One of my favorite things to do during the days of Advent is to read Christmas picture books.

Three of my very favorite children’s Christmas books of all time are:

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

The story is about a church pageant rehearsal invaded by a family of ruffians – the Herdmans – who come for free food, but end up commandeering the main roles in the Christmas pageant. They succeed in putting their spin on the traditional version of Christ’s birth, much to the congregation’s chagrin. Nevertheless, their perspective and performance make it the best Christmas pageant ever!

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

A widow and her young son come to Jonathan Toomey and ask him to carve a set of Christmas figures for them. As he works on the project, the widow and her son become frequent guests and reopen the heart of the lonely woodcarver. The lovely images of wood carry us to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.

One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham

This is the story of a young boy who is lost and injured in the woods during a snowstorm and seeks refuge in the home of an older woman. While he waits for the weather to turn, she tells him the story of Christmas from creation to resurrection.

These books and so many like them, fill book stores and libraries at this time of year. Why not go get a few and read them to someone today.

Robinson, Barbara, and Laura Cornell. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Scholastic, 2012.

Wojciechowski, Susan, and Patrick James Lynch. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. Walker Books, 2015.

Graham, Ruth Bell., and Richard Jesse Watson. One Wintry Night. Thomas Nelson, 2012.