8 Books with Great Christmas Scenes

On By Jane @ Greenish BookshelfIn 2019, Book List

Hello, my dear readers!

I hope you are having a great Christmas season this December. I took an unintentional blogging hiatus the past several weeks. But I am back today with a fun little list for y’all.

This time of year, it seems perfect to share a list of some of my favorite books that remind me of Christmas. Some of these are obvious Christmas stories and some simply have great Christmas scenes. I hope you enjoy.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg // My dad read this to us every Christmas Eve growing up. It’s not Christmas without this story.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens // An obvious choice for a list like this, A Christmas Carol is an iconic Christmas story about the transformation of Ebeneezer Scrooge when he meets three Christmas ghosts.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott // I always think of the Christmas scenes first in this novel. From the first Christmas with their father away at war, the the joyful reunions of future Christmases, I love Christmas with the March sisters.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis // Another obvious choice for such a list, this Narnian adventure centers on the curse by the White Witch which makes it always winter but never Christmas until 4 children arrive through a wardrobe.

Emma by Jane Austen // Perhaps this novel surprises you on this list. But if you recall, it’s after a particularly snowy Christmas party that Emma finds herself alone in a carriage with Mr. Elton who surprises her with a proposal.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder // I am not sure of any Christmas morning scene more sweet and innocent than the Ingalls family on the prairie when Laura and Mary are thrilled with their simple Christmas gifts. Such an idyllic Christmas scene.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery // It’s hard to forget the iconic puffed sleeve dress that Matthew buys as a surprise for Anne’s first Christmas at Green Gables. I love her joy and Matthew’s kindness.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling // And finally, I love Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts as it’s really his first celebrated Christmas of his life. The presents, the feast, and the perfect setting are all so lovely. Another favorite Christmas moment.

What are your favorite Christmas scenes in literature? 
Favorite Christmas books?

17 thoughts on “8 Books with Great Christmas Scenes”

  1. What a fun list! I love that you’re not only reflecting on great Christmas scenes in literature, but also the memories and emotions you have attached to them. I’m 100% with you when it comes to Harry Potter. Particularly because of the annual Weasley sweaters!

    I don’t have a favorite Christmas book, as I don’t celebrate and never really connected with the holiday. But I do have favorite Hanuakah pictures books! Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a fun story about goblins who visit a poor man and try to trick him on each night of Hanukkah (spoilers: he wins). I also love The Chanukkah Guest which tells the story of a bear coming into a nearly-blind woman’s home on the first night of Hanukkah; she mistakes him for the Rabbi! Very silly.

    Happy holidays, Jane!

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    1. Wouldn’t we all love a handmade Mrs Weasley sweater?! So classic.

      And thanks so much for sharing some of your favorite Hanukkah books with me. I will file these away for next year and hopefully read with my kids. I love the sound of the goblins book. Sounds so fun!

      Hope you had a love holiday season! 🙂

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  7. I love that scene in Little House on the Prairie, when they think they aren’t going to get any presents and then Mr Edwards brings some, and they’re so excited about what seem like very simple things now. And Anne’s puffed sleeves! I always re-read Little Women at Christmas as well, but it vaguely annoys me that Mr Lawrence buys all that stuff for the Marches – why didn’t he give it to the poor old Hummels?!

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    1. Yes I agree. They get their own cups and are so excited about them and peppermint sticks! So simple and lovely. How fun to reread Little Women at Christmas time. haha that is a fair point. Seems like a lot of people don’t even know the Hummels are living in such squalor. Makes my heart hurt just thinking about Beth trying to help those poor children by herself. One of my favorite books for sure 🙂

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  9. hilaryelder

    Great list – three suggested additions. in The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith there is an almost unbearably lovely scene when the fleeing dalmations find an open church on Christmas Eve and creep in. They see the crib scene with its animals and know that animals must be welcome, and assume that the kneelers are special puppy pillows, so they all curl up on the kneelers and fall asleep.

    Also Richmal Crompton’s Just William has several rather splendid Christmas episodes.

    And you can’t beat Bertie Wooster creeping around a country house with a darning needle attached to the end of a long stick on Christmas Eve for festive fun!

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