The holiday season is the perfect time to cozy up by the fireplace with a festive book. Stories set during the Christmas season often share heartwarming messages about family, generosity, and finding joy in the simple things. For many readers, the magic of Christmas can be found between the pages of a beloved book. From Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol to tales like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Christmas-themed literature holds a special place in the hearts of both young and old.
This article explores some of the most popular and enduring Christmas books and stories from across genres that capture the spirit of the holidays. The list includes classics from famous authors like Truman Capote and Louisa May Alcott, children’s books from Dr. Seuss and Chris Van Allsburg, as well as lesser-known gems touching on Christmas themes. Whether you’re looking for a funny satire, a magical children’s tale, a heartwarming memory of Christmas past, a mystery, or a thought-provoking story that reveals the true meaning of the season, you’re sure to find something literary to get you into the holiday spirit within these pages. Grab a warm drink, settle into your chair, and enjoy losing yourself in the pages of these beloved Christmas books – ’tis the season for reading!
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Published in 1843, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of the most beloved and well-known Christmas stories of all time. The novella tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter and miserly old man who undergoes a profound transformation after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future on Christmas Eve. Through his journeys with the spirits, Scrooge comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas—love, kindness, and generosity. Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol with the intention of encouraging compassion and charity during the holiday season, and the story continues to inspire the Christmas spirit over 175 years later. With its messages of redemption and goodwill, memorable characters like Tiny Tim, and Scrooge’s iconic “Bah, humbug!”, A Christmas Carol is a quintessential Christmas book that deserves to be read and shared every holiday season.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
The Polar Express is a 1985 children’s book by American author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg. The book tells the story of a young boy who boards a magical train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. After befriending other children on the train and enjoying hot chocolate and cookies, the boy arrives at the North Pole and receives a special gift from Santa Claus. He eventually falls asleep on the train ride home, only to wake up on Christmas morning and find the bells from Santa’s sleigh under the tree, confirming that his journey was real. With its messages about believing in the spirit of Christmas and beautifully atmospheric illustrations, The Polar Express has become a modern Christmas classic. It highlights the wonders of childhood innocence and imagination and encourages readers of all ages to have faith in things, even when they seem impossible.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The Grinch is one of the most iconic Christmas characters in popular culture, thanks to the 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas by beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. The rhyming story follows a grumpy, anti-Christmas Grinch who decides to steal all the Christmas presents and decorations from the happy Whos of Whoville. After taking everything from the village on Christmas Eve, the Grinch expects the Whos to be miserable on Christmas morning. But instead, they joyfully sing Christmas carols together, proving that the holiday spirit has nothing to do with material things. Realizing that Christmas means more than just gifts and feasting, the Grinch’s “small heart grew three sizes that day” as he returns all of the stolen items and carves the roast beast for the Whos to enjoy. With its themes of acceptance, understanding, and the true meaning of Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a fun and meaningful tale for the whole family.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
While not exclusively a Christmas story, Little Women contains some of literature’s most cherished scenes of 19th-century Christmas celebrations. Louisa May Alcott’s famous 1868 novel about the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—includes chapters describing the family’s humble Christmas breakfast, surprise gifts from their neighbor Mr. Laurence, and heartfelt wishes for their mother. Alcott wrote about Christmas with such joy and spirit that it leaps off the page and transports readers back to Christmases past. Scenes like the girls waking up early Christmas morning, bursting with excitement to open gifts lovingly created by Marmee, capture the magic and innocence of childhood holidays. The March family’s old-fashioned Christmas gatherings, with candles glowing, carols sung, and pilfered feasts devoured, exemplify cozy, nostalgic holiday cheer. Little Women is a wonderful book to read at Christmas time, reminding us of the true gifts of family, hope, and love.
Once Upon A Time, Santa Had No Elves by Dr. David Charney
Once Upon A Time, Santa Had No Elves tells the imaginative backstory of how Santa first gained the assistance of his loyal band of elf helpers each Christmas. Through colorful illustrations and rhyming text in the book, author David Charney and illustrator Blueberry Illustrations bring to life this familiar Christmas holiday legend in a way that will enchant young readers. The book offers an enjoyable reading experience while also imparting deeper messages about collaboration, care for others, and determination. In this review, I will provide a detailed summary and analysis of the key elements and themes within the story.
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
This semi-autobiographical novella by Truman Capote, originally published in 1956, reminisces about a childhood Christmas in the 1930s spent with his elder cousin. The seven-year-old narrator, referred to as “Buddy,” describes the humble but heartwarming traditions he and his cousin carry out in the days leading up to Christmas on their rural Alabama home. They gather nuts and berries to bake fruitcakes to send to acquaintances, go searching for their “Christmas tree,” which is really just a tall weed, and enjoy a simple Christmas dinner of roasted turkey and fruitcake. Through his nostalgic lens, Capote paints a poignant portrait of childhood innocence, the strength of familial bonds, and finding joy in making the most of what you have. A Christmas Memory captures the simplicity, magic, and coziness of Christmases past in beautiful poetic prose.
Little House Christmas Treasury by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This 1989 book compiles Christmas stories, memories, poems, songs, and activities from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s famous “Little House” autobiographical children’s books. It provides a charming glimpse into pioneer Christmas celebrations on the American frontier in the late 19th century. Christmas in the Big Woods, Christmas in the Little House, and Christmas in Plum Creek let readers experience the Ingalls family’s holiday preparations through Laura’s eyes, like hand-making corn husk dolls, spinning tops and playing fiddle for Christmas pageants. Descriptions of stockings filled with peppermint candy, fresh-cut evergreens hung on the walls, and the joy of giving homemade gifts capture the magic of Christmas in simpler times. The book also includes recipes, songs, poems, and tips for readers to plan their own old-fashioned Christmas activities and crafts. For anyone who loves Wilder’s work, the Little House Christmas Treasury is a perfect dose of nostalgia for the holiday season.
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
The poet Dylan Thomas nostalgically recounts his childhood Christmases in this prose work originally recorded for radio broadcast in 1952. Set in a snowy seaside Welsh village during the early 1900s, Thomas lovingly describes Christmas as a magical, sensory experience through the eyes of a young boy. He lists the sounds of Christmas—uncles muttering prayers before tucking into the Christmas feast, presents hidden by aunts rattling in their rooms, the crackling of enormous fires. Thomas’s detailed descriptions of roasting turkey, sticky sweets, gifts of skates and toy trains, and dancing to carols create a palpable sense of childlike wonder, warmth, and togetherness. Underlying it all is a pervading awareness of holiday enchantment that fades with time as one grows up. Thomas’s lyrical writing in this book makes Christmas come alive with humor, joy, and nostalgia. For many, this story captures the very essence of Christmas.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
O. Henry’s famous short story, The Gift of the Magi, epitomizes the spirit of Christmas through its themes of sacrifice and love. First published in 1905, it follows young newlyweds Jim and Della, who, despite their poverty, wish to buy special Christmas gifts for one another. Unbeknownst to Jim, Della sells her long, beautiful hair to buy him a platinum fob chain for his treasured watch. Jim, meanwhile, sells his watch to buy jeweled combs for Della’s hair. Their gifts now rendered useless yet full of meaning, the couple realizes that the sacrificial gifts symbolize their endless love for one another, which is the greatest gift of all. O. Henry concludes with the memorable line “of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest” imparting that wisdom, generosity, and true love are more important than any material gift. This poignant Christmas tale continues to teach invaluable lessons about what the holiday season is really all about.
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle
This 1892 Sherlock Holmes Christmas mystery short story by Arthur Conan Doyle is set in London on a frosty winter night just after Christmas. When a battered hat and a valuable blue gemstone—the blue carbuncle of the tale’s title—are presented to the iconic detective, Holmes must use his legendary powers of deduction to track down the jewel’s original owner. With twists and turns involving a Christmas goose, a hidden note, and false identities, Holmes ultimately unravels an intricate plot and unmasks the real thief behind the carbuncle’s disappearance. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle combines Doyle’s skillful storytelling with Holmes’ masterful character at his best. An entertaining dose of Christmas intrigue, this classic whodunit makes perfect holiday-season reading.
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum, famous for penning The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, wrote this 1902 children’s book detailing the fictional life and origins of Santa Claus. As a foundling baby raised in the mythical Forest of Burzee, Santa is given the name Neclaus and granted immortality. The ever-kind Neclaus devotes his life to making toys for children and is eventually given the mantle of Santa Claus. The book recounts Santa’s many adventures delivering toys down through the ages as his legend grows. Full of whimsical episodes explaining Christmas traditions, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus created the modern mythology of Santa Claus that endures today. The warm-hearted story reminds us that performing acts of love and generosity for others is the essence of the Christmas spirit and one of the best book you need to read this holiday season.
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie’s legendary Belgian detective Hercule Poirot solves festive murders in several of her mysteries, including this 1938 novel set during the Christmas holiday. When Poirot is called to investigate the grisly murder of a tyrannical family patriarch on Christmas Eve, he must sift through the many motives and secrets of the man’s relatives, who were all present in the manor house. The book features Christie’s classic hallmarks—red herrings, dramatic plot twists, skilled detective work, and masterful denouements. Christmas provides an ironic and darkly comedic backdrop in this book as Poirot unravels the dysfunctional family’s web of lies and deceit to reveal the killer. Fans of Christie and classic murder mysteries will enjoy seeing Poirot use his “little grey cells” to untangle this crime that takes “goodwill to all men” quite irreligiously.
The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens
One of Charles Dickens’ Christmas novellas, The Cricket on the Hearth, was first published in 1845. It is a story filled with humor, pathos, and Dickens’ signature social criticism, all revolving around the value of family and the idealized Victorian home. The tale centers on John Peerybingle, a kindhearted carrier, his much younger wife Dot, and their baby. Unbeknownst to them, a helpful toymaker and a mysterious cricket who seems to act as the household guardian spirit both work behind the scenes to bring the little family together after difficult events threaten their happiness. Dickens considered The Cricket on the Hearth one of his “most cheerful” Christmas stories and felt it demonstrated that love, trust, and unselfishness should be the heart of any marriage. Full of charming Dickensian wit and wisdom, this lesser-known work deserves to be included in the Christmas canon.
The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
In this 1902 Christmas story written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, a poor tailor needs to finish an elaborate waistcoat commissioned by the mayor of Gloucester by Christmas Day. But the tailor finds himself bedridden and unable to complete the work. With the mayor’s birthday ball approaching, it seems the tailor will fail to finish the waistcoat in time—until some unexpected helpers arrive on Christmas Eve. Potter’s story was inspired by an old English legend about a tailor aided by mice secretly stitching clothing overnight. Her beautiful illustrations bring the tale to life in vivid detail, which readers young and old will enjoy. With themes of kindness, compassion, and believing in magic, The Tailor of Gloucester is a heartwarming Christmas story from a beloved children’s author.
One Christmas by Truman Capote
This short story first appeared in the 1982 collection A Christmas Memory and centers on a young boy, Buddy, sent to spend the holiday in New Orleans with his seldom-seen father. Left alone on Christmas Eve while his father carouses with friends, Buddy wanders the unfamiliar city streets, observing others’ holiday revelry from the outside. Capote evocatively captures the melancholy and maturity beyond his years that isolated Buddy exhibits during his lonely nocturnal ramble. But Christmas Day brings a surprise gift—Buddy’s father spends the morning trying awkwardly but touchingly to connect and celebrate with his son by taking him to the movies and the French Quarter. Though a bittersweet tale, One Christmas shows that the desire to revive lost affection can occasionally manifest at Christmastime. Capote’s elegant prose sensitively renders the complexity of family bonds.
The Gift of the Three Wise Men by O. Henry
Another Christmas-themed short story penned by O. Henry in 1906, The Gift of the Three Wise Men follows Jim, a poor widower and new father struggling to make ends meet in New York City before Christmas. Desperate to buy medicine for his sick baby and presents, Jim sells his pocket watch—a cherished gift from his late wife—for $21. With the money, Jim purchases gifts for his daughter and medicine for his son, only to have the gifts and the rest of the money cruelly stolen. Fortunately, Christmas Eve brings an unexpected visit from three kind strangers bearing odd gifts that ultimately save the day with a profound lesson about sacrifice, humanity, and true generosity. As with The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry proves a master of the poignant surprise ending in this touching Christmas morality tale.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann
E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 fairy tale is the original story that inspired Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet, The Nutcracker. In Hoffmann’s imaginative telling, a young girl named Marie receives a nutcracker shaped like a man from her beloved uncle Drosselmeyer on Christmas Eve. That night, Marie dreams that her nutcracker will come to life to defend her from the evil seven-headed Mouse King before turning into a handsome prince. Though a fantastical story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King explores darker themes about the struggles between good and evil along with Hoffmann’s musings about imagination and the world of the uncanny. However, the Christmas setting also lends the story magic and enchantment that delight readers of all ages and provide the basis for countless adaptations over the centuries.
Christmas at Thompson Hall by Anthony Trollope
This 19th-century Christmas novella by celebrated English author Anthony Trollope offers a lively depiction of a Victorian Christmas house party. When cousin Charles and his friend are invited to spend Christmas at Thompson Hall by their wealthy relations, they find the manor filled with food, drink, music, dancing, games, flirtations, and gossip aplenty. The holiday celebrations contain all the charm, humor, and subtle social satire that Trollope excelled at portraying. The story affectionately skewers upper-class pretensions and societal expectations surrounding marriage and money. But Christmas warmth and generosity win out in the end, with holiday cheer triumphing despite family squabbles and miscommunications. For Trollope fans, Christmas at Thompson Hall provides a window into how Christmas festivities were enjoyed by the gentry in pre-modern England.
Aunt Susanna’s Thanksgiving Dinner by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Canadian author L.M. Montgomery is best known for Anne of Green Gables, but she also wrote several charming Christmas-themed short stories. Aunt Susanna’s Thanksgiving Dinner, originally published in 1915, follows Susanna and her nieces’ humorous attempts to host an old-fashioned large family Christmas dinner despite mishaps and the usual odd Montgomery characters. The story humorously chronicles the comedic chaos that ensues when trying to manage formal holiday meals. But Susanna’s indomitable spirit and thoughtfulness shine through despite the antics of her family. Montgomery perfectly captures the warmth, sentimentality, and well-meaning intentions underlying a traditional Canadian Christmas. An entertaining and heartwarming glimpse of Christmas past.
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck
This short story by Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck is a bittersweet Christmas tale that first appeared in Woman’s Home Companion magazine in 1955. It tells of a middle-aged man named Rob’s memories of a special Christmas morning when he was a young boy surprised to discover his hardened farmer father expressing his love through a thoughtful gift. Interweaving the present with reminiscences of the past, the story touches on themes of communication, generational divides, and regret. Simple yet emotional, Christmas Day in the Morning suggests it’s never too late for reconciliation and grateful understanding between family members. The story reminds us to appreciate loved ones in the present.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen
Beloved fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen crafted several notable Christmas stories, including The Little Match Girl and The Fir Tree. But his fantastical tale, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, also makes perfect holiday reading. Written in 1838, it follows the adventures of a brave one-legged tin soldier who loves a paper dancing girl from afar. After the soldier is blown from a window and swallowed by a fish, he still remains steadfast, finally being melted by a fire the next Christmas Eve. The bittersweet story exalts virtuous qualities like dedication, perseverance, and unrequited adoration. While containing moments of peril, Andersen’s gorgeous writing gives the tale an air of melancholy romance, perfect for quiet nights by the Christmas tree.
Christmas Won’t Be Christmas Without Any Presents by P. G. Wodehouse
This humorous short story by British author P.G. Wodehouse was published in the collection The Clicking of Cuthbert in 1922. It centers on Bobby Wickham, a popular young lady who decides to punish her wealthy suitors for being overly materialistic at Christmas. Bobby accepts expensive jewels and furs from several admirers, only to donate the lavish gifts to charity just before Christmas Day. While the clueless men continue to shower her with extravagant presents, Bobby passes them on to the needy, all while maintaining her cheerful charm. When the suitors learn of Bobby’s good deeds on Christmas morning, they are dumbfounded yet forced to evaluate their shallow values and priorities. Wodehouse pokes fun at upper-class frivolity and greed through Bobby’s antics while commending her kind-hearted, philanthropic spirit, which embodies the essence of Christmas giving. Written with Wodehouse’s signature wit, the story is a humorous reminder that money and materialism should not define the Christmas spirit.
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark is a delightful children’s book by English author Jill Tomlinson, published in 1968. The story follows Plop, a young owlet who is frightened by the dark and thus afraid to do normal owl things like flying at night. Through encounters with a Girl Guide, a Scops Owl, and a Laughter of Green Woodpeckers, Plop learns important facts about the dark and discovers ways there is nothing to fear. When Plop heroically flies into the night sky to retrieve the Christmas barn owl and saves the day, he overcomes his phobia and sees the dark as his friend. With engaging animal characters and gentle encouragement toward bravery, Tomlinson’s story uses the Christmas setting to share an uplifting message about facing one’s fears. The book can help young and old readers alike appreciate the beauty of darkness, especially during long winter nights around the Christmas holidays.
The Burglar’s Christmas by Willa Cather
This short story by American author Willa Cather was first published in a newspaper in 1912 and later appeared in her collection, Youth and the Bright Medusa. It thoughtfully examines themes of compassion and the true meaning of Christmas through an unexpected encounter between two men. On Christmas Eve, college student Jim decides to rob the home of Mr. Henry, a wealthy but isolated man. Yet when Henry catches Jim about to steal from him, his kind reaction shocks the young thief, gently prodding Jim to reflect on his choices. The experience transforms how Jim sees Henry, himself, and the world, with Cather poetically exploring the minds of both complex characters. The Burglar’s Christmas defies expectations about human nature and crime, suggesting we should withhold harsh judgment toward others during the Christmas season of hope and goodwill.
Bertie’s Christmas Eve by Saki
Reginald “Saki” Hector Munro was a British writer known for his witty, mischievous short stories skewering Edwardian society. Bertie’s Christmas Eve, originally published in a 1910 collection, follows spoiled dilettante Bertie Steffink on Christmas Eve as he wanders London critiquing the holiday festivities around him. But when Bertie decides to obediently visit his fearsome Aunt Charlotte, events take an unexpected turn involving mistaken identities, confrontations, and hijinks. Saki delightfully crafts an escalating comedy of errors that puts the sneering Bertie in his place with deft humor and irony. The Christmas Eve setting provides the backdrop for Bertie to learn satirical lessons about family obligations, the judgment of others, and even getting kidnapped by criminals! For fans of tongue-in-cheek Christmas tales.
Old Christmas by Washington Irving
This charming essay by Washington Irving was published as part of his The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon collection in 1820. It depicts an idyllic English country Christmas celebration experienced by Irving during a stay in England. He describes a Squire Bracebridge who hosts a traditional Christmas at his manor house, including a Yule log, a wassail bowl, a medieval-style feast, and a lord of misrule. Irving’s elegant prose romanticizes Old Christmas traditions of Merry England originating in the Middle Ages, evoking a genial, harmonious past. But the piece also reflects Irving’s theme throughout Sketch Book of depicting change in society. The patrician Squire upholds ancient customs as a protest against modernizing influences taking hold in England. Irving’s nostalgic portrayal of a timeless, quintessential Christmas proved hugely influential in reviving and preserving quaint holiday traditions.
The Story of O-Tei by Grace James
The Story of O-Tei is a short Christmas tale from Japanese fairy tale and folklore collector Grace James, published in 1912. It follows O-Tei, a kind, skilled servant for a wealthy lord who promises to marry her in a year if she can demonstrate mastery of a skill. After praying to the goddess Kwannon for guidance, O-Tei begins training crickets for their song. Months later, on Christmas Eve, the lord forgets his vow but is reminded by the crickets’ singing, ordered by O-Tei. After honoring his promise, O-Tei releases the crickets in gratitude to Kwannon, sharing her good fortune. This haunting, lyrical story illustrates Japanese Buddhist values of patience, skill, humility, and reverence for nature through the Christmas setting—a rarity in Japanese literature. The themes of justice rewarded and compassion between classes also give this tale universal appeal.
Christmas Every Day by William Dean Howells
In this 1892 short story by American realist writer William Dean Howells, a young girl named Susie wishes it could be Christmas every day of the year because she is so happy receiving presents. After an angel grants her wish out of impatience, Susie ends up enduring endless Christmases as her family descends into exhaustion and despair, trying to recreate the holiday joy every day. Finally appreciating the true meaning of Christmas as a singular time of goodness and generosity, Susie learns her lesson about greed and excess. Though a bit moralistic, Howells wrote the fairy tale satire to skewer the selfish robber-baron mindset and commercialization of Christmas already taking root in the late 19th century. Its timeless message about being grateful for what you have and living in moderation still resonates in the age of holiday consumerism.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
No list of Christmas stories could be complete without mentioning this iconic 1823 poem that largely shaped the modern mythology of Santa Claus in American culture. Officially titled A Visit from St. Nicholas but now popularly known by its opening line, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem envisions St. Nick as a jolly plump man sporting twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks, and a white beard. Moore’s descriptions of Saint Nicholas “dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,” flying through the air on a miniature sleigh led by eight reindeer to deliver toys on Christmas Eve fixed this cheerful image of Santa in the public imagination. The poem’s whimsical anapestic meter and clever rhymes like “kerchief” and “cap” have given it memorable singability passed down for generations. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas deserves credit for many now-standard Santa details, bringing holiday magic to millions.
So in summary, these beloved Christmas stories contain timeless messages about hope, generosity, and the meaningful essence of the holiday spirit that resonate regardless of era or age. Tales like O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Capote’s A Christmas Memory, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas share themes of sacrifice, redemption, belief, and compassion that remind us what the Christmas season is truly about. Children’s books like The Polar Express and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus capture the childlike wonder and magical possibility that come with Christmas morning. Historical tales transport us to Christmases past and the ideals of bygone days, from Victorian celebrations to pioneer frontier warmth. Other stories simply provide humor, merriment, mystery, and a sense of connection to beloved traditions. All offer enjoyment and inspiration as the nights grow long and the chill turns to Christmas cheer. Curling up with these literary Christmas books allows both young and old to experience the holiday anew.
