Ultimate Guide: Christmas Reading List

In the hustle and bustle of holiday activities, make time to enjoy the peaceful spirit of the season. To help you take your mind off of your dinner parties and visitors, we’ve put together a list of good holiday reads in the true spirit of the season for you and your family to enjoy.

1) Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett

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Travel back in time with author R. William Bennett, long before the beginning of the famed A Christmas Carol, and discover the story of Scrooge’s miserly business partner, Jacob T. Marley, who returned in ghostly form to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Unravel the reason for Marley’s chains as the events leading up to his death are revealed in Dickens-style. Jacob T. Marley is a masterfully crafted story of remorse and redemption that is sure to become a Christmas favorite. Read an excerpt from the book here.

2) Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber as read by Tom Brokaw and illustrated by Robert T. Barrett

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Learn the true story of the man who became known as “The Candy Bomber.” Gail Halvorsen’s job was to airdrop food and supplies to people in the aftermath of World War II, which snowballed into an extraordinary humanitarian endeavor thanks to two sticks of gum. Learn how, as hundreds of small white parachutes delivered treats to the children of West Germany, the wounds of war began to heal and the spirit of Christmas began to spread. Tom Brokaw brings this true story to life in a stunning performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the accompanying DVD.

3) The Christmas Train by Thomas S. Monson and illustrated by Dan Burr

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President Monson’s stories have a way of capturing the audience, and this beautifully illustrated book is no exception. You’ll want this touching tale from the young Tommy Monson on your bookshelf, which recounts a true story from President Monson’s childhood when he learned a valuable lesson about Christmas giving thanks to his mother, a sleek oil tanker train car, and a poor boy down the street.

4) Good Tidings of Great Joy: An Advent Celebration of the Savior’s Birth by Eric D. Huntsman

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From the author of God So Loved the World, enjoy the scriptural accounts of Christ’s birth as they apply to the advent themes of hope, love, joy, peace, and a special addition for this volume, salvation. Increase your knowledge and understanding of Book of Mormon prophecies and the important connections between the Savior’s birth and mission.

5) The Mansion: 100th Anniversary Edition by Henry Van Dyke and illustrated by Dan Burr

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An annual favorite of President Monson’s, The Mansion tells about the important journey of a man named John Weightman who learns through a dream what it truly means to be selfless and how to lay up treasures in heaven

6) Good King Winceslas by Jane Seymour and illustrated by Omar Rayyan

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Experience the true meaning of Christmas in the story of a king’s generosity towards a poor peasant family during the feast of St. Stephen as retold by Jane Seymour and illustrated by Omar Rayyan in book and DVD form. One snowy evening, when the rest of the kingdom is reveling in a celebratory feast, a king and his faithful page venture out to deliver food, wood, and comfort to a poor peasant family. The lyrics of the traditional carol "Good King Wenceslas" appear throughout the story, reminding readers of humble invitation of The King to follow Him and bless those in need around us.

7) Illustrated Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and illustrated by Kirk Richards

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The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is retold with the aid of the incredible fine-art paintings of award-winning artist J. Kirk Richards. An abridged version of the book, relive the story of Ebenezer and the Cratchit family and bring the true Christmas spirit of love, change, and generosity into your home this holiday.

8) A Christmas Journey by Various Authors and Illustrators

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Invite the Christmas spirit with four beautiful Christmas stories:

When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem depicts the scriptural account of Christ’s birth through the artwork of award-winning artist, Joseph Brickey. 

God Bless Your Way is a collaborative retelling of the nativity story between best-selling author Emily Freeman and renowned illustrator Dan Burr, based on Hilary Weeks’s song “God Bless Your Way.”

This Is the Season, Beloved of the Year features the artwork of Simon Dewey, beautifully complimenting the lyrics of the Primary melody “The Nativity Song.” 

The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes is a story of love, service, and the gifts of the Savior as told by Deborah Pace Rowley and illustrated by Dan Burr.

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