I have been reading the Best Christ-Centered Christmas Books for months now looking for the very BEST Christmas books and the good news is I have found some treasures! This post is part of Simple Short Christian Book Reviews and will provide you with a plethora of excellent books that will encourage your faith this season too!
Books are a wonderful way to slow down and bring peace to your family this season. Making each moment count while still keeping the focus on Christ who is after all the reason we celebrate Christmas.
I am very excited to share “the list” with you. I have to admit I had so much fun reading these Christ-centered Christmas Books throughout the year in preparation for this post. I was pleasantly surprised by what I read and I sincerely desire that you will find just the help you need to keep the focus on Jesus Christ this Christmas Season.
The BEST Christ-Centered Christmas Books
CHILDREN’S FAVORITE
Firstly, Once Upon the Very First Christmas is beautifully written and illustrated. The children and I absolutely loved the rhyming retelling of the birth of Christ! The best news is that author Rory Feek has created a Biblically accurate book, a very rare thing indeed. This charming story of children from a one-room schoolhouse’s Christmas play will become a family heirloom! Print out your FREE Activity Guide HERE!
CHRISTMAS CRAFTS
The First Christmas Origami is not what you traditionally think of when you imagine a book about Christmas crafts and that is just why I liked it. Something different from the same old, same old. You can set aside a few hours to do the whole origami Nativity or make one element every day. This is fun for children and adults too. This book could also double as a family Advent devotional. Have fun!
CHILDREN
The Last Straw is a beautifully illustrated Christmas book that I just happened to read at a friend’s house over Thanksgiving. I fell in love with this grumpy camel named Hoshmakaka…I guarantee you will too. Hoshmakaka is trusted with the task of bringing gifts to baby Jesus across the hot desert and oh, what a trip he has! Christ-focused and enjoyable for all children even the young at heart.
FAMILY READ-A-LOUD
As you can see from the list I could not pick just one book, alas this is often my problem. Any book by Arnold Ytreeide is a winner in my opinion. I am emotionally attached to Jotham’s Journey as our family has read it over and over. It is an absolute treasure! Arnold’s other books for Advent are just as important, endearing, and well-written. These are books that you can’t just check out of the library but must own. Well worth every minute you spend as a family reading these Christ-centered gems and you will be making cherished family memories too.
Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent
Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent
Bartholomew’s Passage: A Family Story for Advent
Tabitha’s Travels: A Family Story for Advent
CLASSIC
The story of The Christmas Carol is a very special book in our family. It may not speak the word Jesus in its text but it is filled with Christian principles and practices. Carol tells the story of a bitter old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation resulting from a supernatural visit by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. It will keep your children’s attention and make an absolutely wonderful read-aloud!
FAMILY DEVOTION
Christ In Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration has been around for a while. This is not a silky smooth, glossy-colored kind of devotional. It has however stood the test of time and the stories and scriptures will hold your family’s attention even without all the flashy elements. If you are interested in a Christ-centered Christmas and truly preparing your family for the birth of Christ then this family devotion is for you!
Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration
COOKBOOK
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Cookbook really is the ultimate guide to delicious cooking. Healthy and Nutritious Recipes that taste AMAZING! As a side note, many of the recipes are allergy-friendly or can be made with simple adaptions.
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Cookbook
HOME DECOR
Country Living Christmas Joys: Decorating * Crafts *Recipes is my favorite new book for Christmas Decorating. I loved every single photograph and DIY project featured. This book is both well laid out and well written. Country Living is a classic and I enjoy reading every single one of their publications. As a side note…I found something blatantly missing from every Christmas decor book that I reviewed. There was not even one manger scene AKA Nativity Set or as the French say Creche in any picture. I have noticed this trend for a while now and I am sure you have too. I would like to challenge you to make Christ the center of your home decor too. Put a Nativity Scene as the focal point of each room you decorate for Christmas this year.
Country Living Christmas Joys: Decorating * Crafts *Recipes
SPIRITUAL
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas is a treasure. Take time this Christmas season to nourish and revive your faith with this encouraging book. You won’t regret spending time with this study from Nancy Guthrie.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas
HOMESCHOOL
12-Day Nativity: Christmas Activities for a Christ-Centered Home is a newly published book that will help you incorporate the Christmas season into your homeschool. The best part is that all the work has been done for you in this excellent 12-day study of the Nativity. Your children will love these family fun activities and so will you. You might even learn a thing or two yourself!
12-Day Nativity: Christmas Activities for a Christ-Centered Home
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Christmas Story
The Story Behind the Song: The Real 12 Days of Christmas
HAPPY READING!
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Blessings,
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Awesome post. Thanks!
Thank you so much, Emily!
You’ve listed some of our family favorites! Thanks for all the godly book reviews!
Sounds like we have a lot in common! Thank you for the kind comment!