22 Powerful Christmas Books for Advent

This powerful fictional Appalachian Christmas tale is passed down from the author’s own grandmother and mother. It is many months before Christmas and this year it is Ruthie’s family’s turn to provide all the people in the village a Christmas tree for Pine Grove Church.

Ruthie and her father ride their horse up to a high cliff on Grandfather Mountain and tag the perfect tree to cut down when Christmas arrives. But that summer, Ruthie’s father is called away to war and while he is gone the family must live on very little money.

Opening in Depression-era New York City, The Carpenter's Gift tells the story of eight-year-old Henry and his father selling Christmas trees. They give a Christmas tree to construction workers building Rockefeller Center and celebrate together.

Through the kindness of the construction workers and neighbors, Henry gets his wish for a nice, warm home to replace his family's drafty shack.

Three wise men of the East, having seen a new star symbolizing the birth of a great king, follow the star to Bethlehem where they present gifts to the newborn Jesus. This beautiful rendition of the well-known tale is sure to delight young readers.

Every morning and every afternoon, Old Befana sweeps with her broom. “Cranky old lady,” the children say. “She is always sweeping!” Sweep, sweep, sweep.

But when a brilliant star glows in the eastern sky one night, and Old Befana encounters the glorious procession of three kings on their way to Bethlehem, her world will never be the same.

In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de la Nochebuenao flower of the Holy Night. At Christmastime, the flower blooms and flourishes, the quite exquisite red stars lighting up the countryside.

This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be, through a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child.

Tomie dePaola's glorious paintings are as luminous as the farolitos that light up on the Plaza in Santa Fe for the procession of Las Posadas, the tradition in which Mary and Joseph go from door to door seeking shelter at the inn on Christmas Eve.

This year Sister Angie, who is always in charge of the celebration, has to stay home with the flu, and Lupe and Roberto, who are to play Mary and Joseph, get caught in a snowstorm.

But a man and a woman no one knows arrive in time to take their place in the procession and then mysteriously disappear at the end before they can be thanked.

In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair.

Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store.

Have you heard? A baby is coming! Our baby is here?When Mary and Joseph’s child was born, the good tidings spread from the animals in the manger, to the shepherds in the fields, to the kings in distant lands, and even to the angels in the heavens! Now every time a baby is born, we celebrate and people travel from far and wide to greet the new baby—because every new baby is a small miracle.

In the stable next to an inn, Kind Ox is just settling in for the night when Old Dog comes into the stable. Kind Ox makes room for Old Dog, who in turn makes room for Stray Cat, who then makes room for Small Mouse, and each time, the larger animal says to the small, "There's always room for a little one here."

Finally, Tired Donkey comes by, carrying Joseph and Mary, who asks "Where will my child be born?" Kind Ox replies, "There is always room for a little one here." And so, Jesus is born in the stable with the animals all around Him.

This book is a heartwarming reminder to children that Christmas isn’t about Santa or asking for presents; it’s about celebrating Jesus’s birthday.

This inviting, full-color, illustrated picture book tells a story of forest animals preparing for a big and exciting event. Each page provides another clue to young readers that somewhere in the forest, one special animal knows the true meaning of Christmas and wants to share it with the rest of his forest friends.

This Christmas devotional journal includes a short devotion from Candace Cameron Bure, a fun interactive activity such as a graph or a list to fill in, and a coordinating classic Christmas story. This devotional encourages you to pause and reflect on the reason for the season while making quiet time for inner peace, finding joy in the chaos, and selflessly serving others.

As you read the Christmas devotions and complete the activity journal pages, you'll rediscover the wonder and amazement of the season and draw closer to the Savior. You will personally connect with Jesus in ways that will change your perspective and your response to the timeless Christmas story.

This Christmas season, celebrate the birth of our Savior through beautiful design and devotion. Grab your colored pencils, cozy up with your favorite blanket and a cup of tea, and settle in for a night of peace and wonder with All Is Bright.

For lovers of the Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest coloring books, All Is Bright is the perfect way to transform the Advent and Christmas seasons for your whole family, re-centering the holidays on the miracle of Jesus’ birth.

In this edition of Advent and Christmas Wisdom, each day's reflection includes a selection from one of Chesterton's finest works, a suitable bible verse, an appropriate prayer and an action-oriented exercise.

Readers will find the format stays the same, but this addition to our bestselling series is truly a refreshing, prayerful preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas.

Thousands of readers have already fallen in love with Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts, and this Christmas, Ann will help readers celebrate the lineage and the majesty of God's greatest gift - Jesus Christ.

In what is sure to become an instant holiday classic, Voskamp reaches back into the pages of the Old Testament to explore the lineage of Jesus via the advent tradition of The Jesse Tree.

Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, The Greatest Gift retraces the epic pageantry of mankind, from Adam to the Messiah, with each day's reading pointing to the coming promise of Christ.