With Madeline, Auntie Claus and Strega Nona, we list our top favorite Christmas children's books that we are still pulling off of our shelves for a quick read.
As the adult world creeps closer, college kids, like myself, tend to revert to their childhood. Soon the little things we grew up with, became the big things. When finals are over and home is in our grasp, that home-cooked meal or that annual movie marathon leaves us with tunnel vision and smiles.
I grew up with the entire holiday package, but my favorite was the basket of holiday books that my mom set out every year. I made a list of my top Christmas books that make me feel nostalgic.
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Madeline’s Christmas, by Ludwig Bemelmans. Why I love it: That old house in Paris that is covered in vines gives a Christmas twist on the surprisingly pleasant orphan, Madeline. The story has neither a religious obligation nor Santa-figure to save the day. We have ourselves and those that love us; if that’s good enough for Madeline, it’s good enough for us.
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The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. Why I love it: The movie had more of an impression on our generation than the book ever will. If I were to read this today, I’d imagine Tom Hanks’ voice in the pages. Whether it’s Santa Claus or your dream job, we all still need to believe.
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Auntie Claus, by Elise Primavera. Why I love it: Santa Claus’s sister is a hip lady, and this book brought such modern reality to Santa and all his mysticality.
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Merry Christmas, Strega Nona, by Tomie dePaola. Why I love it: Strega Nona hits home for me. The little old Italian lady gives Christmas a run for her money. As Strega Nona prepares for Christmas, and nothing is going right. Some years we understand how the holidays become massive chaos. It’s not until it’s over we take a step back and realize masses of Christmas do not matter, but simple is sometimes better.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss. Why I love it: When you hear horror stories of housewives fighting for TVs at a Wal-Mart on Black Friday, the commercialization of Christmas is real. Bring home gifts that matter more than face-value this Christmas. That’s what the Grinch really would want in the end.
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The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore. Why we love it: Movies and comedy routines have skillfully incorporated this classic poem throughout the years. The actual poem leaves spotty imprints on the general public’s memory. It can all be brought back with one read, including this edition as a black-and-white pop-up book.
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The Nightmare Before Christmas: 20th Anniversary Edition, by Tim Burton. Why I love it: Tim Burton is a respectfully creepy visionary our generation grew up with. Burton tells the story of Jack Skellington through illustrations only he could dream up. Our struggles for what we dream and what we are given in life can be the anguish we hold within us. Trial and error will only tell us how by casting out our failures and grasping that success.
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A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Why I love it: Ever since the book’s creation, the classic has been twisted and interpreted through entertainment every which way. We must become relevant in society in a positive way by being generous and sincere. I like this version because the illustrator is Brett Helquist, illustrator of the Series of Unfortunate Events books.
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Country Angel Christmas, by Tomie dePaola. Why I love it: This story incorporates St. Nicholas, which is rare in Christmas stories, and I like that. The story sounds weird with its, “angel children,” but it’s done in a cute way. After all, this is a children’s book, which can’t be as dissected as adults wish it to be.
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The Mitten, by Jan Brett. Why I love it: This is isn’t a Christmas tale, but a winter one. A boy with a lost white mitten becomes a new home for various animals. I like the story because it’s a harmless and familiar story. Plus the art is wonderful.
(photos via amazon.com)
