STS Christmas Story Recommendations

What is your favorite Christmas story?

If you’re ready to discover a new seasonal favorite for every age in your household, look no further than the Story Teller Squad’s Christmas reading recommendations!

For the whole family, Tracy Popolizio recommends the timeless classic, A Christmas Carol. If you haven’t read it, check it out, or the plethora of movie versions if you’re the watching type. Muppets Christmas Carol is a must-watch around this time of year in our family.

While Dicken’s is classic, perhaps you’re looking for something written in the last century. Keep reading!

For the middle grade readers in your family, Michelle Walsh and I recommend The Christmas Pony, by Melody Carlson. This story is adorable. Ever since Lucy’s father died, it’s been hard to make ends meet. With the Depression going on, and not many renters at her family’s boarding house, Lucy knows a pony is probably not going to appear in her barn that year. When a glamorous movie star wannabe and her handsome driver end up stranded in Lucy’s town, Lucy jumps at the chance to invite them stay with her family. Veronica is beautiful and exciting and wears the prettiest clothes. Lucy can really see her on the silver screen. But it’s George, the driver, who really captures Lucy’s attention. Could he and her mama maybe, well, you know, fall in love? Veronica, however, has other plans and lays her hooks into George. Lucy knows she wants a lot of things (a pony, a new daddy, the part of an angel in the Christmas pageant), and maybe God won’t give them all to her, but if she could just see Mama smile, that would be enough. This one is perfect for the whole family to enjoy together.

For the YA readers in your family, Jill Willis recommends Mele Kalikimaka, by Taylor Bennett. Shortly after moving to Hawaii following her mother’s death, Olivia becomes friends with Jazz and Brander. Now, Olivia is facing her first Christmas without her mom. She throws herself into Christmas preparations, trying to make the holiday special for her little sister and her best friend, Jazz, who has never had a traditional Christmas. But when a special ornament is broken, it feels like Christmas will never be the same. As Olivia races around trying to check everything off her list, she may discover a few things along the way that can’t be wrapped.

And of course, we can’t forget our own Laurie Germaine and her Tinsel series! They are nothing short of delightful. Also, all the Christmas-isms she throws in are sure to make you smile.

Tinsel in a Tangle: Tinsel is not an ordinary elf. She’s tall,—like human tall—clumsy, and accident-prone. But she desperately wants to do something that matters. To top it all off, she starts having feelings for Niklas, Santa’s grandson. But romance between Santa’s family and the elves is verboten. Read Tinsel in a Tangle to find out how she overcomes mistakes, discovers her self-worth, and navigates forbidden love.

Tinsel in a Twist: Tinsel is at it again. After being kicked off the Minor Flight Team, she and Niklas travel to the Christmas outpost in Germany. But their old enemy, Krampus, is threatening Christmas. The Silver Reindeer has been spotted in Germany, and they need Tinsel to talk to him and get his help to defeat Krampus. Trouble is, she’s losing her gift of talking to reindeer. Throw in divisive relatives and Niklas’ beautiful ex-fiancee, and Tinsel might be in the worst tangle she’s ever been in.

For the adults in your house, Gretchen Carlson recommends Christmas Roses, by Amanda Cabot. Gretchen says, “This is a light romance set in 1882 in the Wyoming territory. Celia Anderson doesn’t have a husband on her Christmas list. But when a traveling carpenter finds lodging at her boarding house, she admits that she might remarry if she found the right man–the kind of man who would bring her roses for Christmas. It would take a miracle, though, to find roses during a harsh Wyoming winter.” I’m definitely putting this one on my list.   

What Christmas books would you add to this list? Comment below. And whatever you read this Christmas season, we pray you have a very blessed Christmas.

Happy Reading!! The Story Teller Squad