peter Christen Asbjornsen
This Norwegian folk tale is about mischievous trolls who invade the farm every Christmas Eve.
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A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Even young children can reminisce about simpler days of Christmases past.
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Christmas at Fezziwig's Warehouse by Charles Dickens
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Uncle Richard's New Year Dinner by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Nothing melts an old family feud like a home cooked dinner from the heart to start the year off right. By the author of
Anne of Green Gables.
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William's New Year's Day by Richmal Crompton
Imagine if you were eleven years old and got to manage a candy store on New Year's Day!