What does your reading list look like this month? Have you got any Christmas books on it? Here are five that will help you get into mood.
Let’s begin with Father Christmas and Me by Matt Haig. It is the third book in the trilogy and is fascinating as the other two. In A Boy Called Christmas we are introduced to the true story of Father Christmas. It has all the ingredients to make it an unputdownable read. It has adventure, kidnapping, elves (what’s Christmas without elves) magic and a 11-year-old called Nikolas. The second is The Girl Who Saved Christmas . Amelia believes in Christmas and magic, and that’s what makes sure that Christmas does not get cancelled! Yes, there was a possibility of that happening.
And, now we come to the third book Father Christmas and Me . Amelia has joined Father Christmas and Mary Christmas in Elfhelm, the land powered by hope. But, there is a problem here. Amelia doesn’t quite fit in. For one, she is human, and so she is too big for elf furniture and finally, she is terrible at school. She cannot understand elf mathematics where “the best answer isn’t the right one, it’s the most interesting”. To compound matters she crashes a favourite sleigh.
The final blow is when Father Vodol starts a newspaper called Daily Truth . He has on his side the Easter Bunny and an army of soldier rabbits. The sole purpose of this paper is to spread false news. Father Vodol’s slogan is “Ït’s time to make Easter great again!
Happy feasting
Much of the preparation for Christmas is in the kitchen. Everyone congregates there to whip up delicacies for the great day. Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, we find Maria in the kitchen making tamales. There’s excitement in the air as the preparation for the feast is underway. Maria is kneading the corn flour and being busy. But, she wants to wear her mother’s diamond ring while working. And there it lies, twinkling away on the kitchen counter, just where her mother left it.
Maria gets her chance when her mother steps out. She quickly puts on the rings and continues with her work. Finally, the tamales are all done. She arranges the tamales and her cousins have gathered to taste her handiwork. This is when Maria finds that the ring is missing from her finger!
What is she going to do? Will her cousins help her?
This is a season of miracles, or so it would seem. Meet Jonathan Toomey, the best woodcutter in the valley. But, despite his talent he never smiles and he is always alone. The local children have named him Gloomy. His life is a secret and he has not wish to reveal it.
One winter’s day, Susan and her son, Thomas come to him with a simple request. Both of them are dealing with their own loss. The death of Susan’s husband, Thomas’ father has cost them their house in the city and they are forced to move to the countryside. Inconsolable over the loss of his wooden manger scene which his father had given him, Susan asks Jonathan to carve a new one for him.
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski talks of the hope and love of the season.
What is the poinsettia’s connection to Christmas? The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola is a Mexican legend that tells the story. In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de la Nochebuenao — flower of the Holy Night.
There are several old favourites that can be read every Christmas. From How the Grinch Stole Christmas to Elf on the Shelf and Letters from Father Christmas , there are many.
This year, let’s revisit The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. A young boy, gets on board the Polar Express and makes a magical trip to the North Pole.
