Some of my most cherished times during the holidays are evenings when supper is cleared away, Christmas lights come on, candles are lit and we all snuggle up on the couch to read a Christmas book from the crate kept beneath the tree. Each year I add one or two new books to our selection. I adore children's books, so I started the collection before we even had kids--actually before we were married. And every year we read and re-read these beloved family treasures.I can't attest to their value as great literature, but they are meaningful to us because we've read them together. Some were gifts, others garage sale finds, some from childhood (his and mine) and others straight off the bookstore shelf. No matter where they've come from, they've brought us joy because they've brought us together night after night, year upon year. They are shared experiences--memories made. We'd like to share a few of our favorites with you and hope you'll tell us about some of yours.
Christmas Day in the Morning, Pearl S. Buck (A heart-warming tale of a boy who comes to understand the sacrificial nature of love in giving his farmer father a special gift on Christmas.)
Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas, Holly Hobbie (We love Toot and Puddle! Beautiful illustrations.)
An Orange for Frankie, Patricia Polacco (Wonderful illustrations and poignant story.)
Bethlehem, Fiona French (Stained glass-style illustrations to the New King James' text of the birth of Christ. Wonderfully reverent.)
Good King Wenceslas, John M. Neale and Tim Ladwig (The text to the traditional carol is cleverly illustrated plus historical notes in the back. Great for young knights in training!)
Who Is Coming to Our House?, Joseph Slate (The animals in the stable prepare for a special guest. Simple, sing-song text, but gorgeous illustrations!) 
The Little Drummer Boy, Ezra Jack Keats (We have several books based on songs, and this one is a favorite of mine with Keats' unique and vibrant illustrations.)
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats (A Caldecott winner and wonderful wintertime story!)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara Robinson (I get something new out of this rich story every year! A timeless chapter book for the whole family.)
Then, some evenings, the best stories are the ones from our own childhood--no illustrations, just the pictures we paint with words . . . Stories about sisters stuck in snow tunnels, iced-over basketball courts for skating, exploring the frozen forest behind the house, snowmen and angels made in fresh Iowa snow, Mom's hot chocolate with toast to dip, blizzards and canceled school, secretly opening the presents and then taping them shut again . . . Children never tire of these kinds of stories, too!
