Christmas Stories from Other Times and Places

Sharing more of our favorite Christmas picture books for children.

Christmas Day in the Morning - Pearl S. Buck
Rob wakes early to do the chores as a special Christmas present for his dad. A sweet story with illustrations that perfectly combine with the story.

Christmas Tapestry - Patricia Polacco
To Jonathan's surprise, a disaster in the church started an unbelievable chain of events. Based on a story told to the author as a true story and adapted for children.

An Orange for Frankie - Patricia Polacco
Go back to the days when the gift of an orange was a treasure. A sweet story of Frankie who gives his Christmas sweater to a hobo. By the same author/illustrator as Christmas Tapestry.

A Certain Small Shepherd - Rebecca Caudhill
A heart warming story of a young boy who has never spoke who utters his first words at Christmas.

An Amish Christmas - Richard Ammon
Enjoy a visit to the country and celebrate Christmas with an Amish family.

Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomney - Susan Wojciechowski
A young boy wiggles into the heart of a sad woodcarver. Lovely illustrations



Christmas in a Shoebox - Franklin Graham
Inspire your children to do something for someone else at Christmas. The story of how a boy's Christmas gift blessed a family in war-town Bosnia. From Samaritan's Purse.

Tomorrow I'll share some of our favorite longer, chapter-length Christmas stories.

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Favorite Christmas Books for Children

I love Christmas books.

And I don't have to look far to find where that love came from - my mom loved Christmas stories. I can remember at least one year when she wrote the titles of all our Christmas stories on slips of paper and each evening we drew out a slip. In the midst of the busyness of the holiday season, it was a cozy kind of tradition.

We didn't have enough books for every day in December. But some days were too busy to read anyway. And besides picture books, she also included the Christmas chapters in some of our favorite books. The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder has many great Christmas stories. The contrast between the Christmas in The Long Winter and By the Shores of Silver Lake is worth reading. Or compare Almanzo's Christmas in The Farmer Boy with Laura's Christmas in The Little House in the Prairie. Other books with good Christmas chapters are Little Women and The Wind in the Willows.

If you are looking for some good Christmas books, I'll share our favorites. Some of these I have read since a child, some are new discoveries, but all have been read over and over again.

Just a note...if you borrow these books from your library (like I do) be considerate of others and only keep them for a short time. Others may be waiting to reread their favorite Christmas books this season too.

May you enjoy lots of good cuddle-on-the-couch time with your little ones.

Nativity Picture Books
Books for children that share the Christmas story

The Very First Christmas - Paul L. Maier
A mother shares the the true story of Christmas, with her son. Includes the text from Luke 2. Excellent illustrations with attention given to accuracy. One of the best.

The Crippled Lamb - Max Lucado
A crippled lamb becomes one of the first to witness the first Christmas. Sweet illustrations.

The Tale of Three Trees - Angela Elwell Hunt

A folktale of three trees with ambitions that come true in ways they never imagined.

Room for a Little One - Martin Waddel

A Christmas story for the littlest ones with gentle script and pictures.

The Legend of the Candy Cane - Lori Walburg

A candy maker comes up with a way to tell the Christmas story to the townspeople.

Christmas Picture Books
Well-loved stories from the Christmas season

One Snowy Night - M. Christina Butler

Little Hedgehog shares his Christmas present that in the end, comes back to him. The fuzzy hat adds to the appeal for my little ones.

Night Tree - Eve Bunting
Every year the family decorates a tree in the woods with food for the animals. A fun idea your children may want to adopt.

How the Grinch that Stole Christmas - Dr. Suess
Christmas isn't about the presents and food. A favorite children's book that is a good reminder for parents too!

If You are Missing Baby Jesus - Jean Gietzen
A family finds blessing in giving to others at Christmas. A true story.

Tomorrow I'll share some more favorite Christmas tales.

I'd love to hear the books in your Christmas basket.

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Sourdough Scones

I've been attempting to make a sourdough version of many of my baked goods. I liked my scone recipe. Could I find a sourdough scone we liked as well? 

Sourdough Surprises had scones for their November challenge. Their recipe gave me a place to begin. I adapted it a little and after a couple tries, my family says these scones are great. 

Sourdough Scones

1  cup sourdough starter
1/4 cup honey (or sugar if you prefer)
2 cups flour (I used half whole wheat)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
6 T. cold butter
2 cups blueberries or chopped apples (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with silicone mat or parchment paper.
Mix together starter and honey. Mix together the flour, salt,  and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. I like to use the food processor but only pulse and don't over mix. Stir in fruit if desired. Add the sourdough starter and mix with a large spoon to form a soft, slightly-sticky dough.




Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide it into two pieces. Pat each piece of dough into a  round. Cut it into six wedge-shaped pieces and place the scones on the prepared baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining piece of dough. Brush the tops of the scones with milk and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.

Bake until the scones just start to turn golden, 12 to 15 minutes.



Look at the original scone post for ideas for many ways to adapt scones.