List of Christmas-themed literature facts for kids
Christmas is a special time of year, and many amazing books, stories, and poems have been written about it! This list helps you find some of the most famous and beloved literary works that take place during Christmas or have Christmas as a main part of their story.
Novels and Novellas
These longer stories, called novels or novellas, often explore the magic and meaning of Christmas in detail. Many famous authors have written about this festive season.
- Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot's Christmas
- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
- Charles Dickens, The Chimes
- Charles Dickens, The Cricket on the Hearth
- Charles Dickens, The Battle of Life
- Charles Dickens, The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain
- Janet Evanovich, Visions of Sugar Plums
- Frederick Forsyth, The Shepherd
- Jostein Gaarder, The Christmas Mystery
- John Grisham, Skipping Christmas
- Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle, Let It Snow
- C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Christopher Moore, The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror
- Kate Douglas Wiggin, The Birds' Christmas Carol
Short Stories
Sometimes, a shorter story can capture the spirit of Christmas perfectly. Here are some well-known short stories that celebrate or feature Christmas.
- Hans Christian Andersen, "The Fir-Tree"
- Truman Capote, "A Christmas Memory" (published in Mademoiselle)
- John Cheever, "Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor"
- Agatha Christie, The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
- Agatha Christie, A Christmas Tragedy
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, "A Christmas Tree and a Wedding"
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, "The Beggar Boy at Christ's Christmas Tree" (Mal'chik u Khrista na yolke) (from A Writer's Diary)
- Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"
- Nikolai Gogol, "Christmas Eve" (from Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka)
- O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi
- E. T. A. Hoffmann, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" (Nussknacker und Mausekönig)
- Leo Tolstoy, "Papa Panov's Special Christmas" (translation of Saillens)
- Dylan Thomas, A Child's Christmas in Wales
- Philip Van Doren Stern, The Greatest Gift
- Kurt Vonnegut, While Mortals Sleep (book of short stories)
Children's Books
Christmas is a favorite time for children, and there are many wonderful books written just for younger readers. These stories often feature Santa Claus, snow, and the joy of the holidays.
- Tony Abbott, Kringle
- Janet and Allan Ahlberg, The Jolly Christmas Postman
- Maya Angelou, Amazing Peace
- L. Frank Baum, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
- Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Stick Man
- Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas Box, The Light of Christmas
- Cornelia Funke, When Santa Fell to Earth
- Matt Haig, A Boy Called Christmas
- Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
- Astrid Lindgren, Brenda Brave Helps Grandmother (Kajsa Kavat hjälper mormor)
- Astrid Lindgren, A Calf for Christmas (När Bäckhultarn for till stan)
- Astrid Lindgren, Christmas in the Stable (Jul i stallet)
- Astrid Lindgren, The Runaway Sleigh Ride (Titta Madicken, det snöar!)
- Astrid Lindgren, The Tomten (Tomte är vaken)
- Astrid Lindgren, The Tomten and the Fox (Räven och Tomten)
- John Masefield, The Box of Delights
- Mary Pope Osborne and Ned Bittinger, Rocking Horse Christmas
- Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express
- Martin Waddell, Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale
Poetry
Poets have also shared their feelings about Christmas through beautiful verses. These poems often capture the wonder and traditions of the holiday season.
- "Old Santeclaus with Much Delight"
- Clement Clarke Moore, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas")
- George Robert Sims, Christmas Day in the Workhouse
- T. S. Eliot, "Journey of the Magi"
- Viktor Rydberg, Tomten
Collections
Sometimes, authors gather several stories or writings about Christmas into one book. These collections offer different perspectives on the holiday.
- Bettye Collier-Thomas, A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories
- David Sedaris, Holidays on Ice
- J. R. R. Tolkien, Letters from Father Christmas
- Jeanette Winterson, Christmas Days
Nonfiction
Not all Christmas writings are made-up stories. Some are true accounts or important articles that talk about the meaning of Christmas.
- Francis Pharcellus Church, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" (This was a famous newspaper article from 1897.)
